TALK OF OUR TOWN
The new life of Miami-Dade's former manager
Posted on Wed, Jul. 23, 2008
By JOAN FLEISCHMAN
Former Miami-Dade County Manager Steve Shiver and wife Cirenia ''Cire'' Andino-Shiver are separated after a two-year marriage. They plan to divorce.
''She's a wonderful lady,'' says he. ``Just two different paths of life.''
''Best for both of us,'' says she. ``We're still very good friends.''
Steve, 42, and Cire, 47, met at County Hall -- she was a special-events manager while he was top exec. They wed in Las Vegas on May 18, 2006, and lived on his two-acre Redland estate, opposite the popular Knaus Berry Farm.
That same year, Steve invested in a company that owns Ghost Town in the Sky, a 100-acre Wild West theme park in Maggie Valley, N.C., in the Smoky Mountains. Among the partners: Allen Harper, 63, chairman emeritus of Esslinger Wooten Maxwell and owner of three railroads, including the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.
Last December, Steve took a larger equity position in the company -- and a more active role. He became prez/CEO of Ghost Town Holdings, which owns the park and another 150-plus acres. It suited him personally: daughter Ashley, 15, and son Ryan, 13, live in Weaverville, N.C., with mother Sheri, who is remarried. They're now a 30- to 40-minute car ride away. ``I really want to be closer to my children, to watch my kids grow up and be part of their lives.''
On Dec. 26, Steve left for North Carolina for six weeks. The Homestead native has been back to Miami just three times since, the last in May, when he moved his belongings. ``I love the small-town environment.''
Cire, a PR consultant who has a 24-year-old son in Miami, says North Carolina is not for her. ``I'm a city girl.''
Steve put the Redland house on the market -- for $1.7 million. It has five bedrooms, a movie theater, gym, pool and three-car garage.
He now lives in a mountainside home on park grounds. ''I'm getting in touch with my environmental side.'' He oversees budgeting and master planning of the park, which has rides, a chair lift, five restaurants and a 500-seat country music hall.
Future development could include a ''water park, retail outlets, condominiums and potential home sites,'' according to a news release. But, Steve insists, ``we don't want to condominium-ize.''
Last month, police arrested Steve on a charge of driving while impaired. He is due in court on Aug. 5. ''An unfortunate mistake,'' he says. ''I take my licks, and keep on ticking.'' Neither Steve nor Cire has gotten around to filing divorce papers. Both say it will be amicable. Besides, they have a prenup.
CARD-CARRYING MEMBER
Jennifer Behar and her Miami baking business, Jennifer's Homemade, are in an American Express ad -- for AmEx's OPEN small business card. The ad, now running in The Economist, features a gold card with her name and company name, and the heading ``I Own My Business.''
Behar, 40, got the card in July '05, when she incorporated. In June '07, the former advertising and marketing exec filled out the ''share your story'' form on openforum.com, AmEx's business networking website. She wrote about building her company, donating a portion of her profits to feed the hungry. She wrote that she charges everything -- from flour to FedEx -- and loves the discounts and reward points.
Marcy Shinder, AmEx's brand strategy and marketing VP, says Behar's story is ``relevant and inspiring.''
The ad campaign is slated to run in newspapers, magazines, biz journals and trade pubs. Behar says she received no compensation, just the kick of national exposure.
TEAM EXPANSION
New York Yankee Alex ''A-Rod'' Rodriguez added two divorce lawyers to his lineup -- Cynthia Greene and Laura Davis Smith. They are co-counsel with Alan Kluger and Ira Elegant.
Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia, filed papers July 7 to end the marriage. She has two local attorneys, Maurice Kutner and Anthony Sabatino, plus two from Houston.
A-Rod's legal team has yet to file an answer to her petition.
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