Hosted by Luis Andre Gazitua

For our next Three Questions feature, I am proud to spotlight Lissette Calderon, Founder and CEO of Neology Group, a Coconut Grove based real estate development firm with a massive footprint across Miami’s urban core.

Lissette and I have known each other for almost twenty years. In that time, I have watched her build one of the most respected women-founded development platforms in South Florida. Her team has delivered more than 3,000 residential units across Miami’s urban core, with a portfolio spanning nearly 5 million square feet and valued at more than $2 billion. Neology also has more than 2,000 additional units in pre-construction and permitting across South Florida.

We are featuring Lissette not only because of what she has built but because of how she is using her Coconut Grove-based firm to IMPACT the next generation of women leaders. Through Neology Group’s Women in Real Estate Internship, known as WiRE, she brings young women from across Miami-Dade County to Coconut Grove to explore careers in commercial real estate and advance their professional paths.

WiRE is an annual competitive internship program designed for driven female high school and college students from diverse backgrounds. A limited group of select participants explore careers in development, construction, finance, investments, law, public policy, marketing, and property management. Through hands-on workshops, team projects, site visits, and mentorship, they gain firsthand insight into the many career paths inside commercial real estate.

What is your oldest memory of Coconut Grove?

My oldest memories of Coconut Grove date back to the early 1990s when I was a student at Coral Gables Senior High School and had just gotten my first car. My friends and I would drive around Main Highway with the windows down, convinced the most important thing in the world was seeing who was in the Grove that night. We tried our luck getting into places like Sandbar and Sharkey’s, only to find out we weren’t 21.

Back then, the Grove was quirky, local, and full of life. CocoWalk had just opened, Barracuda was always buzzing, and every weekend seemed to end with running into half of Miami. As we headed off to college, Scotty’s Landing became our unofficial reunion spot, where we would gather each summer for fish sandwiches (no paprika) at Dinner Key and catch up with friends.

One of my favorite memories came later when I first met my now husband at Señor Frog’s. Looking back, Coconut Grove wasn’t just where I spent my youth. It was where some of life’s most important chapters began. From my first taste of freedom behind the wheel of a car to lifelong friendships and eventually meeting my husband, many of my fondest memories are rooted in the Grove.

Where do you see the biggest opportunity for the Grove over the next 12 to 18 months?

Coconut Grove has always been more than a place. It is a lifestyle. What makes it so special is that it continues to be woven into people’s lives across generations.

Years after spending my high school days and college breaks in the Grove, I found myself buying my first home here and raising my daughters in the same neighborhood that had already given me so many memories. From bringing them to A.C.’s Icees after school and taking our dogs to Kennedy Park to enjoying lunches by the water and still running into familiar faces, the Grove has remained a constant throughout every stage of life.

That is why I believe the biggest opportunity over the next 12 to 18 months is proving that growth and history can coexist.

The Grove has never stood still. It has evolved over generations, but it has remained special because it has held onto the qualities that define it: its sense of place, vibrant local businesses, walkability, connection to the waterfront, and strong community fabric.

As long as we continue to welcome new residents, businesses, and ideas while preserving the character that people have always loved, future generations will have the same opportunity to create their own memories and traditions here as so many of us have.

What is your favorite thing to do in Coconut Grove?

One of my favorite traditions is what we call “Freebee Fridays,” when our Neology team hops on the Freebee ID Buzz Bus and heads to local favorites, including Bombay Darbar, for lunch together. With Neology Group’s corporate offices based in Coconut Grove, we enjoy taking advantage of the neighborhood’s walkability, waterfront views, and unique character.

About Luis Andre

Luis Andre Gazitua is a long-time Coconut Grove resident, advocate, investor, and board member of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District. He works at the intersection of government, business, and public affairs, helping teams navigate complex processes and build practical partnerships that strengthen the region.