After a very successful season for “the world’s largest youth festival,” the Junior Orange Bowl Committee invited members, friends and sponsors to an installation dinner on Mar. 23, at the Miami Springs Country Club. Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick II, a Junior Orange Bowl past president, installed the following individuals for the 2010-11 board of directors: Brian Seits, president; Dallas Brown, president-elect; Marti Bueso, immediate past president; Richard Naue, vice president; Don Slesnick III, vice president; Robert Bueso, treasurer; Kate Swain, secretary; Charles Knight, director; Enid Miguez, director; J.R. Steinbauer, director, and Peter Tolmach, director.

Seits is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, formerly Wachovia, where he has worked for 11 years. Among the highlights of the evening were the presentations by Queen Marilyn Rodriguez and Princesses Madison Nasser and Kamelah Jones, all three of whom addressed the crowd to talk about their experience as part of the 2009-10 Royal Court and having the honor of attending almost every event.

In addition, a very surprised JOBC board vice president and former chair of the Parade Committee, Don Slesnick III, was announced as the Volunteer of the Year Award winner. Don Slesnick III has been a part of the Junior Orange Bowl Committee since 2005 and has been a key figure in the development of some of the most important Junior Orange Bowl programs. Bueso received a standing ovation and was presented with very special gifts from Seits. Bueso’s year as Junior Orange Bowl president was marked by the hands-on implementation of many new strategic ideas and progressive thinking.

The Bank of Coral Gables, sponsor of the Junior Orange Bowl Parade Float- Building Contest, presented the awards to the groups that creatively put together the best two floats seen in the 61st annual parade. There to present the cash awards to the winners was Marela Valladares, senior vice president and branch manager for the Bank of Coral Gables. Among those receiving the awards for Best Community Float were Dalmatian Rescue and the City of Hialeah.

The events and programs hosted by the Junior Orange Bowl Festival would not be possible without the support from sponsors: Miami Children’s Hospital, Miami- Dade County, Orange Bowl Committee and City of Coral Gables. Alberto Romeu Photography donated its services for documenting the special night.

The next event on the Junior Orange Bowl calendar is the Apr. 20 kickoff and theme unveiling, where Seits will reveal the artwork and logo that will carry the theme of the 2010-11 Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival.

For more information, contact the Junior Orange Bowl Committee at 305-662-1210 or go online to < www.jrorangebowl.com >.

James “Jim” T. Barker truly is part of the fabric of Coral Gables. That said, he actually comes from the Deep South (North Florida).

Born in Valdosta, GA, his family moved to Jacksonville when he was a year old. After graduating from high school in Jacksonville and serving six years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and Berlin Airlift, Barker attended Jacksonville University where he graduated with honors in 1959. In fact, he is a member of the first fouryear class to graduate from JU and continues to support his alma mater.

He then moved to South Florida and, for more than two decades, was Corporate Affairs manager for Southern Bell, lobbying in Tallahassee, handling public relations as well as managing the Coral Gables office, the largest facility in area. As a consultant, Barker now helps businesses with marketing, public relations and community affairs, an area in which he is an expert. He currently serves on the board of directors of International Finance Bank.

Barker’s Southern drawl and affable ways form a combination that has served him well over the years. Volunteering time as a member of various non-profit and community boards, Barker’s natural leadership abilities quickly come to the surface as he meets challenges in both the business and non-profit arena. Before long, he is in charge.

This becomes evident as one reviews the many organizations for which he has become president. Among that list are such notables as the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Junior Orange Bowl Committee, Orange Bowl Committee, Dade League of Cities, and Rotary Club of Coral Gables. In addition, he has served as an board member of the Rotary Club of Miami, not to mention all the other offices he has held as a non-profit volunteer for the previously named organizations as well as the Disabled Boy Scouts of Dade and Goodwill Industries.

In fact, Barker was the campaign coordinator for United Way in 1978 and 1983, and then, in 1985, the United Way community chair, no easy task. He served nine years on the board of directors for Doctors Hospital and was appointed by Florida Gov. Reubin Askew to the Florida Council of International Development.

Barker’s love for the City of Coral Gables inspired him to run for the city commission where he was elected to three consecutive four-year terms ending in 2001.

A man of faith, Jim Barker serves as Sunday school director at University Baptist Church where he also has volunteered time in the past as a Deacon in addition to serving on the Finance and Jail ministries.

In 2008, Barker was a distinguished honoree for the George E. Merrick Award of Excellence.

Jim Barker resides in Coral Gables with his wife, Montye.

What could be better than working with one of your children every day. Dr. Jack Cohn has had the good fortune of having his son, Adam, follow in his professional footsteps.

Dr. Jack Cohn grew up in South Miami and attended Coral Gables High School. Years later after graduating Dental school at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond he longed for his South Florida weather and lifestyle. Dr. Jack has practiced Dentistry in South Miami/Kendall for thirtyfive years. During this time he has been President of the South Dade Dental Society and a delegate to the Florida Dental Association. Dr. Jack has achieved the status of Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. His constant participation in post-graduate education is probably what piqued Dr. Adam’s interest in the dental field.

Dr. Adam Cohn grew up in the Palmetto area and attended Palmetto Senior High School then attended the University of Florida and received his dental degree at Nova Southeastern University. His plan was always to return to his neighborhood and join his father.

Since graduating from dental school in 2007 he has been involved in several local dental societies and study groups. Dr. Adam has participated in the pro bono Pankey Institute Dental Access Days with his Dad.

Dr. Adam Cohn also brought computerization and the latest digital radiography (x-rays) to the practice which recently relocated to 9840 S.W. 77 Ave. Together Dr. Adam and Dr. Jack designed their ideal office with state of the art technology. A website has been added to facilitate patient education at < www.smilemiami.com >.

All of the latest cosmetic procedures are available and implant based Reconstructive Dentistry is also performed. The caring part of patient doctor relationship is what Dr. Jack has emphasized during their tenure together, ” Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care”.

Maintaining this type of work environment has been their mission. Both doctors have a gentle bedside manner and this “family” practice is a labor of love. They employ a gentle and caring staff that have been a part of the team for many years. The staff takes pride in making sure each and every patient is relaxed, comfortable and at ease.

Smile Miami invites you to visit the office, for more information call 305-598-1428.

G. W. Carver Elementary and G.W. Carver Middle schools will host their 35th annual “Friends of Carver” Casino Night Cocktail and Silent Auction on Friday, Apr. 23, from 7 to 11 p.m., at the Coral Gables Woman’s Club, 1001 E. Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables.

The cost is $40 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres, beer/wine, and some gambling chips. Additional casino chips can be purchased at the event. To RSVP, purchase tickets or for additional information, contact chair Alba Biondi at 305-323-2595 or by email at < albabiondi@gmail.com >.

Guests will play popular casino games such as Blackjack, Roulette, and Craps. The top casino winners will receive prizes. While taking a break from the tables, attendees can partake in appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, and bid on a variety of fabulous auction items. Auction items include a four-day cruise to the Caribbean, restaurant certificates, hotel accommodations, entertainment tickets and much more.

The event is sponsored by the Parent Teacher Associations at G.W. Carver Elementary School and G.W. Carver Middle School. Proceeds will go towards the purchase of a new sound system for the G.W. Carver Auditorium, shared by both schools. G.W. Carver Elementary School, with students currently enrolled in grades K-5, is located at 238 Grand Ave. in Coral Gables. Little Carver, as it is fondly known, offers a Pre-International Baccalaureate/Foreign Language Program for Spanish and Italian.

For information, visit online at < http://littlecarver.dadeschools.net//lcarver08 >. G.W. Carver Middle School is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, an “A” school, and is the No. 1 ranked middle school in the state of Florida. Amagnet school for international education and advanced academics, G.W. Carver Middle School is the only public middle school recognized by the French, German and Spanish governments and accredited by France and Spain. All students at G.W. Carver Middle School study French, German, Spanish or Italian and their respective cultures at an advanced or honors level. G.W. Carver Middle, is located at 4901 Lincoln Dr. in Miami.

For more information, visit online at < http://carver.dade.k12.fl.us >.

Dr. RANDY GROH

Apassion for dentistry and photography, along with a desire to make our community a better place, combine to keep Dr. Randy Groh, DDS, busy on a regular basis. Whether he is treating dental patients in his Coral Gables office, providing dental care for wild animals at area attractions, or volunteering as a member of various civic and charitable organizations, Groh always can be counted on to do his best, and always with a smile.

Born in Wilmington, DE, in 1960, Groh grew up in Media, PA. He distinguished himself early on by graduating with academic distinction from S w a r t h m o r e College and then graduating cum laude from Georgetown University School of Dentistry. After moving to Florida in 1986 to complete his first post-doctoral residency at Miami Children’s Hospital, he spent a year at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital completing a Fellowship in Anesthesiology.

This year Groh celebrates his 22nd year in dentistry in Coral Gables. For the past 10 years he has worked out of his Alhambra Circle location, where he partners with two other Gables icons, Richard Souviron and Arnie Mannis. The three doctors make up The Dental Leaders team and offer more than 100 years of dental practice experience.

Groh is a co-founder of the Craniofacial Team at Miami Children’s Hospital, which coordinates care and treats children with cleft palates and other facial differences. Both Groh and Souviron are the Veterinary Dental Consultants for Miami Metrozoo, Jungle Island, and Monkey Jungle, where they have treated lions, tigers, elephants, and even hippos.

Of course, Groh’s special expertise in cosmetic dentistry has brought him national acclaim for work he has done for professional athletes and models who have graced the covers of many magazines. In fact, the 2005 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue contained no less than eight photographs of his cosmetic patients.

While renowned as a dentist, Groh also is an accomplished photographer. He chairs the Junior Orange Bowl Committee’s Annual Photography Competition, an event he took over and brought to a new level with more participants than ever and quality entries from public and private schools from all over Miami Dade County.

In addition, Groh is a very active member of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables and frequently may be seen volunteering his time for the club’s many outreach programs and matching funds for worthy causes.

Like his friend, Ron Magill of Metrozoo, Randy Groh never travels without a camera and he takes the most incredible photos one can imagine. You may ask any of his patients about his talent in this regard as his photographs decorate the walls of his offices to the delight of his many patients.

Groh has been married to his wife, Jan, for 18 years and they have three children.