Biography

Mayor Messam is a first-generation American, born to Jamaican parents. Raised in South Bay, Florida, he is a lifelong athlete who proudly attended Florida State University on a full scholarship where he excelled both on and off the football field. Mayor Messam was a member of the 1993 National Championship Team under coach Bobby Bowden and had a brief stint in the National Football League as a Cincinnati Bengal. A highlight for him was when the FSU Black Alumni Association named him “Student of the Year” in 1996 for his exceptional accomplishments as a student-athlete. He graduated from FSU with a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems in 1997. 

 A Licensed General Contractor and LEED-Accredited Professional, Mayor Messam is a prominent professional in the construction industry. His company, Messam Construction, is one of the fastest growing minority construction management firms in Florida building projects in the Education, Aviation, and Healthcare Sectors.  

Mayor Messam and his wife of 25 years, Angela Messam, CGC, LEED AP, BD+C, have three adult children, son Wayne II and twin daughters Kayla and Kyla.  They have been residents of Miramar for over 23 years.  

Mayor Messam was first elected to the City Commission in 2011 and in 2015, he was elected Miramar’s first Black Mayor. He is serving his third term as Mayor of the City of Miramar and is also the current President of the Florida League of Mayors and a National Trustee of the African-American Mayors Association.  Under Mayor Messam’s leadership, Miramar has undergone significant transformation. With a population of nearly 150,000 residents, the City has been recognized as a Smart50 and an All-America City.  

Miramar has been twice-recognized as having one of the nation’s fastest growing economies with a boom in affordable workforce and senior housing. The city has become a magnet for fortune 500 companies - bringing jobs to the community and reducing the unemployment rate to 2.4%.  Miramar’s recent growth and expansion sits on the foundation of a 2013 Revenue Bond that was created and led by Mayor Messam.  This leadership during the recession provided the funding needed to construct the LEED Gold Certified Police Headquarters, Historic Miramar Public Safety Complex, Miramar Amphitheater, Shirley Branca Park Bandshell, Adult Daycare Center, Fire Station 107 and new and upgraded parks citywide.  Because of his vision, Miramar has built facilities that have made Miramar a destination for entertainment, expanded storm drainage, modernized public utilities, increased public safety projects and improvements, and continues to work towards building a cleaner, smarter future. His priorities focus on workforce development and housing, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, youth programming and wealth creation for our residents and corporate entities.   

Mayor Messam has dedicated himself to his residents through health and wellness programs like free yoga classes, an annual 5K run & health fair and he has driven interest in aviation and technology for children of all ages through his annual Aviation Expo.   

Mayor Messam is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Pi Fraternity (Boulé) and 100 Black Men of South Florida. He worships at The Fountain Church and serves there as a deacon. Through hard work and dedication to residents and businesses alike, the City of Miramar’s most recent successes are a reality due to the leadership and vision of Mayor Wayne M. Messam.  

Professional and Community Service

Mayor Messam is no stranger to leadership and success. As senior class president at Glades Central High School, Wayne was offered full athletic and academic scholarships to attend Florida State University. He excelled both on and off the football field. His accomplishments include being a starting wide receiver and a member of the 1993 National Championship Football Team under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. Mayor Messam was elected to student body vice-president by his peers during his senior year. One of his greatest highlights was when the FSU Black Alumni Association named him "Student of the Year" in 1996 for his exceptional accomplishments as a student-athlete. He graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems in 1997.

Licensed as a General Contractor and a LEED-Accredited Professional, Mayor Messam is a prominent professional in the construction industry. His company, Messam Construction, is currently building and managing some of the most exciting "green" construction projects in America and serves clients in the public and private sectors providing Construction Management Services. A Partner and Qualifier of Messam Construction for 19 years, the company has received numerous awards and is one of the fastest growing minority Construction Management firms in Florida.

Proud Citizen

Mayor Messam has always had a commitment to public service; he was elected Mayor of the City in 2015, having served a previous term as commissioner .  He is the current President-Elect of the Florida League of Mayors; is a Board Member of the African-American Mayors Association.  He is the former President of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and served two terms as chair of the Broward County Small Business Development Advisory Board where he was very influential in the policy recommendations that affected the local and small business programs for Broward County and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms. He has made it his mission to teach other municipalities across the nation  on how they can spark economic development through the development of Minority and Small Business program.

The City of Miramar is the 13th largest city in Florida with nearly 150,000 residents, was recently recognized as a Smart City and an All-American City.  The City has also been recognized twice as having one of the nation’s fastest growing economies in the nation under his leadership. The city also boasts more Fortune 500 companies than any city in South Florida with thriving Aviation, Bio Medical, Information Technology and light manufacturing business sectors.

Mayor Messam is proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Pi Fraternity (Boulé) and 100 Black Men of South Florida. He worships at the Fountain Church and serves there as deacon. 

Service Organizations and Boards