Galveston Park Board's interim CEO to earn $250,000 a year

Miles, a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry and president of the Galveston Hotel & Lodging Association, last week agreed to temporarily replace Kimberly Danesi, who resigned in May, as part of an exodus of senior park board leaders

Under the contract, which went into effect immediately, Miles will head an organization with a $52 million budget, more than 130 full-time employees and another 200 or so part-time and seasonal workers that is responsible for managing essential tourism services such as marketing, beach cleaning, lifeguarding and collecting hotel occupancy tax revenue.

The nine park board trustees appointed Miles as interim CEO on June 24.

“I’m eager to step into this role and to work with our partners at the city, trustees and staff to advance the park board’s mission and serve the Galveston community,” Miles said in a written statement.

“Residents and visitors count on us to do everything we can to keep visitors coming to the island, our beaches clean and safe, and our economy flourishing.

“The men and women here are deeply dedicated to this city, and I look forward to leading such an incredible team.”

Miles previously served as a general manager for three iconic Galveston hotels — Hotel Galvez, Tremont House and Harbor House Hotel and Marina — before the George P. Mitchell family sold the properties.

He also has been involved in the restaurant industry, serving on the board of the Galveston Restaurant Association and as its president for several years.

He steps into the top job during a time of conflict between the park board and the city of Galveston over spending and control over almost $30 million in local hotel occupancy tax revenue and as city leaders move to fundamentally change the relationship between the two organizations.

Along with Danesi’s resignation May 30, Chief Financial Officer Bryson Frazier officially departed June 24, the same day trustees named Miles as interim CEO.

Meanwhile, Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis has been on leave since March 29. Davis, who has worked for the park board for more than 40 years, was placed on leave after administrators learned he allowed visiting lifeguards to stay in the dilapidated and since demolished Stewart Beach Pavilion in 2024 and other decisions.

And former CEO Kelly de Schaun left the organization in 2023 amid the escalating tensions between the park board and the city.

Danesi had earned a base salary of $250,000 a year when she left the organization; de Schaun earned $240,000 when she departed, according to the park board.

As with the former CEOs, the contract obligates the park board to pay health insurance premiums for Miles and includes a $1,000 a month vehicle allowance.