SEOPW CRA Staff Spotlight: Cornelius Shiver, Executive Director

Meet Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA Executive Director, Cornelius Shiver. Cornelius is a life-time Coconut Grove resident, has an Associate degree from Florida State University, a Bachelors of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami, a Juris Doctorage degree from St. Thomas University School of Law and is a member of the Florida Bar.

Prior to attending law school, Cornelius worked as a Production Analyst with Racal-Milgo, an international high-tech corporation based in England and from there he worked for the University of Miami as the Director of Materials Management. During law school, Cornelius worked for the Brickell Avenue law firm of Silver and Garvett. By the time Cornelius graduated from law school, he was proficient in civil trial litigation, complex commercial litigation and local government law. Cornelius further sharpened in legal skills in New York City working for the American Arbitration Association and later, obtaining additional jury trial experience from the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office.

Cornelius has worked in several executive capacities, including President/CEO of Martin Luther King Economic Development, Board-member of the City of Miami Zoning Board, legal and political advisor to former City of Miami Commissioners, Jeffrey Allen and City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, and the Assistant Director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (“CRA”). Currently he is the Executive Director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency.

The Overtown CRA was formed to address prior neglects from the public and private sectors. Such community redevelopment activities must provide a remedy for those who have suffered the most and the longest under slum and blight.