Neisen Kasdin received his Bachelor of Arts at Northwestern University, and his law degree at the University of Florida. He is an attorney specializing in Land Use and public incentives for development and is Chairman of the Land Use and Entitlements Practice Group at Akerman Senterfitt, in Miami, Florida. He is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the City of Miami Downtown Development Authority, served as Past Chairman of The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County's economic development organization and is a Trustee of the Urban Land Institute. He is Chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's New World Center Committee. He served as City of Miami Beach Commissioner from 1991 – 1997 and as Mayor from 1997 to 2001. He also served on the Boards of numerous civic and governmental organizations, including the City of Miami Beach Planning Board, the Miami-Dade County Performing Arts Center Trust, and as member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Miami-Dade County.

During his tenure as a member of the City's Planning Board, as Chairman of the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation and as Mayor , Neisen took a leadership role in redrafting the City's land development regulations, the creation and expansion of the City of Miami Beach's historic districts and the revitalization of South Beach. He also oversaw the creation and implementation of successful public/private projects which extended the City's remarkable revitalization, including the Loews Hotel and Ballet Valet parking garage and retail shops.

Neisen also led the City in creating or expanding facilities for the Bass Museum of Art, Miami City Ballet, New World Symphony and other cultural organizations and in establishing a Cultural Arts Council and endowment for the arts. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New World Symphony and a member of the Board of the Wolfsonian Institute/Florida International University. He was instrumental in bringing Art Basel to Miami Beach.

Neisen has been honored as Elected Official of the Year by the Dade Cultural Alliance, as Outstanding Public Official in the Field of Redevelopment by the Florida Re-Development Association and Florida Main Street Conference, and as recipient of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award. He also received the first Governmental Leadership award presented by the American Institute of Architects, Miami Chapter and numerous other awards and citations. Neisen frequently speaks for the Urban Land Institute and other organizations on land use, urban revitalization and development and has authored many articles on the subjects.