The BID Staff

Kristell Hurtado stands out as an accomplished marketing strategist, particularly in the realms of food and alcoholic beverages. With a consistently strong client orientation throughout her career, she excels at creating and deploying marketing initiatives that have an immediate impact on market share and is skilled at managing complex projects, and specializes in creatively solving challenges for stakeholders at all levels across the business community.  Her deep-seated interests include digital marketing, communications, PR, social media, content generation, and staying abreast of market trends.

A Venezuela native, Kristell made her way to Miami in 2017, settling in Coconut Grove. She is multilingual, fluent in Spanish, English, French, Italian, and Portuguese, and possesses a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in marketing.

Before transitioning to an independent consultant role in 2022, Kristell’s career trajectory includes significant roles. She functioned as a brand manager at Bakerly in Miami, took on the role of Channel Coordinator at Somos TV in Miami, and held several positions in marketing and brand management in Venezuela. Starting in October 2022, she began her engagement with the BID, focusing on social media services, producing the “Grovite” weekly newsletter, and orchestrating cross-promotional activities for local businesses, including promotions and community events.

Venusmia “Venus” Fernandez Lovely serves multiple roles at the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District (CGBID), primarily Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director, Office Manager, and supervisor to the Accounting department. Venus’ all-encompassing position at the CGBID sees her at the helm of solutions to the varied challenges that come weekly from the district’s efforts to bolster the businesses they affect daily, and the community they want to sustainably grow.

Venus is a seasoned and multifaceted professional with over 15 years of experience in leadership roles and developing programs for community engagement. In addition to working at the CGBID, she is also the co-founder of The Lovely Group, a consulting agency that works with multiple organizations such as the Football is Freedom Initiative, Florida Rising, and the Coconut Grove Art & Historical Association. Previously, Venus was the Miami-Dade Ambassador for the Arts and the Chief of Staff to both Senator Dwight Bullard and Annette Taddeo.

Born in Brooklyn, but raised in Miami, Venus is the daughter of the former New York Dominican Consul General, Francisco Fernandez. Her passion for civic engagement and the arts has seen her at the helm of various programs to improve communities throughout South Florida. She serves as the President of the South Dade Democratic Black Caucus and previously held the title of Vice President of the Reggae Girlz Foundation, Inc.

Bill Kress oversees the BID’s Business Communications & Editorial Services as an independent specialist. He is a seasoned communicator who taps from a deep reserve of skills in journalism, photography, digital communications, and creating long-form content to support multiple corporate, civic, and nonprofit clients across South Florida. He is also a contract reporter/editor with local print and online publications chain. Prior to launching Kress Communications in 2016, Bill most recently served as communications manager/PIO for the Village of Palmetto Bay after serving more than 20 years in corporate communications management with the airline industry and hospitality.

Drawn to Miami right out of college, Bill launched his career here, initially in journalism and then in organizational PR primarily with several U.S.-based airlines across the country including Piedmont/USAir, America West Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. He also served in the capacity as internal communications manager with Phoenix-based Best Western International Hotels. After traveling to nearly 30 countries and living in seven different states, Bill returned in 2008 to re-establish life here in South Florida.

With offices in Coconut Grove and Pompano Beach, Bill maintains strong ties with the local news media, business leaders, community figures, and municipal officials – as well as close relationships with PR peers and collaborators throughout Miami-Dade County. Also worthy of note: The Minority Chamber of Commerce named Kress Communications Best PR Firm of the Year 2016.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Bill earned his BA in English/Journalism from the State University of New York; and holds a Certificate in Spanish Language from Miami Dade College (2013).