No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Chad Huff, who is the public information officer for the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District. He handles the district’s internal and external communication needs as well as public outreach and advertising activities. In his spare time he likes spending time with his family and working on DIY or automobile projects as well as spending time outdoors walking, fishing or attending various sporting events.
CHAD HUFF
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I have lived in Florida for 25 years, the last six of which have been in the Florida Keys. I came down here to work for FKMCD. They had a need for a “seasoned” communications manager and I fortunately fit their needs.
What is your favorite thing about living in the Keys? The people. They are absolutely different from anywhere else I have been in Florida. To me, they are focused on the things that matter and don’t tend to get mired down in the “small stuff” that consumes so many of us.
Describe your most bizarre life experience thus far. In a previous career I worked in local television news in Oklahoma City. Having a front-row seat for MAJOR (old) stories like the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 and the execution of convicted mass murderer Timothy McVeigh in 2001 seem surreal to me even 30 years removed from the actual incident.
What are three essential items you pack in your suitcase when going on vacation? A portable fan, bottle opener and a flashlight.
What is your least favorite type of mosquito? Without any doubt the yard dwelling mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is my least favorite. She is a master in spreading several diseases including dengue fever, zika, yellow fever and chikungunya.
How would your best friend or significant other describe you in three words? Loyal. Sentimental. Genuine.
What is your favorite sports team and why? Oklahoma State University Cowboys, my alma mater. I love an underdog and every fan of the Cowboys is a true fan – there are no bandwagon fans that just latch on, unlike another school in Oklahoma.
What is your favorite part of the day and why? Sunrise. I loathe getting up early in the morning, but the few minutes just before and just after sunrise always make it worthwhile.
Why do you think mosquitoes were put on the earth? I’m far from being qualified enough to answer this, but few folks know that mosquitoes are actually pollinators. The males don’t take blood meals at all and the females only do so to reproduce, so it could be said that mosquitoes teach us that you can always find the good if you look hard enough.
What is the most bizarre thing in your refrigerator? Fifteen different brands and varieties of hot sauce.
What Netflix series are you binge watching and why? I have recently been able to get into the “The Pitt” reruns on Sling and I’m addicted. Probably because I was a huge ER fan back in the day and Noah Wylie’s character feels like the spiritual successor to the kid he played back then.
If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would that be and why? I would have learned much younger that my perception of things that happen to me personally are often a hell of a long way from reality.
What is an unpopular opinion you hold but you don’t care? Electric vehicles have no soul!
What’s a secret about you that people might be surprised to learn? Fresh out of college, with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, after landing my first job in TV news, I came extremely close to fulfilling a childhood dream and becoming a firefighter at the age of 22. It was really, really close – much to the chagrin of my folks, who had just sent me to college for 4.5 years.
Know someone who would be a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
