2021 Board of Directors
The Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association (CGPHOA)
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Marc Coleman
3085 Calusa St
Marc has lived in the neighborhood for over 10 years and has served on the Coconut Grove Park board for the last nine years. He is a licensed architect and has worked in the real estate development field for most of his career. He believes strongly in the community and was extensively involved with its effort to update the Neighborhood Conservation District and helped lead the successful fight against the proposed CVS at SW 27thAve. & US-1. His family has deep roots in S. Florida and prior to moving here permanently in 2001, he resided in Austin, Boston, NYC, and LA. He has Bachelor degrees in Architecture and Engineering from the University of Texas and a Masters in Real Estate Development from MIT.
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Marlene Erven
3066 Washington St
Nominated for President
Marlene is committed to preserving and protecting our neighborhood and the Grove way of life. She is a 30-year resident and is currently Treasurer of CGPHOA.
She has been active on behalf of our Association on zoning issues including the Neighborhood Conservation District NCD issue working in conjunction with other Grove homeowner associations and the Village Council and she is part of the grassroots movement to SavetheCoconutGrovePlayhouse.org. She has also served for four years as President of the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove. Marlene has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Public Administration from Barry University and is a seasoned nonprofit consultant. She heads NFP Solutions and has worked for many of South Florida's leading nonprofit organizations.
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Andy Klevos
2319 Swanson Ave
Andrew (Andy) Klevos has lived on Swanson Ave since 2014 along with his wife Geetika (Nikki) and children Siya (7) and Drew (5). Andy has worked with the CDC for over 12-years. Prior to living in Florida, Andy grew up on farm outside a very small town in southern Minnesota. When he has time, he enjoys camping, hiking, bicycling, running, gardening and otherwise spending time with his family.
Andy has served on the CGHA Board for over two-years and would like to continue to serve. He believes the board can serve a pivotal role in bringing neighbors together to build a tightly-knit community as well as to protect our tree canopy.
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Cynthia Shelley
2975 Washington St
Nominated for Treasurer
Cynthia Shelley, a Grove resident for over 30 years. holds a BA in Visual Arts from Ga. State and a BA from the U of Fl in Child Psychology. She came from Winter Park Fl to pursue her professional art career and fund it necessary to also become a part time civic activist for the protection and preservation of her home and neighborhood. She has an extensive background in Development and Events for Not-for-Profit organizations, as well as Cultural Grantsc writing in the City of Miami. Cynthia along with Bob & Diane Fitzsimmons, founded this homeowners assoviation in 1985, (CGPHA) to protect the neighborhood from commercial intrusions and to form protective boundaries. As a cohesive group they were able to win the struggle with the City for street closures on Aviation Ave and every following crusade against developers.
She is the past Vice president for CGPHA for 30 years and is still very active on the board; She served as the Vice President of the Coconut Grove Elemantary PTA; She is past Vice President for the Civic Club; A co-founder of the Village Council (predicated as an "Umbrella Organization"); And founded the Children's Art Program as well as the Children's day Camp (on Island "C" in the Biscayne Bay), for Shake-A-Leg Miami, a Non-for-Profit organization, for underserved youth and children with disabilities.
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David Villano
2453 Inagua
David Villano, independent writer and journalist, is a past president of the Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association. He has been active in Miami-area civic affairs for many years and is a founding member of the community engagement group Grove 2030. He is a graduate of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School, Ransom Everglades School, University of Miami (B.A.) and University of Florida (M.A.).
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Katerina Albanis
My husband, Nikos Theodorou, and I purchased our home in June 2013. We have two sons who are now 7 and 9 years old. Our family currently owns and operates Maria’s Greek Restaurant located on 23rd Avenue and Coral Way.
I was born and raised in Miami alongside my twin sister, Maria Albanis, who is a Miami-Dade public school teacher at Key Biscayne Elementary. Growing up Greek in Miami, I am involved with Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church located in the Roads. I graduated from Coral Gables Senior Highschool in 1996 and I am a board member of the Alumni Committee. Throughout high school, I was part of the crew team and was able to literally row my way through college at Barry University. After graduating with an MBA at FIU, I began a career in Population Health Management, and I am currently a Territory Manager at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in the vaccine’s division. Our children are currently attending Coconut Grove elementary and participate in the local camps available throughout Coconut Grove. As a native to Miami, I take pride in preserving the neighborhood and culture of Coconut Grove and look forward to being a part of a group that shares the same values and intention.
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Brian Clavelle
2485 Swanson Ave
Brian was born and raised in Columbia, MD, married a native Miamian in 2008, and has been on Swanson Ave, Coconut Grove since 2010. Brian is an attorney with the Clavelle Law Group PA. Prior to opening his current firm, Brian was an associate attorney with the law firm of Goede, Adamczyk & DeBoest, PLLC, where he represented Condominium and Homeowners Associations. Brian has children in Coconut Grove Elementary and wants to be on the CGPHA Board to be engaged and assist his communities needs. He has been recruited by his friend and neighbor Andy Klevos who raves about how great he feels about being on the HOA board. Brian enjoys riding around the Grove in his red cargo bike bringing his kids to and fro, spending time with his wonderful wife, two sons and baby daughter, and being out on the water in beautiful Biscayne Bay.
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Clio Welsh Crawford
2325 Tequesta Ln
Clio Crawford has taught math and science to children in the gifted program of Key Biscayne K8 center for the past ten years. She was previously both an urban planner with the Saratoga Associates, based in Manhattan, and a sub-editor for Prentice Hall’s education division in Needham, MA. She holds a BA lin Geography and Sociology from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; an Master of Sciences in Regional and Urban Planning from University College Dublin, Ireland; and an M. Ed from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She has lived in Coconut Grove for the past fifteen years, with an assortment of beasts.
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Maria Freed
3055 Washington St
Nominated for Vice President
Maria Freed has lived in Coconut Grove for 21 years. She previously lived and worked in Coral Gables and was raised in Little Havana. She retired two years ago after working in hospital management for 31 years. She served as President of the Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association from 2008 to 2011. She is a member of the Woman’s Club of Coconut Grove, Fairchild Tropical Garden, and Save the Coconut Grove Playhouse. She developed Old Coconut Grove Houses, a Facebook page and blog, which promotes preservation awareness by memorializing old and historic houses in our community. She is the mother of five children, two cats and four grandchildren.
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Nicolas Guillant
2315 Tequesta Ln
After a life of travels Nicolas Guillant has settled in the Grove over 6 years ago. His multi-cultural family fell in love with the unique Grove canopy and the amazing community feel that inhabits it. He cares deeply for protecting our unique neighborhood whether through the association or through his work at the board of Fipa (association whose aim is to support and develop French language studies across 5 public schools of Miami inclusive of our local Coconut Grove elementary school). Nicolas is a CEO and entrepreneur with a rich international career in the wines and liquors industry.
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Tara Katz
2321 Trapp Ave
Tara moved down to Florida from New York 14 years ago. After residing in Miami Beach for 11 years, she and her family moved to Coconut Grove 3 years ago. A former restaurant owner in New York, she currently owns and manufactures an accessories line for girls, aimed at promoting self-esteem and encouraging kindness and acceptance. She is the mother of 3 children; one in high school, middle school, and elementary school. She spends a lot of time volunteering and fundraising for various organizations throughout Miami and has sat on the Board of the Miami Beach JCC and Temple Beth Sholom. She fell in love with Coconut Grove over 26 years ago when she and her husband shared their first date here at CocoWalk. She is committed to keeping the Grove a safe and fun place to raise a family.
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Joyce Nelson
2535 Inagua
Grovite Joyce Nelson owns Cosmopolitan Jewels and is a longtime civic activist, She has spent her life protecting the beauty she sees around her. From fighting for the protection of historical landmarks and preserving the ancient Oak trees in her hometown of Coconut Grove. She is President of Coconut Grove Civic Club and has accomplished much for our Grove due to her civic activism and received many accolades and awards, including the Golden Coconut Award from the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce.
Cosmopolitan Jewels designs have been featured in fashion shows, magazines, newspapers, at various exclusive galleries, museums, as well as sold in a select number of high-end international boutiques. Joyce has a Masters of Science Fashion Merchandising and Design from Florida International University and she studied advertising and journalism at University of Florida.
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Diane Pariser
2410 Lincoln Ave
Nominated for Secretary
I’ve been living in “Grove Park” since 1984 and have been practicing law in Miami for 35 years (also licensed in Mass., DC and NY). I’ve done mainly civil litigation and, for the past 19 years, have been a court-appointed counsel for parents in Dependency court. Before moving here from Boston, I founded and directed a non-profit arts organization which promoted, booked and managed multicultural dance companies and artists. I worked with Bob Marley and the Wailers at a Harvard Stadium concert and did public relations for a jazz club. I would like to serve on the Board because, as a long-time resident of Coconut Grove, I think I understand and appreciate our strengths and problems. I would like to contribute to the well-being of our precious neighborhood.
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Steve Tonkinson
2466 Trapp Ave
Steven has lived in the North Grove on either Trapp Ave or Lucaya St since 2004. His business, Tonkinson Financial, has an office on Calusa and US 1 since 2011 (the one with the peacock statue and colorful mural).
If you’ve been through the intersection of Lucaya and Trapp, then you’ve seen the free little library, community herb garden, pine rockland native garden, dog waste station and trash site mural Steven has added over the years to improve, beautify and unite out community.
Steven volunteers as a SUP coach for Special Olympics, is on the board of the Woody Foundation, Shelterbox USA and the Tonkinson Foundation.
Steven is excited to work with the association to strengthen and beautify our awesome neighborhood.
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Jennifer White
2910 Washington St
As a Miami native, and resident of the Grove for 30 years, Jennifer values her Grove community and believes that we can maintain our amazing quality of life by putting energy toward the issues that matter. She provides her two sons with, not only a beautiful home environment,
but an amazing village made up of very special individuals she calls her Grove family.
Along with being an assistant event coordinator for the CGPHOA she has worked over 25 years in nonprofit management serving at-risk youth/adults, membership organizations (Miami Rotary Club, Woman's Club of Coconut Grove), advocacy groups, and other various interest groups. She has vast experience working in fundraising which includes grant writing, challenge grant campaigns, annual fundraising drives, Give Miami Day, special events, and more. Jennifer has a Business Administration Degree in Marketing from the University of Florida.
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