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 BILL ANDERSEN,
COMMISSIONER & CHAIRMAN (Seat 1)
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commissioner
Commissioner Andersen
was elected to the Inaugural Board in 2005,
and has served in the capacity as Chairman since the Board’s
inception.
The number #1
reason why Andersen ran for the KLFR&EMS Board
was to:
“Maintain a volunteer system in
Key Largo by wresting control from the county so that volunteers
could be paid their reimbursements in a timely fashion.”
Prior to
Moving to the Keys
Andersen was born
and raised in Cleveland Ohio. His father and brother currently
reside in Florida. He vacationed in Florida since his grandfather
purchased orange groves in Howey-in-the-Hills in 1938, and it wasn’t
until 46 years later that he heard of the Keys.
Bill graduated with
a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, from Case Western
Reserve University in Cleveland and a M.B.A. in Finance and
Management from Ohio University in Athens.
Prior to pursuing a
career in business and taxation, he began his career in 1966 as a
Design Engineer (Goss Compamy) and became a production
planner (Parker Hannifin). He then became a manufacturing
engineer and Superivsor for Equipment Development
(GE).
He began working as
a Business and Tax Counselor in 1978 for General Business Services (GBS)
in Mentor, Ohio. In 1980, he became an enrolled agent with the
Internal Revenue Service. At the end of July, 1984, he was scanning
a company newsletter and he saw a GBS practice advertised in the
Upper Keys. He met some people, did not think it was too warm,
bought the practice “on the spot”, and said,
“I am not
leaving!”
Professional Life & Affiliations
After opening
General Business Services in Key Largo in 1984, Bill continued his
education and graduated with an M.S. in Taxation from the
University of Miami in Coral Gables. He has continued his
professional development becoming a Certified Financial Planner
in 1990 and a Certified Public Accountant in 1998. His
professional memberships include the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accounts
and the Financial Planning Association.
Community Activities
Bill joined the
Key Largo Chamber of Commerce in 1984 and has held the positions
of Board Member (10yrs.) and Treasurer (2 yrs.), and he is a Charter
Member of the Rotary Club of Key Largo (16 yrs.) where he
held the offices of President (1 yr.), Treasurer (3 yrs.) and Board
Member (12 yrs.)
Andersen is an “Active”
volunteer in the community, and is or has been involved with the
Key Largo Fire Rescue & Emergency Medical Services District Board
since the board’s inception; Upper Keys Habitat for the Humanity
Board Member (4 yrs) and Treasurer (2 yrs.); he is in the second
term of representing Key Largo (District 5) on the District
Advisory Council (DAC) (of the Tourist Development Council);
Keys Board Member of Community Bank (1 yr.); Salvation
Army Board Member (2 yrs.) and a Mentor in Take Stock for
Children (5 yrs.)
* * * * *
Bill's hobbies include
working; and when he isn’t working he enjoys sailing and
volunteering with the Upper Keys Sailing Club (11 yrs.) where he has
served as Commodore (1 yr.), Treasurer (2 yrs.) and Board Member (6
yrs.). He has won numerous sailing awards, the Bell-Ringer Award
from the Key Largo Chamber and has been recognized as Rotarian of
the Year.
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 MICHAEL CAVAGNARO, COMMISSIONER (Seat 2)
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commissioner
Commissioner Cavagnaro was elected
to the inaugural board in 2005 and was elected for a second term in
2006.
The number #1 Fireman Mike ran
for office is because:
“He really cares about the community,
and is a
firefighter at heart.”
Commissioner Cavagnaro was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
He did attend college briefly, and joined the Seabees. Michael is
divorced, and he has raised his three children by himself (2 sons
and 1 daughter) Michael moved to Florida in the 1970’s, and he was
a firefighter. He sustained an injury in the line of duty, and has
been placed on permanent disability. Cavagnaro owns a commercial
fishing business.
Community Activities
Michael is a volunteer faculty instructor for the Sheriff’s Office,
and in he enjoys his membership in Pirates-on-the-Water.
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 MARK WHEATON, COMMISSIONER (Seat 3)
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commissioner
Commissioner Wheaton
was elected to the Inaugural Board in 2005, and in 2006 he became
the KLFR&EMS District Vice-Chairman.
The number #1 reason why Mark Wheaton ran
for the Board is because: “He cares for the community"
Commissioner
Wheaton was born in Miami and lived in Hialeah before he moved to
the Keys with his parents in 1972 after his father retired from the
airlines. He attended Coral Shores High School, where he played
football. After graduating from Coral Shores, Mark went to Baker
University in Kansas, where he majored in business
and played a defensive end in football.
After the University, Mark attended the automotive program at Robert
Morgan Vo-Tech.
He has two
daughters, one of whom graduated from the University of Central
Florida this year. She is moving to Gainesville to work on a
Masters in psychology. His other daughter received a two-year
degree in Gainesville and is transferring to the University of
Northern Florida to become a school teacher.
The Legacy
Continues
Wheaton’s has been
an icon in the community for 35 years after his father started
Wheaton’s Texaco in 1972. His fathter expanded the business and
purchased “The Service Center” in 1979. Mark returned to the Keys
to help run the family business after sustaining a permanent
disability from a football injury at Baker University. Today he
continues to run Wheaton’s Service Center with his mother, Della
Wheaton.
Community
Activities
Mark has been a
member of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce for several years, and
he is also a past-board member. He has been a volunteer with the
Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department on their extracation team for
over 20 years. He also started the Coral Shores “Alumni Football
Game.”
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Mark is currently
engaged to Tracey Reilly. When he is not working, you may find him:
playing golf,
fishing, in the Bahamas, vacationing in Myrtle Beach, or you will
find him
supporting charity
events for the high school and the community in golf tournaments.
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 Tom Tharp,
COMMISSIONER (Seat 4)
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commissioner
In 2006, Commissioner Tharp was elected to the KLFR&EMS Board.
Commissioner Tharp said the number #1
reason why he ran for the KLFR&EMS Board was because:
He felt he
would be an asset
to the Board because of his extensive fire
service management experience, and also because of his in-depth
knowledge of the Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department operations.”
Commissioner Tharp was born in St. Frances Hospital on Miami Beach.
As a teenager he was a member of the Miami Beach Junior Tritons
Spear Fishing Club. His first visits to the Keys were with fellow
club members on spear fishing excursions out to Sombrero Light in
the late 50’s.
Tom
has a son, who is a paramedic/firefighter battalion chief in
Maryland and has two grandchildren, all of whom are regular visitors
to the Keys.
Prior to Moving to the Keys
A
stint in the US Air Force in the early 60’s, included a final
9-month assignment in Key West, where he was a charter member of the
Cudjoe Key Spear Fishing Club (since defunct). In the middle 60’s,
he moved to Maryland to begin a 32-year career with the US
Department of Defense. As a part of his government career he served
in Miami for five years in the middle 80’s (with frequent trips to
the Keys).
Tom
is a lifetime volunteer member of a Maryland fire department, and is
in his 38th year of fire service. He has extensive
background in fire and emergency services organizations at the
department, county, state, national and international levels.
Life in the Keys
Following his retirement from government in 1996, Tom worked for a
Fortune 500 government contractor until his final retirement in
December of 1997, when he moved to Key Largo.
He
joined the Key Largo Volunteer Fire-Rescue Dept. in 1999. He has
served on the Board of Directors, participated in both operational
and administrative activities, and was selected to chair the
legislative ad hoc working group that created the present Fire
District. He chose not to run for the District Board of
Commissioners during the initial election because he felt it would
be inappropriate and self-serving to help create a governmental body
and then become one of its officials. Subsequently though, concerned
about the redirection by the fire department vis-à-vis not remaining
volunteer, and the enormous increase in the department’s budget
requests, he decided to seek a seat on the Board during the 2006
election process.
Professional Affiliations
Tom
has been an active member of the International Association of Fire
Chiefs (IAFC) (20 yrs.); and a member of the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) (20 yrs.), Florida Fire Chief’s
Association (FFCA) (8+ yrs.); National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC)
(25+ yrs.) and the Maryland State Fireman’s Association (37+ yrs.).
Community Activities
In
addition to the KLFR&EMS District, Tom remains a Member of the Fire
Department. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the
Legendary Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and volunteers and
participates in numerous committees including attending all
government meetings in Monroe County. In addition, Tom is a member
of the Key Largo Rotary Club.
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Tom
and his girl friend Sharon are avid fishing people, which includes
off-shore, reef, lobster diving and crab trapping. When not fishing
in Key Largo, they are roaming around the Bahamas, Central America
and Alaska.
Tom
is a member of both the Upper Keys Fishing Club and the
Pirates-on-the-Water Club. |
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Marilyn Beyer -
Secretary / Treasurer, Commissioner (Seat 5)
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commissioner
Since the Inaugural Board’s inception in 2005, Commissioner Beyer
has served as Secretary/Treasurer of the KLFR&EMS District Board.
The
number #1 reason Commissioner Beyer ran for office is because:
“Several
firemen asked her to run, and she wanted to see the departments
remain volunteer departments; and to help work with the departments to
resolve issues with the county; and see tax dollars returned to Key
Largo for vehicles.”
Commissioner Beyer was born in
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. While in Pennsylvania, she worked for
the Bethel Park School Board. Marilyn has four sons; one grandson
and three granddaughters.
Marilyn came to the Keys in 1970 with
friends and loved the area. She met her husband, Harry while
working at local restaurant. She also worked for Key’s Community
Hospital as the doctors’ receptionist. She commuted while working
full-time to Miami-Dade Community College and graduated with a
degree in Mortuary Science.
Marilyn has been self-employed and owner
of Beyer Funeral Home. She completes continuing education units
bi-annually to maintain her professional and business
certifications.
The Original Key Largo Ambulance
Corporation
Funeral homes were the forerunners of
the ambulance service, and it was normal for them to operate their
community’s ambulance service. In 1973, Harry and Marilyn wanted to
avoid that from happening because even though the ambulance was
equipped with limited medical equipment, there were no paramedics or
advanced life support (ALS) available.
Marilyn, her husband and others in the
community; including Russ Cullen [Sr.], Frank and Jim Daily, met
together at the Beyer’s Bay Cove hotel to organize and create the “original”
Key Largo Ambulance Corps.
Community Activities
Marilyn came from a large family, and
she is very family-oriented. She took her all her sons to
classes in a baby-back carrier. As soon as the oldest enrolled
at Key Largo School, she became involved as a volunteer aid and
active in the PTA and the Boy Scouts of America with all of her children,
15 yrs. and 12 yrs. respectively.
Her commitment to the Upper Keys
Athletic Association (UKAA) began as she coached all her boys in
T-Ball and “rookie” machine divisions. She enjoyed sharing and
cheering her boys throughout their lives. Today she is an Assistant
Softball Coach for her granddaughters and their friends. During her
29 years with the UKAA, she has been Secretary, Treasurer,
Concession Chairman, Player Agent, Coach, Assistant Coach, Assistant
Coach and Umpire.
In 1992, UKAA branched out and started
soccer, and in 1995, they added softball and basketball under the
UKAA umbrella. Marilyn has been involved with the American Youth
Soccer Association for over 15 years. She has served as Secretary,
Treasurer, Registrar, Coach and Assistant Coach. Lots of coaches
and parents volunteered for more than one sport.
Marilyn is also a charter member of the
Loyal Order of the Moose, a past Key Largo Lions Club member.
Professional Associations
Marilyn has been a Key Largo Chamber
member for approximately 25 years. She is also a member of the
Florida Independent Funeral Directors of Florida and the National
Funeral Director’s Association and the Order of the Golden Rule.
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Often times when you see the lights on
late at the Funeral Home, it is because she is planning the new
teams for the next season’s games. She is locating/confirming
coaches, calling parents, making lists and charts, color-coding
positions and kid’s names for those positions, designing field
placement of kids for introduction or award ceremonies, xeroxing
stacks of information for everyone involved; or she may be studying
upcoming issues for the KLFR&EMS Board or working on her business.
When she is not there, she is trying to “borrow”
her grandchildren to play. |
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