Golden Coconut Awards/Casino was a big success

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 52nd Annual Golden Coconut Awards Gala on Saturday, night, by transforming the former Cielo space at Shoppes at Mayfair into a nightclub featuring jazz, exotic cocktails, casino gaming and cigar rolling, with a sumptuous repast catered exclusively by Hy Vong.

The annual event honors Grove Chamber members and civic leaders who have distinguished themselves in the promotion of commerce, quality of life and community service in Coconut Grove. This year’s winners were:

Volunteers of the Year Award: Lisa Shallenberger and Cely Pareda, who have, for many years, been dedicated volunteers at nearly all Chamber functions.

The Community Service Award: The Waterfront Working Committee of the Cocoanut Grove Village Council, Michelle Niemeyer, Chair - A committee that was formed 4 years ago to ensure and assist in public input from the community during the planning process of the City of Miami’s Waterfront Master Plan for Coconut Grove.

The President’s Award: Gary E.Ciuca , RPC, ETSC - Vice President, Investments, Wachovia Securities, for his “Excellence in Leadership” as Vice President of the Chamber and Co-chair of the Great Taste of the Grove (Fellow Taste Co-chair, Monty Trainer, was the Golden Coconut Recipient for 2006)

Chamber Member of the Year Award: Anthony Noboa, Vice President and Branch Manager of Coconut Grove Bank, for his “Outstanding Service to the Chamber.”

The Golden Coconut Award for Outstanding Service to the Community: The Bookstore in the Grove, for representing “True Spirit of Commerce and Independence.”

This year’s prizes were more plentiful than ever. Grand Prizes included all-inclusive Paradisus Sol Melia Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; a luxury vacation beach house in Destin, Florida; Fiesta Americana Condesa in Cancun, a Coconut Grove Bed & Breakfast in Fiji; beauty treatments from dermatologist Dr. Janice Lima Maribona, a sunset cruise on a private yacht, jewelry form designer Steven Anton Rehage, and H & H Jewels weekend getaways and more.

Next year's event is already being planned!


Tony Noboa, with Chamber Prez Liliana Dones, Felice Dubin, Gary Ciuca, Michelle Niemeyer, Monty Trainer.


Board Members Manny Alonso Poch and Michelle Niemeyer

Photos and report by Lilliana Dones