May Members in Motion
May’s Members in Motion at The Anchorage Resort brought together great company, stunning views, a generous raffle, and delicious bites from Key Largo Conch House. See more photos on page 8
In This Issue
Presidents Corner PAGE 3
Florida Tourism Record PAGE 4
Hurricane Season Activity PAGE 6
Members in Motion PAGES 8 & 9
Upcoming Events PAGE 10
Luncheon Happenings PAGES 14 & 15
Seafood Ceviche Recipe PAGE 17
Trustee Members PAGE 19
Credits:
Key Largo Chamber of Commerce Market Design Connect with Nikki Dunn Cullen
Key Largo Chamber of Commerce 106000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 305-451-1414
www.keylargochamber.org
Key Largo Chamber of Commerce
Legacy Members
X Henry Quintana
X HNO Productions
X Michael Rojewski Realtor
X Gretchen Holland
X Coral Reef Title
X Arla Marr
X Borland & Associates, Roberto & Ana Alonso
X In Loving Memory of Stuart Marr
X Boilini Eye Care
X Dennis and Lee Caltagirone
X Coldwell Banker Schmitt Real Estate
X Centennial Bank
X J.A. LaRocco Enterprise Inc. & All Keys Concrete, LLC
X SBI Window + Doors
President's Corner: Fill Your Own Cup
This month began with a heartbreak that no one in our community was prepared for—the tragic loss of a young life in a traffic accident. From the grieving family and friends to the first responders and classmates, this tragedy rippled through the Upper Keys, touching nearly everyone.
In moments like these, we are reminded how close-knit our community truly is. We show up for each other, we grieve together, and we offer support however we can. That’s part of what makes our little part of the world so special. But in our effort to care for others, we often forget a simple but powerful truth: we must also care for ourselves.
You’ve probably heard the advice, “Put your own oxygen mask on first,” or “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” These aren’t just clichés, they are reminders of how important it is to tend to our own well-being, especially when we’re called to be there for others.
Let’s be honest: most of us try to power through during difficult times. We stay busy, we help others, we put on a brave face. And while caregiving, offering encouragement, and being strong for our families or teams can be noble, suppressing our own needs for too long takes a toll. If you're feeling exhausted, disconnected, or overwhelmed, it's time to check in with yourself—not just for your sake, but for the people who count on you.
Stress and grief don’t always look the same for everyone. Sometimes it shows up as anxiety, burnout, or even just that feeling of being emotionally drained. These are normal responses to extraordinary events, whether it’s a personal loss, the weight of leadership, or the cumulative stress of day-to-day responsibilities. And the truth is, many of us are carrying more than we let on.
As business owners and business professionals, we often juggle more
than most: managing teams, solving problems, caring for employees and customers, while also showing up for our families and friends. It's a lot. And often, our own mental health ends up last on the list. So how do we “fill our cups” in real, meaningful ways?
Make time for self-care. This isn’t about spa days (though if that’s your thing, go for it!) Self-care means carving out time to do what restores you, whether that’s exercise, meditation, hobbies, reading, or simply spending time with the people who bring you joy. This is a necessity.
Unplug and disconnect. In a hyperconnected world, stepping away from our devices is one of the healthiest boundaries we can set. Choose times in your day, or even entire weekends, when you disconnect from email, social media, and work-related stress. Be present with your loved ones and with yourself.
Set clear boundaries. It’s easy to tell your staff to “unplug” after hours. But are you doing it too? As leaders, we often blur the line between work and personal life. Let your team know your boundaries and respect theirs. It fosters a healthier work environment and sets a strong example.
Talk to someone. You don’t have to carry everything alone. Whether it’s a trusted friend, a fellow business owner, or a mental health professional, reaching out and sharing your struggles can be a powerful step toward healing and resilience. If your workplace offers employee assistance programs, consider making use of those resources and encourage your staff to do the same.
Find joy and give yourself permission to have fun. It’s easy to forget who we are outside of our jobs. Take a walk. Go
Suzi Youngberg President of Key Largo Chamber of Commerce
on that weekend camping trip. Pick up a hobby or revisit an old passion. Laugh. Be silly. Do something just for the joy of it. These small moments of joy have a huge impact on your well-being.
Remember, you’re not alone. So many in our community are navigating personal losses, increased demands, and emotional fatigue. By choosing to prioritize your own well-being, you not only strengthen yourself, but you also become a better friend, leader, and neighbor.
As we hold the families affected by this tragedy close to our hearts, let it also be a reminder to treat ourselves with kindness and compassion. Caring for your own mental and emotional health is not selfish. It’s the foundation that allows you to keep showing up—for your business, your community, and those you love.
Let’s continue to lean on one another. And as we do, let’s also remember to rest, reset, and refill our cups so that we can keep pouring love, strength, and support into our incredible community.
Florida Sets New Tourism Record
2024 Marks Highest Annual Visitation in State History
Source: myflorida.com
Latest data confirms that Florida set a new all-time annual record in 2024 with 143 million visitors—an increase of 1.7% over the previous record set in 2023. This historic growth includes 130.65 million domestic travelers, 8.94 million overseas visitors, and 3.41 million Canadian tourists. And, in 2024, the State of Florida collected billions in sales tax revenue from these tourists.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis also announced that Florida welcomed 41.2 million visitors in the first quarter of 2025, reinforcing the Free State of Florida’s position as the nation’s top
travel destination and a global tourism powerhouse.
“Florida’s tourism industry leads the nation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These results are proof that our freedom-first policies work—and that Florida remains the best place to visit, work, and raise a family.”
Key Highlights from Q1 2025:
• 41.2 million total visitors, maintaining Florida’s national tourism leadership.
• 91.9% domestic visitation, with 37.9 million domestic travelers, up 0.2% from Q1 2024.
• 2.1 million overseas visitors and 1.2 million Canadian visitors, making up 5.1% and 3.0% of total visitation, respectively.
• Domestic non-resident travelers: 35.8% arrived by air, 64.2% by non-air travel.
• 29.4 million total enplanements at Florida’s 19 major airports. Airports with the highest growth included Punta Gorda (+23.6%), St. Petersburg–Clearwater (+7.7%), and Daytona Beach (+7.4%).
• Hotel performance: +2.4% increase in rooms sold, Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose to $227.22 (+2.2%), and occupancy reached 75.7% (+1.6%).
Florida’s consistent growth in tourism not only reflects the state’s broad appeal but also fuels economic strength, supporting jobs, businesses, and communities across the state. With continued investment and strategic promotion, Florida is positioned for even greater success as the most visited destination in the United States.
“In the heart of every challenge, community is where we find our strength.”
Hurricane Season
Early forecasts predict above-average activity
On the heels of one of the more devastating Florida hurricane seasons in recent memory, forecasters are calling for another above-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2025.
The pre-season forecast from Colorado State University, a pioneer in the realm of early storm season predictions, calls for 17 named storms, nine of which could strengthen to hurricanes and four of which could become major hurricanes — category 3 or higher.
“Not as active as we were forecasting last year at this time,” said Phil Klotzbach, CSU meteorologist and lead author of the forecast, told a crowd of meteorologists at the National Tropical Weather Conference on Thursday morning. While the Atlantic isn’t quite as blisteringly warm as it was last year — to devastating effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast — it’s still warmer than usual, and the cooling powers of the El Niño weather phenomena likely won’t be in play this year. The gold standard for predicting the Atlantic hurricane season is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecast in May. Generally, earlier predictions
are less accurate than predictions made closer to the start of the season. “In April, the uncertainty is fairly large. We’re still four months ahead of when things really ramp up,” Klotzbach said. These predictions assess the weather phenomena that could point to a more or less active season and include an educated guess at the number of storms that could form as a result. So far, no one is able to accurately guess the biggest question of hurricane season in advance — who will get hit? But, forecasters say, the more storms that form the higher the likelihood gets that someone gets whacked.
“We know, in general, busier seasons are going to have more landfalls. It’s not a guarantee,” Klotzbach said. “Obviously we can never say in April — heck, in August — a storm will make landfall at a certain point.” CSU’s prediction is slightly above the handful of other groups that have issued
pre-season predictions, including Accuweather and WeatherTiger, both of which called for fewer storms than CSU and an average season. “The overall vibe contemplating the season ahead is less apocalyptic than last year due to water temperatures in portions of the Tropical Atlantic easing towards normal, plus uncertainty in the El Nino/La Nina outlook,” Ryan Truchelut, head of WeatherTiger, wrote in a newsletter. Last year, CSU predicted the above-average season would include 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes. The 2024 hurricane season ended up with 18 named storms, 11 of which became hurricanes and five of which became major hurricanes. That included the double whammy of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which submerged Florida’s west coast and drowned mountain towns in North Carolina. Last year also saw Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 storm on record.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and ends on November 30.
May Members in Motion!
Our Members in Motion after hours event was a breeze—literally! While the rain threatened, it held off and gave us a perfect bay breeze instead. Huge thanks to The Anchorage Resort for the stunning setting and to Key Largo Conch House for the delicious bites and sweet treats. One of the highlights? The raffle! A lucky winner took home a 2-night stay at The Anchorage, with extra goodies for our second and third prize winners. New connections, new members, and community at its finest.
all our up-to-date events on our website, www.web.keylargochamber.org/events or scan the QR Code
We’re excited to introduce our new Key Largo Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility located in the heart of Key Largo, as we continue to bring over 50 years of comprehensive care in Key West, Marathon, and Key Largo. This new location marks another milestone in our mission to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare in convenient locations for the communities that need it most, with dedicated and experienced primary care and pediatric professionals ready to serve you and your family.
July 17, 2025
Key Largo Health Center
228 Atlantic Blvd
Key Largo, FL 33037
5:30pm to 7:30pm
May Luncheon: State of the County
Great times at the beautiful Playa Largo Resort for a memorable afternoon of connection and community. We’re grateful to Mayor Jim Scholl for sharing valuable insights during his “State of the County” presentation, and to our luncheon sponsor, Florida SBDC at FIU, for their generous support and thoughtful contributions.
Congratulations to Christina Teasley (Key Largo Public Library) and Naomi Trevino (Islamorada Public Library), honored as SBDC’s 2025 Partners of the Year.
A special thank you to Key West International Airport for their generous $15,000 sponsorship of our 49th Annual Fourth of July Parade, Picnic, and Fireworks! We appreciate your continued support in bringing this wonderful event to our community! Looking forward to seeing you all at our next event.
Visit our Social Media platforms to see all the photos: linktr.ee/keylargochamberofcommerce
SBDC presentation of awards.
Thank you, Trustees!
New member Three Waters Resort.
Andres, Mary, Heather, Manuela.
Laura and Jill.
Mayor Jim Scholl speaking.
Richard, Kristin and Mayor Jim Scholl
Chamber President Suzi Youngberg.
Key West International Airport.
Bonnie with SBDC.
Your 2025 Chamber Board of Directors
Henry Menendez 2024 - 2026 Chairman of the Board of Directors
HNO Productions – Owner/Operator
Roberto Alonso (2025-2027)
Borland & Associates President
Angie Alvarez (2024 -2026)
Centennial Bank Branch Manager
Manuel Alvarez (2024-2026)
Verdeja, De Armas & Trujillo, CPA
Berta Bravo (2024 – 2026)
SBI Windows & Doors Owner
Spenser Bryan (2025-2027)
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Captain
Kevin Donlan (2024-2026)
Publix Supermarkets, Inc
District Director
Melissa Fernandez (2025-2027)
All Keys Concrete Communications & Sales
Cathy Gahagen (2024-2026)
The Catch Owner
Suzanne Holmquist (2025-2027)
Calypso Watersports & Charters Proprietor
Mary Houston (2025-2027)
Houston Insurance Agency Owner
Michelle Kane (2025-2027)
Vernis & Bowling of the Florida Keys, PA Attorney
Michael Rojewski – Chairman Elect (2023–2025)
Michael Rojewski Group Owner
Ruth Schrader-Grace (2025 - 2026)
Keys Core Fitness Owner/Operator
Blaine Vernicek (2025 - 2027)
The Structure Group Manager
A RECIPE FOR HOT DAYS
Seafood Ceviche
Ingredients:
X 1 lb. peeled and deveined fresh Key West pink shrimp and/or fish such as mahi-mahi, snapper or grouper, chopped into small pieces
X 1 red onion, diced
X 1 red bell pepper, diced
X 1 green bell pepper, diced
X 2 jalapeno peppers (seeds removed), diced (optional)
X 2 large tomatoes, chopped
X 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped
X 2 teaspoon salt
X 1 teaspoon pepper
X 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
X Juice of 5 – 8 lemons or about 1 cup
X Juice from 5 – 8 limes or about 1 cup
X 1 large avocado, diced (optional)
Instructions
1. Add shrimp/fish and fruit juices to a large bowl.
2. Toss to insure the equal distribution of the citrus juice as that will be the process that cooks the shrimp/fish.
3. Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for approximately 4 hours or until shrimp/fish is not longer translucent.
4. Drain the seafood.
5. Mix in the remaining ingredients with the shrimp/fish.
This is a delicious, low calorie, and healthy snack or appetizer to beat the heat on hot summer days. during those hot days! Serve with tortilla chips.
Source: www.thekeywester.com
The Legendary Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center
Use FKEC SmartHub for Convenience and Security
X Receive your bill electronically.
X Pay your bill securely online.
X Enroll in Autopay for more convenience.
X View and track your energy usage data.
X Access your account anytime, anywhere for added security.
X Access FKEC’s Live Power Outage Map.
X Contact us 24/7 to report an issue, submit a general inquiry.
X Other features include news releases, Florida Currents magazine, and FKEC’s live weather stations. Visit www.FKEC.com or scan the QR code to get the MOBILE APP!
24/7 Services Available at: SmartHub, www.FKEC.com and 305-852-2431 If you have any concerns or questions about coordinating an inspection, connect/disconnect or other requests please contact FKEC at 305-852-2431 or member.service@fkec.com.
