About

Miles' grandmother told him that while she and his grandfather were living in a displaced-persons camp in Germany, struggling to rebuild their lives after World War II, General Eisenhower himself invited her to come to America. Miles' grandparents spoke no English, had almost no money, and lived with the trauma of having lost their entire family to the Nazis. So move to America they did, eventually landing in St. Louis Park, where they opened a small convenience store near the high school and brought up six children, including Miles' mother.

Miles' roots in this community go back three generations, and although he grew up in Edina, he now lives with my girlfriend, Amanda Smith, in the Texa-Tonka neighborhood. In seeking a seat on the city council, he would like to make sure that our city remains the nurturing community that welcomed his immigrant grandparents.

Growing Up

Miles' parents, Mark and Shirley Okrent Lerner, chose to raise him, his two sisters, and brother, and two terriers in Edina. It was a hectic home, with each of the kids taking their classes and rigorous homework assignments seriously, and their sports even more seriously.

Naturally with such a focus on sports, Miles ended up at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, earning a rugby scholarship and playing collegiate rugby as a 4-year starter. His senior year team won the Southern Conference title and finished as Division II National Championship Runner-Ups.

While balancing his academics and rugby demands, Miles also actively participated in the Furman's investment club, managing a sub-fund of the university endowment valued at over $400,000 and serving as President his senior year.

Miles' major at Furman was economics with an accounting focus.

Post College / Business Career

Miles’s career has been a journey of exploration and growth. He began in finance, interning as portfolio and investment banking analysts before working as a research analyst in Atlanta and later as an investment banker for KBW in Richmond and Chicago, rising to the associate position. At KBW, he worked on capital raises, mergers and acquisitions for regional banks, as well fintech and financial services firms. This experience helped him gain a deep understanding of how businesses operate, how to make them more efficient, and how to spot opportunities.

After nearly three years in banking, Miles decided to travel Latin America for half a year and then pivoted to build something of his own. In 2022, he co-founded Shuk Rentals, a property management software company that gives small landlords the same tools as large investors to manage their rentals.

Today, his career reflects a blend of Wall Street rigor, entrepreneurial drive, and a commitment to community.

Volunteering and Freetime

Miles’s commitment to community shows up not only in his professional career but also in his volunteer work. He taught English to adult learners through Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), Minnesota’s largest Latino-led nonprofit, as part of his lifelong goal of knocking down the language barrier and giving immigrants the best chance to succeed, building a better life for themselves and future generations.

At CLUES, he worked directly with new immigrants, helping them build confidence in their English so they could better navigate daily life, access opportunities, and feel more connected to their community. This experience taught him the importance of listening first, meeting people where they are, and tailoring solutions to fit diverse needs—skills that directly translate to public service. On city council, he would bring that same patience, empathy, and problem-solving approach to ensure that every resident, no matter their background or first language, has a voice in shaping St. Louis Park’s future.

Miles loves to speak Spanish, and as the Hispanic population grows in both the Twin Cities in general and St. Louis Park in particular, he is prepared to converse with residents in the language they are most comfortable with.

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