The 31st Gigantic Nautical Market, one of the biggest events in the Florida Keys, takes place Saturday, Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Founders Park, MM 87, bayside, Islamorada. Parking is available at Coral Shores High School, MM 89.9, oceanside, with shuttles continuously running to the market. The event features hundreds of vendors, as well as food trucks and drink stations, throughout the park. Upper Keys Rotary uses proceeds from the event to fund scholarships for local high school graduates.
A production as big as the Gigantic Nautical Market takes a team of skilled, seasoned and smart individuals. These Upper Keys Rotarians are the key players behind the operation. Every year, hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors come to Founders Park in Islamorada for two days of shopping, food and fun.
Matt Turk is the current club president who takes the organizational skills he practices at CBT Construction and applies them to this intense production. He worries about the budget, the supplies, the flow and applies the motivational skills of a U.S. Marine to the process. During the event, Turk will be everywhere making things happen.
Claire Johnson is the event chair who wrangles the troops for a production unlike any other in the Keys. Johnson, too, spends endless hours ensuring every facet of the Gigantic Nautical Market brings an experience that makes many attendees return year after year.
One of the bigger tasks for the Gigantic Nautical Market is wrangling and organizing the hundreds of vendors on park grounds. Enter Maria Jones. It’s one of the more demanding responsibilities, which the president-elect has mastered since taking the role in 2022. “There will be cool items for everyone to buy,” she said. “Be prepared to spend some money and donate to support students.”
A variety of food trucks throughout Founders Park are made possible thanks to the organizational efforts of Mary Beth Harris. Taking on the monumental task a few years ago, Harris has elevated the food experience with more than 20 trucks offering all sorts of fare. Come hungry and come both days so you don’t miss a thing.
Not a single person on the face of the Earth is more essential to the event’s success than Anna Richards. Using sophisticated technology, she plots the entire park for vendors, food trucks, restrooms and drink stations.
Considered the Gigantic Nautical Market wizard, Chris Trentine performs some of the greatest feats — all behind the scenes with little fanfare. A former club president, Trentine does just about everything, from supplying additional hands for setup to lending his companies’ resources to the event.
Frank Derfler, a member of the Upper Keys Rotary since 2009, is the volunteer wrangler. He manages the scholarship students now in higher education who come back to tell their stories to the show attendees. He herds the hundred-plus Coral Shores High School students who help all around the park. And he motivates the Upper Keys Rotary volunteers who join with Rotarians from two other clubs to produce this event. He starts recruiting in January and follows through as part of the scholarship committee with awards in May.
Melina Miller is the marketing director for the club and the Gigantic Nautical Market. She tells the story of the $4 million contributed by the club to the Keys community in the last 20 years. A Coral Shores graduate, Miller is a professional digital marketing strategist with a master’s degree from FIU and a thriving business. Balancing website content, social media posts, video production, and newspaper ads, she contributes her skills in the Rotary spirit of community service.
The sponsor czar for the event is Karly Venezia. She’s a savvy businesswoman who juggles her nonprofit work with her husband’s business and their two young boys. “Our sponsors have made this Rotary event one of the largest fundraisers in the entire county,” she said. “Please take a moment and thank them at the event.”
Terry Abel is considered the Swiss Army knife. Whatever is needed at any given time, “El Jefe” is there in a split-second. You won’t find him on a ladder though.
