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.
Bruce Halle grew up in Madison, WI where he attended the University of Wisconsin and retired after forty years in the financial and banking industry.
He began his career with American Express in New York, NY, in January 1971, as Director of Customer Service. After fifteen years, he left American Express and joined Citibank in Melville, NY, as part of their Customer Service organization in their North America Credit Card division.
He worked in a number of sites in virtually all phases of operations in locations such Las Vegas, NV; Hunt Valley, MD; Hagerstown, MD: and Jacksonville, FL. He also spent four years in Brussels, Belgium, where he coordinated the European Credit Card conversion and represented the Citi Consumer Bank at the EU.
As a Managing Director in his later years for Citi’s Global Consumer Bank, Bruce traveled extensively throughout the world where he utilized his many years of knowledge and expertise to lead in areas of Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures; Strategic Site Planning, Real Estate Coordination; Continuity of Business; Pandemic & Disaster Recovery; Credit Card Association Management and various ad hoc Project Management assignments. His abilities to network, think strategically and drive for results allowed him to bring his projects in on time and under budget.
Retiring from Citi in 2015, Bruce joined the City of Layton Town Council that fall. In 2018, he became and still is the Mayor after serving as Vice Mayor for the previous two years. Currently, he serves on the Monroe County District 1 Fire & Ambulance Board of Governors, the Foundation Board of the College of the Florida Keys, is co-chair of Keys Strong and is a Board member and Treasurer of the Leadership Monroe County.
He resides in Long Key, FL with is wife of 40 years, Linda, and their two Havenese, Lina and Coco. He enjoys golf and deep-sea fishing.
Kathleen “Kat” McKinney
I was born and raised in Miami. In April 1983, began work as a dispatcher for the Florida Highway Patrol in Miami. In April 1984, I went to the Florida Highway Patrol Academy, Tallahassee, Fl. Graduated with Highest GPA in my Class, “Executive Director” Award winner. Assigned to Miami, Troop E. Promoted to sergeant in 2002 and remained in Miami field ops. Transferred to our Investigations section in 2004. In 2004, I promoted to lieutenant in our Communications center, with oversight of both Monroe and Miami-Dade County operations.
In November 2008, I requested a transfer to Monroe County (After one of the Monroe troopers telling me I would love it) Well, I did. After all my years in Miami-Dade, Monroe County was a breath of fresh air. Fantastic working relationships with other law enforcement partners.
Irma marked the beginning of major life changing events. Lost 99% of my stuff (I was living in an RV on Scout Key). I worked in the Emergency Operations Center during Irma, with Col. Caputo and Capt. Lee Ann Holroyd. I was fortunate to have been “adopted” by Lee Ann (LMC Alumni) who was willing to put a roof over my head, for as long as I needed. My friendship with Lee Ann, led to her asking Col. Caputo, “Do you know Kathy can sing?” He approached me about singing for his Mangrove Swamp Band, which I do to this day! Prior to Irma, I had been interested in Leadership Monroe, to expand my knowledge and networking in Monroe County. I put myself through Class XXVII (Best class EVER) and I have continued to expand my involvement with LMC.
I retired from FHP in May 2023, after 40 years with the state of Florida. I have become more fully involved in LMC as a board member. The Mangrove Swamp Band became a not for profit organization and we stay busy performing at various functions, with our goal to support music education and music, in general throughout Monroe County.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Colonel Lou Caputo, is a graduate of Class XIV has served on the Board since 2005, and been elected as President, VIce-President and At-Large DIrector on the Executive Committee. He leads the Opening Session and Environment Session with his tremendous passion for the community. He is a master musician, as well and plays several instruments with the Mangrove Swamp Band!
Two class members are elected each year by their classmates to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors. Below are the additional members of the board:
Nancy is a Lieutenant with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office
Donny Barrios is a Lieutenant and Station Commander, District 1, with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office
Mike Card is the Assistant Fire Marshall in Marathon
I graduated from Wake Forest University in 1984 with a BA in Biology. I worked as a veterinary and medical tech before moving with my husband to Key West in 1989. There, I worked for Jimmy Buffet and at Pepe’s for 10 yrs. In ’99 we sold everything we owned and bought an RV, traveling across the U.S. and working as volunteers and paid employees in various State, Federal and private sectors. I worked as a National Park Ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway until being hired by the Florida Park Service in 2012. I am now the manager of five State Parks in the Florida Keys and live in Islamorada, FL.
Jay Fraioli is the CEO of Media Counselors
Dr. Cynthia Lewis (with Burke next to her!) is Director at the Florida Keys Marine Laboratory (KML) and Associate Director at Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) where she has worked since 2008. Dr. Lewis received her bachelor’s degree at Cornell University and master’s degree at the University of Buffalo. She completed her PhD program at Florida International University, studying the effects of hyperthermal stress on coral symbiosis, bleaching, disease, and the microbiome in the federally listed pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus. Information gained from her work with pillar coral since 2014 prompted the establishment of land-based genetic rescue nurseries for this critically threatened species, involving multiple federal, state, and local partners.
Dr. Lewis is the KML delegate to the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC). Additionally, she maintains active status as an American Academy of Underwater Science (AAUS) diver and is a NAUI Dive Master. Community involvement includes municipality representative to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, South Florida Coral Disease Advisory Council participant, councilwoman on the Layton City Council, member of Leadership Monroe County Class XXVIII, board member for Celebration of the Sea Foundation, and board member/treasurer/musician in the Florida Keys Community Concert Band.
Jacqueline Luhta is the Assistant VP and Business Development Officer for First Horizon Bank. She serves on the Board of AH Monroe, past member of Board of Directors for the Florida Keys SPCA, past Vice President and Board of Director for the Key West Business Guild, serves on the MCC & Cooking with Love Finance Committee, recipient of the Key West Chamber of Commerce Community Star Award, Fantasy Fest Campaign Manager/Treasurer for 4 winning campaigns, and a graduate of the Key West Ambassador Academy.
Paul Patterson is the Owner and CEO of Construction Inspectors and Associates.
I have been married to my wife Reetta for 20 years, and we have a 15 year old son, Caden. I was in Law Enforcement for 23 years, eight of the years with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, before medically retiring. I am now working on my memoir, doing guest appearances on Podcast and TV, helping coach the Marathon Highschool Football team (Go Dolphins), and volunteering with several Mental health organizations focusing on PTSD and Law Enforcement. .
Captain David Smith served six years in the United States Air Force in support of Operation Red Flag in Las Vegas, Nevada, deployed to Iraq and supported several Army ground operations in Theater. In 2005, Captain Smith received an honorable discharge from USAF and attended the Basic Law Enforcement Academy. Captain Smith started his law enforcement career as a patrol officer for several years and was selected to work in the Special Investigations Narcotics Unit. He worked as a Canine Handler, Drone Operator, Surveillance/electronics operator and Narcotics Officer. Captain Smith also went through the rigorous selection and training process and served on his agency SWAT team.
Captain Smith has been a CJSTC Instructor since 2008 and continues to teach as an adjunct instructor for the college as well as in-house training. He is a firearms instructor as well as a driving instructor. During this same time frame, Captain Smith continued his education, receiving his Associates Degree while working full time.
Captain Smith was promoted to Sergeant in 2012 and in 2015, given the prestigious position as the Detective Sergeant with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
In 2019, Captain Smith was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in charge of all security and personnel at the Key West International Airport. After a year assigned to the airport, Captain Smith transferred to Professional Standards/Internal Affairs. During this time, he trained for and became the Accreditation Manager as well as the Lieutenant in charge of Internal affairs.
In 2021, the Sheriff asked Captain Smith to take his prior experience and management skills to the Training Division. As the Lieutenant in charge of training, David oversaw the training and all associated standards and statutes for more than 590 members of the agency.
In 2022 David Smith was promoted to Captain of the Lower Keys District and Key West. As the Captain, David oversees all community and District concerns. He is continuously involved in the community, a member of Military Affairs Committee, a Board Member of Wesley House, The Domestic Abuse Shelter, a member of Key West Rotary, a graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class XXVIII, a graduate of Southern Police Institute, Command Officer Development, Florida Sheriffs Association Commanders Academy, FBI LEEDA trained, and currently enrolled in college seeking a degree in Business Administration.
Dr. Lesley Thompson, graduate of Class XX, is the Director of Exceptional Student Education & Student Services for the Monroe County School District, Chairwoman of the Lower Keys Hospital Board, Monroe County Special Olympics fundraising chair, a Fulbright Scholar, and Past Administrator of the Year for Monroe County and the State of Florida. Have served on many community boards, including Children's Shelter, Eary Learning Coalition, HSAV.
Michael Shields, Class XVI, was elected to the LMC Board in 2008, and in 2011 was appointed as Program Coordinator, starting with Class XX and serving continuously in this capacity. He is the founder of the Key West Film Society, served as the first President of the Board, and as Executive Director of the Tropic Cinema. He has also served as Chair of the Key West Art in Public Places Board, Chair of the Monroe County Library Board, Chair of the Tennessee Williams Performing Arts Center, Executive Director of Art Behind Bars, Executive Director of the Paradise Ballet Theatre, and a past member of the Key West ACLU Board. He currently is on the Board of the Key West Art & Historical Society, and is Dean of the Awesome Foundation Key West. He is an avid gardener, coffee lover, cinephile and jazz aficionado.
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