Brad Copeland
President
Going Aire
Owner
Air Conditioning Sales & Service
Brad has been part of the Ocean Reef community since the early 80s and is in his 13th year working at Going-Aire, keeping homes cool since 1972! He’s passionate about giving back and serves on several local boards, including The Florida Keys Children’s Shelter, New Hope C.O.R.P.S. and The Academy at Ocean Reef.
Ken Reda
Vice President
Marine Max-Ocean Reef
General Manager
Boat & Yacht Sales, Service, Parts & Accessories, Storage
With 39 years in the marine industry, Ken is your go-to guy for all things boating. He’s deeply involved in the Ocean Reef community and even holds a voting seat on the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.
Peter Raffalski
Immediate Past President
First Horizon Bank
Senior Vice President
Private Banking Group Manager
Peter Raffalski has been a South Florida resident since 1980 after being born and raised just outside of New York City in Westchester County. After graduating from Georgetown University, Peter began his banking career which is going on 34 years. After 8 years with Southeast Bank / First Union, he has spent the last 23 years at IBERIABANK, formerly Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust. His first 14 years he was the Bank's Chief Credit Officer and today he is the Private Banking Manager of the company's Ocean Reef Office.
Very involved in his community, Peter has served in numerous capacities at Christ Journey Church since 2002. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Wellspring Counseling, Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys and the Ocean Reef Chamber of Commerce. Previously he sat on the Boards of Communities in Schools of Miami and the Coral Gables Firemen's Pension Fund Board.
Peter is married to Agnes Raffalski and together they have two college age daughters, Abigail at UF and Rebekah at FGCU. In his "spare" time, he enjoys playing golf, cooking and traveling.
Yael Skinner
Treasurer
Ocean Reef Club Association
Director of Finance & Human Resources
Yael is a finance and HR pro with a passion for supporting businesses and employees. She holds a Master's in Finance and serves on the Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys board.
James Easom
Director
Manager/Owner, Turk Builders LLC
A South Florida native with over 30 years in construction, James is a hands-on leader who cares about his customers, employees, and subcontractors; and loves supporting local businesses and Chamber events.
Robert Filella
Director
AVP – Private Client Relationship Manager
First Horizon
Robert has over 20 years in banking and enjoys helping the Ocean Reef community grow. You’ll often find him at Chamber luncheons!
John Forrer
Director
Protech E2
Owner
John has been providing top-quality technology solutions to Ocean Reef since starting his business in 2004. A dedicated Chamber member since 2007, he has spent nearly two decades supporting the local business community with innovative tech services.
Mary Louise Gondek
Director
Keen Battle Mead & Company
Ocean Reef Branch Manager, VIP Risk Advisor
Mary Louise is the heart of our volunteers! Passionate about community, she’s always the first to arrive at events to help set up and the last to leave after everything is wrapped up. Her dedication and energy are invaluable to the Chamber—we couldn’t do what we do without her! With over 45 years of experience in the insurance industry, both in Florida and New York, Mary Louise brings deep expertise to her role. She has been with Keen Battle Mead & Company on the Reef for 7 years and has lived in Florida for 7 years, originally hailing from Niagara Falls, NY. Mary Louise holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Niagara University.
Holly Houser
Director
Ocean Reef Press
Manager
A Key Largo native, Holly has been with Ocean Reef Press since 2015, serving as Senior Manager and Editor. She is a graduate of the University of Miami with degrees in Public Relations and Psychology and was actively involved in the Public Relations Student Society of America.
With a passion for storytelling and community engagement, Holly ensures that Ocean Reef Press remains a trusted source of news for the Ocean Reef community.
Juan Perez
Director
ORCA & OR Public Safety
Vice President/Director of Public Safety
A retired Miami-Dade Police Director, Juan now leads the Ocean Reef Community Association, overseeing the community's day-to-day operations, including public safety, public works, a water treatment facility, landscaping, and all other community operations.
Michael Watson
Director
Watson Luxury Properties at Ocean Reef
A lifelong member of Ocean Reef, Michael has deep roots in the community—he is the inspiration behind the "Watson’s Reuben" at Toski’s!
Originally from Baltimore, he is a National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee and a four-time All-American at the University of Virginia.
His wife, Anna, owns the Beauty Bar at ORC, adding another family touch to the community.
Islande Dillon
Advisory Council
Ocean Reef Club
Executive Director of Membership
Islande is the Executive Director of Membership at Ocean Reef Club. Islande has spent the past two years leading the Membership Department and Member Events Team. Originally hired in December 2006 as Member Events Manager, Islande was promoted to Director of Member Events in October 2010. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sports Marketing degree from Nova Southeastern University and joined Ocean Reef Club from Hyatt Bonaventure.
Christina Sarmiento
Executive Director
Ocean Reef Chamber of Commerce
Christina Sarmiento has served as the Executive Director of the Ocean Reef Chamber of Commerce since August 2020. With 10 years of experience at the Ocean Reef Club, Christina brings a wealth of knowledge in Human Resources, including recruitment for both the Ocean Reef Club and ION Media in West Palm Beach. During the COVID-19 shutdown, she co-founded a grassroots initiative to create a curated business directory highlighting small businesses that positively impact the Florida Keys community. Christina's extensive experience, strong networking skills, and passion for community involvement make her a key advocate for local business growth. She can be reached at [email protected].