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.
This week’s neighbor is Alex Taylor, who is the COO for Reef On Enterprises, a nationwide aquarium design and maintenance company. He handles all the major operations and also is a technical writer. He is a guide on eco-tours and fishing expeditions and is even a commercial drone pilot.
ALEX TAYLOR
Reef On Enterprises
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I started coming to the Keys in 2004 after my parents got married. My grandma always wanted to travel here and was not able to when she was alive. My parents settled in Key Largo but I always loved Marathon for the laid-back lifestyle and great ocean and reef opportunities!
What do you do for fun in the Keys and why do you love living here? I play on the water. I love every aspect of the ocean and have a sailboat, powerboat, several kayaks and a paddleboard. I also just picked up my first jet ski. Even sitting in my living room and watching boats go up and down the canal brings me joy.
What type of fish would describe you and why? Tough one! I suppose I would be a spotted eagle ray. I’m always in motion doing something and I like to think of myself as somewhat graceful.
Which three famous people would you invite to a dinner party and why? Sir Frances Drake is an all-time hero of mine and the best pirate in my opinion. I would love to get him loaded up on rum and have him tell me about sacking Cartagena. Mathew McConaughey seems like a guy who would have a fun time. He seems pretty laid-back and interesting in most of his interviews. Harrison Ford was my favorite actor growing up and has a sense of humor like mine.
Describe the color blue without using its name. The endless depths of the ocean or the bright, cloudless afternoon sky.
Tell us about an unusual talent or party trick. I once performed a magic trick for a shot girl in Key West and my family and the shot girl tipped me.
How would your best friend describe you in three words? This one was tough, so I asked around. My wife says adventurous, charismatic and reckless. Mike, my oldest friend, says determined, awesome and adventurous. Ryan, my groomsman from Montana, says man, Florida and invincible. Brodie, my best friend, says eccentric, charismatic and badass. Jerry, the owner of the company I run, says meticulous, dedicated and unstoppable.
What was the last vacation you went on? I just returned from my first of the “Seven Summits” in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. I completed the full northern route and overnighted in the Crater of Kibo. It was a fantastic trip.
What’s one reasonable change that you’d like to see happen in the Keys? I would love to see a miracle happen to revise the rules for vacation rentals. The past few years have been damaging to our community as all forms of reasonable housing for locals seem to disappear, thus forcing locals to move away.
What’s one thing people don’t know about you? I am a concert viola musician. I’ve been playing the viola since I was 8.
Know someone that would be a good “neighbor of the week”? Email: keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
