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July Members in Motion

Our July Members in Motion gathering was a wonderful evening of connection, conversation, and community as members and guests came together at the beautiful offices of Mary Houston and the team at Houston Insurance Agency in Tavernier. The event provided the perfect setting to step away from our busy schedules, reconnect with fellow Chamber members, and strengthen the relationships that make our business community so special. The welcoming atmosphere reflected the spirit of the Chamber, by bringing people together to build meaningful connections that support both personal and professional success. Houston Insurance Agency’s hospitality made the evening especially memorable, creating an experience that was equal parts business and celebration. July’s Members in Motion was yet another reminder that the strongest communities are built one relationship at a time.

In This Issue

President's Corner PAGE 3

4th of July Recap PAGE 4

Mosquitoes Bugging You? PAGE 6

The Death of "Browsing' PAGE 8

Members in Motion PAGES 10

County Eyeing Cuts PAGE 12

Upcoming Events PAGE 14

Why Become a Trustee PAGE 16

Chamber Luncheon PAGES 18

Thank you Trustees PAGE 21

TDC Tourism Update & Keys Season PAGE 22

2026 Board of Directors PAGE 24

Creamy Shimp Avocado Salad PAGE 27

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

Join the Chamber's exclusive Legacy Member 100K Club to help raise $100,000 to pay off the chamber's mortgage and bolster reserves. The Key Largo Chamber is seeking 100 sponsorships of $1,000 per business or individual. Thank you to:

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

X Lance Holmquist

X New Edge Associates

The Gifts of Living in a Small Town

Every year, as summer begins to wind down and we look toward fall, something quietly changes here in the Florida Keys. The pace slows. Traffic eases. Familiar faces begin to outnumber unfamiliar ones, and for a little while, the Keys belong a little more to the people who call them home.

Don't get me wrong! We are incredibly grateful for our visitors. Tourism is the lifeblood of our local economy, supporting thousands of jobs and the small businesses that make our community thrive. We are fortunate that people from around the world choose to spend their vacations here, and we look forward to welcoming them every season.

But there is something uniquely special about this time of year.

When the crowds thin, we are reminded that beneath the destination the world knows and loves is a closeknit community built on friendships, shared experiences, and neighbors who genuinely care about one another.

That is one of the greatest gifts of living in a small town.

In larger cities, it's possible to go years without really knowing the people who live next door. Here, that's almost impossible. We know the cashier at the grocery store, the server at our favorite restaurant, the coach on the ball field, the teacher at our children's school, and the business owners who greet us by name. We celebrate milestones together, volunteer together, and rally around one another when someone is facing difficult times.

The flip side of that closeness is that we also feel loss more deeply. When we lose a member of our community, it rarely affects just one family or one circle of friends. It touches all of us because our lives are interconnected. That's the price, and the privilege of living in a place where people truly

know one another.

As we move into election season, that same sense of community becomes especially important.

Unlike national politics, local elections are personal. The candidates seeking office aren't strangers on our television screen. They are often people we know personally. And if we don’t know them already, one of the advantages of a small town is that it’s not too hard to meet them and have a conversation.

We won't always agree, and that's okay. Healthy communities are built on different perspectives and thoughtful conversations.

What matters is how we treat one another along the way.

Before posting an angry comment on social media or firing off an email in frustration, it's worth remembering that you'll probably see that person again at the grocery store, at your favorite local restaurant, at a Chamber event, on the sidelines of a youth sporting event, or while walking the dog. They're our friends, neighbors, customers, and fellow business owners. Living in a small town has a way of reminding us that relationships are far more valuable than winning an argument.

Kindness and respect never go out of style.

That spirit of connection is one of the reasons the Chamber exists.

Yes, we're here to promote local businesses, support tourism, and advocate for a strong local economy. But at our heart, we are in the people business. We create opportunities for neighbors to meet neighbors, businesses to support one another, and community leaders to engage with the people they serve. Whether it's a luncheon, a Members in Motion event, a ribbon cutting, a volunteer project, or one of our signature community

Suzi Youngberg President of Key Largo Chamber of Commerce

celebrations, every event is designed to strengthen the relationships that make Key Largo such a remarkable place to live and work.

Communities don't become strong by accident. They become strong because people choose to participate. They choose to show up. They choose to volunteer. They choose to support local businesses. They choose to welcome newcomers. They choose to disagree respectfully. And, perhaps most importantly, they choose to treat one another with kindness.

As we enjoy this quieter season in the Keys, I hope we'll all take a moment to appreciate what makes this place so extraordinary. It's certainly our beautiful waters, breathtaking sunsets, and tropical lifestyle. But more than that, it's the people.

The visitors who return year after year often tell us they've fallen in love with the Florida Keys. I believe what they're really falling in love with is something deeper. They fall for the warmth, authenticity, and sense of belonging that can only be found in a community like ours.

That's the true gift of living in a small town. And it's a gift worth cherishing.

4th of July Recap!

The 4th of July celebrations in Key Largo were over the top! Starting with the biggest, and wettest, Parade in its 50-year history! There were so many amazing floats the judges were hard pressed to pick winners.

We want to say a special thank you to our Grand Marshal! David Kay, better known as Video Dave, led the parade as Grand Marshal this year. He was driven by Carrie Grant from Hippiekit Green Products in her vintage convertible.

We also want to say another huge THANK YOU to the sponsors. We couldn’t do it without you!

Mosquitoes Bugging You?

Contact Florida Keys Mosquito Control

Nothing ruins a Keys sunset like a mosquito buzzing in for the last word. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District is on call to help. A licensed inspector will visit the property, answer questions, and hunt down whatever is breeding trouble, especially standing water.

Best part: FKMCD will drop off free mosquito-eating fish to patrol your ponds, fountains, or water features. Yes! Tiny bodyguards that slurp up larvae before they can ever take flight.

Submit a service request online at keysmosquito.org or call FKMCD at 305-292-7190.

The Death of ‘Browsing’ as We Know It

Something fundamental is disappearing from digital life, and most of us haven’t named it yet. It’s the idle drift through a bookstore, the semi-conscious flick through Netflix categories, the twenty-minute spiral of Amazon comparisons that somehow ends with a purchase you didn’t plan. We used to call this browsing—a low-stakes, meandering exploration of possibility. Today, it’s being replaced by a single prompt and an answer. People are asking AI what to buy, watch, and read instead of searching manually. The behavior isn’t just changing. It’s vanishing.

This shift is easy to miss because the outcomes look similar. You still end up with a movie, a product, a book. But the psychology of how you got there has been completely rewired. Browsing was an act of discovery with yourself as the agent. You judged covers, scanned reviews, followed associative trails. The new model outsources that entire process to a system that knows your preferences better than you do, or claims to. The question is whether what we gain in efficiency costs us something we haven’t learned to value yet.

From Discovery to Delegation

The transformation is already embedded in daily behavior. Consumers type

“What’s a good thriller for a rainy Sunday?” instead of browsing IMDb. They ask “What running shoes should I buy for flat feet under $150?” rather than comparing ten product pages. They prompt “Recommend me a novel like The Remains of the Day but set in contemporary Asia” and trust the output.

The search bar, once the gateway to exploration, is becoming a direct line to conclusion.

What makes this different from older forms of recommendation— algorithms, curated lists, friend suggestions—is the conversational authority of AI. A Netflix row of “Because you watched…” still leaves you to choose. A ChatGPT response framed as a confident, personalized recommendation feels like advice from a knowledgeable friend. The cognitive load drops to zero.

decision is made before you realize you were making one.

For platforms and publishers, this is an existential recalibration. SEO, discovery algorithms, and homepage real estate were built for browsers. They assumed attention would wander, that users could be intercepted midjourney. AI intermediation collapses that journey into a single exchange. If a consumer asks an AI for the best wireless earbuds and receives one answer, the entire ecosystem of comparison content, affiliate marketing, and sponsored placement becomes structurally irrelevant. The battle shifts from capturing attention during a search to being the answer before the question is asked.

The Trust Transfer

The most significant dynamic here is the transfer

of trust from institutions to interfaces. We used to trust brands, publications, and expert reviewers to curate quality. Then we trusted platforms— Amazon’s ratings, Rotten Tomatoes scores, Goodreads communities—to aggregate collective judgment. Now we are learning to trust a conversational layer that synthesizes all of the above into a single, confident response.

This trust is precarious. AI recommendations are only as good as their training data and the incentives of their makers. A model trained on affiliate-laden content will steer users toward products that generate revenue. A model with opaque sponsorship relationships will present commercial placement as organic advice. The consumer, relieved of comparison effort, is also relieved of the tools to

The

verify. The convenience is real. The vulnerability is hidden.

Early signals of backlash are emerging. Users report “AI fatigue”—a sense that recommendations feel generic, that every suggested movie is the same well-reviewed middlebrow choice, that the algorithmic friend knows their taste too well to surprise them. Browsing, for all its inefficiency, had serendipity built in. You stumbled into things. AI, optimized for relevance, filters out the stumble. The result can feel like eating at a restaurant where every dish is competently executed and nothing is memorable.

What Replaces the Wander

The death of browsing doesn’t mean the death of discovery. It means discovery is being redefined by those who control the intermediating layer. Brands now face a choice: optimize for AI visibility or fight to preserve direct relationships. The former means structuring content so models cite you, feeding clean data into training pipelines, and accepting that your customer relationship is mediated. The latter means building experiences—communities, events, physical spaces, interactive tools—that resist summarization.

Some categories will prove stubbornly resistant to full AI delegation. Fashion, where identity and tactile experience matter. Travel,

where the planning is part of the pleasure. Food, where discovery is social and sensory. In these domains, browsing may survive as a deliberate practice, even a luxury. The boutique that doesn’t have an AI chatbot, the restaurant without a digital presence, the bookstore that curates by hand—these become premium experiences precisely because they

demand the effort AI removes.

For the rest of daily consumption, the trajectory is clear. The manual search, the comparative scroll, the open-ended browse— these will persist as niche behaviors, much like vinyl records or physical newspapers. Functional, even beloved, but no longer default. The default will be asking, receiving, and

moving on. The question for consumers is whether they will miss the wandering enough to reclaim it. The question for builders is whether they can create AI experiences that preserve some of the friction and accident that made browsing human.

Source:

July Members in Motion!

A great host makes every event memorable, and Houston Insurance Agency certainly delivered! At our July Members in Motion, guests were treated to an incredible spread featuring delicious charcuterie, refreshing gelato, specialty coffee drinks, and champagne while mingling throughout the agency’s Tavernier office. It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends, make new connections, and celebrate the strong relationships that make our Chamber community thrive. Thank you to Houston Insurance Agency for their warm hospitality and for hosting such a memorable event!

County Eyeing Cuts Should Property Tax Relief Pass in November

Monroe County stands to lose an estimated $27.2 million in revenue by fiscal year 2028-29, if the question of cutting property taxes is approved by voters this November.

If enough Florida voters support the measure, primary homeowners would keep more money in their wallets with an increasing homestead exemption that would reach $250,000 by 2028, be adjusted to inflation in 2029 and eventually reach full exemption.

Earlier this month, Florida legislators in the House and Senate approved a joint resolution to ask voters whether they support phasing out — and eventually eliminating — property taxes on primary residences. School districts across the state are exempted and will be able to collect taxes on homesteaded properties. But counties, cities and special districts, like mosquito control, are bracing for potentially less revenue as soon as next year’s budget cycle if Florida voters say “yes” later this fall. In order for the phaseout and elimination to take effect, 60% of votes cast across the state would have to support the measure.

From there, the Legislature would have to approve a bill to implement the homestead exemption increase. Legislators in the House and

Senate would also need to provide a schedule to fully eliminate property taxes for primary residences.

In addition to raising the exemption on homesteads, from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, the joint resolution caps annual assessment increases on nonhomesteaded properties, such as commercial properties, secondary homes and vacation rentals, from 10% to 5%. John Quinn, county finance director, said two-thirds of the roughly $27 million in anticipated lost revenue to the county by 2028 would come from the adjusted annual assessment cap on non-homesteaded properties.

Coming off reductions in staff and services last year, Monroe County officials reignited discussions on more cost-cutting measures amid the potential revenue loss at a June 10 meeting in Key Largo. County Administrator Christine Hurley presented commissioners with various options, including reductions to the fiscal year 2028 budget for departments, constitutional offices and services that are funded with property tax dollars. Hurley said an analysis would be created to proportion out, based on use of ad valorem, how much each agency or department would need to

eliminate from their budget.

Constitutional officers, which include the offices of the state attorney, public defender, tax collector, clerk of the court, property appraiser, as well as the judicial court system and public safety account for 90.2% of the total county property tax levy, Quinn said. The remaining funds go toward county operations.

“You can’t expect to take all that money we’re going to lose from the county’s budget. It has to be distributed evenly,” commissioner Craig Cates said. “We all have to work together to address this.”

Updated fee structures, such as paid parking at public parks, will also be taken into consideration to address the possible loss in ad valorem dollars.

“This is not going to be pretty. None of us are going to enjoy it,” said commissioner David Rice. “I think the public will not like

it any more than we do when they see how it will affect their lives. But we’re going to have to do it.”

And as budget talks for fiscal year 2027 begin next month, county commissioners will mull whether employees should get a cost of living adjustment. Cates said he was against giving a raise this coming budget year given the potential loss of ad valorem revenue the following budget cycle.

“That could save somebody’s job in the future,” Cates said.

Commissioners agreed they’d like to see budget proposals showing either no raise or a cost of living adjustment of 2.7%. County officials said increases for fire rescue and sheriff’s deputies are already spelled out via contracts with the respective unions.

Hurley also presented commissioners with options that include consolidating

offices to cut down on utility costs and eliminating all internal and citizen committees not required by state or federal law. The county also can increase the sales tax by a penny to help fund fire protection and rescue services. Raising the sales tax would require voter approval. Tina Boan, assistant county administrator, said emergency and fire rescue rely heavily on property tax revenue.

“We have rising personnel, equipment and facility costs, and there’s an increasing demand for emergency services,” she said. “This would diversify our public safety funding sources. … It captures revenue from visitors and tourists.”

Shortening the work week to four days, or 32 hours, from a five-day, 40-hour work week was also floated during the meeting. Hurley called it an “extreme proposal” for the county as it would likely affect every employee’s salary. Commissioner Holly Raschein said only in a dire situation would she consider it, but she doesn’t feel the county is at that point yet. Rice agreed.

“I don’t think we want to throw it out as a possibility, but I’d like to see it as remote … and certainly wouldn’t intend to go that direction unless we’re at the end of the line and desperate.”

Source: Keys Weekly Newspaper, written by Jim McCarthy

The Legendary Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center

Thursday, August 6

Tuesday, August 11

Thursday, August 13

August Events

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OUR UP-TO-DATE EVENTS ON OUR WEBSITE

Yappy Hour!

MarrVelous Pet Rescues at Three Waters Resort

Bingo Night at Florida Keys Brewing Company

REEF Fish & Friends: Skies to Seas – Rescuing Birds in the Florida Keys

Chamber Social Networking Luncheon with Bryan Griffin CEO of Visit Florida

Friday, August 14 Shark Depredation Town Hall by Florida Bay Forever

Saturday, August 15

Sunday, August 16

Almighty Queen at Seminole Theatre

City Bikes Key Largo Triathlon at John Pennekamp

Wednesday, August 19 The Big Splash! By Wesley House Family Services

Saturday, August 22

Monday, August 24

Thursday, August 27

Immerse Yourself at History of Diving Museum

Delicate Balance of Nature: Outdoor Education's Impact on Ocean Conservation

Chamber Members in Motion at Key Largo Civic Club

— Maria Jones, Chief Administrative Officer and Assist. General Manager

We’re Ready. Are You?

July Networking Luncheon

The July luncheon at Playa Largo was another SOLD OUT event! We were thrilled to have so many members and non-members in attendance for the State of the County presentation from Mayor Michelle Lincoln. Three new members were inducted, including a new Trustee member! And we even had puppies thanks to MarrVelous Pet Rescues! The Playa Largo ballroom is a beautiful venue and the food was amazing. Thanks to our sponsor: Keys Deep Apparel.

Carli and Katie with MarrVelous Puppies.

Mayor Michelle and Suzi.

Cindy, David and Heather.

Candace, Carli, Madeline and Mary.

Ivette, Ricardo and Dennis.

Adriana and Mario.

Elizabeth, Sue, Holly and Laura.

Suzi and Video Dave.

X American Legion Auxiliary Post 333 X Berger Commercial Realty

X Burton Memorial United Methodist Church

X Champion Tikis and More LLC X GAIA USA LLC X I LOVE Key Largo X Key Largo Fire Rescue X Key Largo Moose Lodge #2287 X Plantation Key School X Rabinovici & Associates

New Member Key Largo Moose Lodge.

Kacey, Michelle, Erin, Evelyn, Holly, Katie and Suzi.

New Member I Love Key Largo.

JD, Henry, Cathy and Katie.

Spenser, Berta. Enrique, Yesenia and Norman.

New Members All in One Fire.

Chief Jeff and Kevin.

Tourism Trends: May 2026 Data from Tourism Economics

In May, demand growth outpaced supply, and momentum heading into shoulder season remains strong, with projected growth in reservations of 5% for July and 9.2% for September, representing significant improvement over booking trends at the same point last year.

Visit

Florida Keys Tourism Partner Headquarters

Your 2026 Chamber Board of Directors

Michael Rojewski 2025 & 2026 Chairman of the Board of Directors

Michael Rojewski Group – Owner

Roberto Alonso (2025 & 2026)

Borland & Associates President

Manuel Alvarez (2026 & 2027)

Verdeja, De Armas & Trujillo CPA

Berta Bravo (2026 & 2027)

SBI Windows & Doors Owner

Spenser Bryan (2025 & 2026)

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Captain

Melissa Fernandez (2025 & 2026)

All Keys Concrete Communications & Sales

Cathy Gahagen (2026 & 2027)

The Catch Owner

Suzanne Holmquist (2025 & 2026)

Calypso Watersports & Charters Proprietor

Mary Houston (2025 & 2026)

Houston Insurance Agency Owner

Henry Menendez (2026 & 2027)

HNO Productions Owner/Operator

Yesenia Moreno (2026-2027)

New Edge Associates Managing Partner

Heather Turkay (2026 & 2027)

Playa Largo Resort & Spa Area Director of Sales & Marketing

Blaine Vernicek (2025-2026)

The Structure Group Manager

Violet Wahba (2026 & 2027)

Key Lime Products Owner

Creamy Shrimp Avocado Salad

This month, we are featuring another summer salad. As the temperature continues to rise, a light and fresh salad is the perfect meal for a hot summer day. Fresh flavors like these always remind us that the simplest meals can be the most satisfying!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb cooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 2 ripe avocados, diced

• ¼ cup red onion, finely diced

• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

• 2 tbsp mayonnaise

• 2 tbsp sour cream or Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• ½ tsp paprika (optional)

• Extra chopped parsley, for garnish

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Prepare the Ingredients. Dice the avocados, finely chop the onion and parsley, and pat the cooked shrimp dry for the best shrimp salad, easy healthy lunch, and fresh summer recipe.

2. Make the Creamy Dressing. In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, pepper, and paprika until smooth for the ultimate creamy dressing, quick homemade sauce, and healthy meal favorite.

3. Combine Everything. Gently fold the shrimp, avocado, red onion, and parsley into the dressing, taking care

not to mash the avocado. This creates the best avocado salad, light seafood dinner, and easy meal prep recipe.

4. Chill for Flavor. Refrigerate the salad for 15–20 minutes to allow the flavors to blend beautifully for the refreshing seafood salad, perfect summer meal, and make-ahead favorite.

5. Serve & Enjoy. Spoon the salad into chilled bowls or serve over lettuce with extra parsley on top for the best healthy seafood recipe, quick lunch idea, and crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Source: Tasty Home Recipes