George Garrett is currently the City Manager for the City of Marathon.
He attained Bachelor degrees in Biology and Chemistry from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master’s degree in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island.
George began work in the Keys with the Florida Department of Natural Resources developing a Keys-wide Aquatic Preserve Management Plan. He then became a biologist for Monroe County and a year later became its Director of Environmental Resources. In 1991 he became the Sr. Director of Marine Resources and GIS Services, a position that he held until 2007. George has worked for the City of Marathon for almost fifteen years and is now utilizing his experience as the City's Manager. As Manager, he is working with his staff to manage growth within the City, protect its remaining unique upland and aquatic habitat, provide and maintain parks and recreation facilities and two very active marinas, manage a city-wide wastewater and stormwater system, and finally, prepare for coastal resiliency and sea level rise.
George has enjoyed working on water quality issues in the Keys for his entire career here working on the development of the Florida Keys Sanctuary Management Plan in the early 1990s linked heavily to the water quality elements of the County’s Comprehensive Plan. During the years from 1995 through the early 2000s, he worked to develop the County-wide Wastewater Master Plan, Stormwater Master Plan and the first version of the Canal Restoration Master Plan.
Mr. Garrett is currently the Chair of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, is a member of the Water Quality Protection Program Steering Committee Canal Restoration sub-committee. He is the Chair of the Florida Keys Land & Sea `Trust, the current vice-president and past-President of the Rotary Club of Marathon and is the Board President of Leadership Monroe County.
George is an avid bicyclist and loves to dive both SCUBA and freediving.
READ ABOUT LOU
Two class members are elected each year by their classmates to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors. Below are the members of the board:
Dr. Karen Neely is a research scientist with Nova Southeastern University. Based out of the Lower Keys, her lab is leading efforts within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to save large, high-priority corals from numerous stressors, including an unprecedented coral disease outbreak. She is also heavily involved in monitoring and assisted reproduction efforts on rare coral species. In her free time, Dr. Neely leads a Girl Scout troop and is the event coordinator for the Keys Girl Scout community. She is also a flute player and treasurer of the Keys Chamber Orchestra. An alumni of LMC class XXVIII (“Rockstars”), Dr. Neely believes that leadership means looking ahead and facilitating opportunities for learning and growth.
My Florida Keys heritage started with my grandfather. He was stationed in Key West as a Naval diesel submariner. I grew up in Key West, graduating from Key West High School. After graduation, I decided to leave Key West and serve my Country. I enlisted in the United States Airforce as an F-16 Crew Chief (Fighter jet mechanic). USAF allowed me to see the world. I was deployed to Balad Airbase, Iraq, in 2005. After serving eight years in the Air Force, I wanted to start my career in law enforcement. I was hired on by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. I want to be a part of the team to help lead and educate the community. Teamwork and community are a large part of my life law enforcement career. I take pride in every aspect of my job as a Monroe County Deputy.
The Keys community and One Human Family motto have been the foundation of my upbringing. At the age of twelve, I was declared an honorary Rotarian by the Sunrise Rotary club for my community service. I have been partnering with the M.A.R.C. house and S.O.S. foundation to help provide services to locals.
Since the Millitary will always be a part of my life, I joined the Military Affairs Community. M.A.C. is a non-profit that helps military members adjust to keys living. M.A.C. also supports Gerald Adams elementary school. Mentoring is a huge part of my career as a law enforcement deputy. So, being able to work with Monroe Coutny school system gives me great pleasure. I volunteer my time as a mentor with Take Stock in children.
One of my mentors told me about Leadership Monroe County. I was fortunate enough to be selected to Class XXVIII the Trailblazers. This program has given me more friends and community partners then I could have ever imagined. My class has elected me to the LMC Board of Directors. It is an honor to serve my class and community onace again.
To some it all up in a nutshell. I want to be a part of the one Human Family Team. My wife is a 5th generation conch. She is an educator and our kids attend the local schools. I am deeply rooted in the Florida Keys and want to share my experience with anyone that wants to listen.
Class XVI
Elected to the Board in 2008-2011, and subsequently appointed as Program Coordinator beginning with Class XX in 2011.
Michael also co-chairs the Arts, Culture & Media Session. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations and business activities while coordinating and attending each session throughout the class year.
He is the founder of the Key West Film Society and former CEO/ED of the Tropic Cinema, and has served as the Chair of the Monroe County Library Advisory Board, the Chair of the Key West Art in Public Places Board, President of the Tennessee Williams Performing Arts Theater, Executive Director of Art Behind Bars, and currently on the Board of the Key West Art and Historical Society. He serves as the Dean of the Awesome Foundation Key West, too!
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