Governance
Nance Frank, President – Native daughter of Key West, Nance Frank, known internationally as an accomplished off-shore sailboat racer, community activist for the arts and heritage, leading art dealer who championed Key West’s most revered artists: Mario Sanchez, Susie DePoo, Jeff MacNelly, Peter Vey and Andy Thurber whose common thread was a colorful mix of beauty, humor with an emphasis on technique and a love of Key West. She has traveled extensively and has seen all of the great museums in Europe, North and South America and has been involved with the world of art since she was born in Key West. She currently owns and operates Gallery on Greene, one of the most prestigious galleries in all of Key West.
Executive Committee
Everett Watkins, Vice-President – Everett attended and Graduated Mississippi State University Cum Laude in 1984, was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity (member and held several offices over 3.5 years), Student Union President, Member of Music Makers (Student and Faculty responsible for concerts and special events. Serving as hospitality chair for two years). Was a Management Trainee at Great Southern National Bank before moving to Key West in 1985 where he pursued a career in real estate. Since 1988, he has consistently been a million-dollar producer, and continues to be a top producing realtor in Key West. Currently, Investor/Agent Keller Williams Key West (opened 2017), Reef Relief volunteer (as early as 1988), Grimal Grove Preservation, Growing Hope Board, Cooking With Love volunteer, Supporter of South Florida Symphony Orchestra and Anonymous philanthropy and volunteering (various groups not mentioned). His hobbies include Sustainable (green) gardening, World travel, Fishing and house projects of all kinds, including renovations.
John Kilpatrick, Treasurer – John holds a Ph.D. in Finance; serves as CEO of Greenfield Advisors and Greenfield Capital Management; can mix a hell of a good rum punch; is an Author of four books on real estate (and one in the works) and contributor to three others; Self-proclaimed expert on southern cuisine; Visiting Scholar in Real Estate at Baruch College, NYC; personally helped popularize Fosters Beer in the U.S., Director at Washington Economic Development Finance Authority,2017 – Present· Olympia, Washington appointed by Governor Jay Inslee in 2017, Member, National Board of Advisors at WSU Carson College of Business, November 6, 2012 – Present· Pullman, Washington Chairman of the Board of Directors at Greenfield Advisors, September 7, 1998 – Present ·Seattle, Washington Fellow at American Real Estate Society, Worked at Baruch College, December 31, 2010 – December 31, 2015·New York, New York, Former Lecturer at University of South Carolina , Studied Doctor of Philosophy at University of South Carolina – Columbia and also studied Ph.D., Real Estate Finance.
Michael Marrero – Executive Director of the popular Key West Theater, is an award-winning playwright, photographer and filmmaker whose drama “Locura” was recently part of a historic Cuban-American theatrical exchange. It was one of the first such theatrical exchanges between the two countries in half a century. A native Key Wester (or “Conch”) of Cuban descent, Mike started working on the play more than 16 years ago. “Another of Mike’s theatrical works, “Oklahoma Smith and the Pantheon of Annihilation: the Musical!,” co-written with local Chris Shultz, features famed explorer Oklahoma Smith and trusty sidekick Beanpole in a wacky music-fueled extravaganza. In 2014 Mike was chosen to oversee Key West Theater, now a popular venue for notable music and theatrical performances. Mike says his offbeat sense of humor comes from growing up deep within the native Conch culture of Key West. A 1992 graduate of Key West High School, he attended Virginia’s Marymount University, Florida Keys Community College and Florida State University. However, Key West’s breezy pull — the island’s lifestyle, creative energy, family and friends — repeatedly lured him back home. Michael’s insightful grasp of Key West and its heritage is evident in his writing, photography, theatrical works and filmography. His extensive list of awards includes two for his recent short film “Buzzcut” — named the best horror film for 2017 at an international film festival in Amsterdam and best short film at the Key West Film Festival in 2016 — along with several Addy awards for photography, art, video, a website and ad campaigns. Theatrical works include nearly 20 credits, with nearly another 20 filmography credits. Founder of Marrero Studio in 1998, Mike has been a studio artist-in-residence at The Studios of Key West since 2014 — the same year he was chosen to oversee Key West Theater. To organize his considerable talents, he structures a schedule to optimize creative energy that typically involves writing or photography. Through his works, he hopes to preserve Key West history. For the future, Michael
Marrero has planted family roots firmly in the island city. When he’s not working or spending time with family, he can be found at local hangout The Porch — enjoying a cold beer and a creative conversation with friends.
Board Members
Russell Conlan – Resident of Old Town Key West along with his husband Douglas Hansen, he recently retired from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban development where he served as Chief Counsel for the National Capitol Greater Washington Metropolitan Area Field Office comprised of the District of Columbia, The Commonwealth of Virginia and parts of the State of Maryland. During his career Mr. Conlan facilitated the development and settlement of more than 40,000 new or substantially rehabilitated market rate and affordable housing units under the FHA –insured multifamily housing program. Many of those projects had historic preservation components. While living in the DC area he served on the Foggy Bottom association and as Co-Director of the arts in Foggy Bottom Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. Mr. Conlan received his JD degree from Duquesne University School of Law.
Richard Logan – Richard Logan’s long career as an accomplished architect includes 30 years as a Design Principal with Gensler, a pre-eminent interior architecture firm in the U.S., working in multiple offices: Houston, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Washington DC, and Atlanta. During his long working career, his clients have included government, professional and corporate clients the world over – among them: World Bank, Arnold & Porter, Siam Commercial Bank, Far Eastern Textiles, Intercontinental Hotels, HUD, OCC, General Motors, King & Spalding and INVESCO. He shared his expertise in multiple articles for various design publications, and as co-author of a book, Significant Interiors, published by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2008.
Mr. Logan’s projects have won more than 20 state and national design awards and many have been featured in major design publications. He served as critic and jurist at several top California, Georgia and Texas universities and at other schools as far away as Hong Kong University. Once dubbed “Professor Logan” by a major client for his instructive client management skills, he professionally taught design studios and graduate lecture courses in interior design at Woodbury University in Los Angeles and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta, and he has been a featured speaker or panelist at many national design conferences including NeoCon, Westweek, Build Boston, Designer Saturday and the International Congress of Interior Design Professionals for 14 Asian Nations. Most notably he offered seminars on interior Architecture practice four years running at national AIA annual conventions. Upon retirement in 2008 Mr. Logan moved to Key West, served as a commissioner on the Historical Architectural Review Commission for four years, and had his first renovated home there (a non-conforming cinder block structure) shown on the Old Island Restoration Foundation tour in 2014. His professional historic preservation experience includes restoration of the interiors and facades of the renowned Silver Theater in Washington, DC for the American Film Institute, interiors, lobby and other public space restoration for the Louis Sullivan designed Guaranty Building in Buffalo, NY, design proposals for the 1911 Rice Hotel in Houston, TX., and the exterior facade of a nineteenth century building for the American Institute of Architects in Atlanta, GA. among others. During his career Mr. Logan presented to design review boards for numerous organizations including the city of Beverly Hills, CA. West University, TX. Montgomery County, MD., and Atlanta, GA, and he worked with the Department of the Interior on the Guaranty Building in Buffalo and the Silver Theater in the DC area. Over the years, while working for other clients, he also renovated close to a dozen residences for himself, including a 1921 Spanish style home in Los Angeles, CA, a 1939 salt box in Houston, TX, and a 1945 “Tudor” in Atlanta, GA. He has spent the last several years renovating two homes in Key West, one is the former Molina’s Bakery on Margaret Street. “Restoration” of the original building, which had been severely altered, was not required, but the new design that was sensitive to the historic character of the neighborhood was again unanimously approved by HARC.
Wayne Garcia – Wayne Garcia is a 3rd generation Cuban American. He started carving as a boy after watching local artisan Mario Sanchez, his first carving being his father’s boat. Wayne carves the stories of Key West, immortalizing the characters and bits of history that would otherwise be lost in time. A general contractor in Key West, Wayne works with his hands making peoples visions come true. Wayne has traveled to New York City and now Havana, Cuba to give carving demonstrations for the American Folk Art Museum and Cuba’s National Museum of Fine Art, in Mario’s traditional carving method, an honor bestowed on Wayne due to his attention to detail and the diversities of Key West and its peoples.
Bill Beck – Retired commercial airline pilot. Graduate of Dowling College with a B.S. in aeronautics and foreign language. First moved to the Keys in 1984 to fly for PBA (Provincetown-Boston Airlines). Owned an apartment building and a Bed & Breakfast from 1994-2002. Longtime volunteer and Board member of OIRF. Interests includes renovation of property and travel.
Jennifer Flammia – Secretary, along with her husband Michael, moved to Key West in 2018. They own The Stone Soup Gallery and Frame Shop on White Street Key West Florida. They are also owners of Integrity Electrical Services Inc. in Virginia where she manages Accounts Payable, Billing, processing contracts, subcontracts, and various office duties.
Back in Virginia she is a member of Orlean Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department where she assists paid firefighters on calls, swift water rescues and brush fires.
In her previous roles at Johnson Controls, Inc. she served as Solutions Operations Analyst, Solutions Project Manager, and Installations Operations Analyst. Her latest roles in the Energy Savings Division allowed her to help acquired companies transition seamlessly into JCI’s systems. Jennifer worked for Johnson Controls for 20 years in the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and DC areas. Before Johnson Controls, she worked for American Woodmark Corp. in Winchester Virginia. Jennifer attended college at Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She enjoys volunteering for various organizations and is actively involved in her community. – Secretary
KristiAnn Mills- Florida’s Most Modern Mermaid, Founder of the Key West Mermaid Festival. Resident mermaid at Havana Cabana, Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, and radio personality Mermaid Kristi Ann on the Triple Aqua Show 105.7 FM. Native born and raised in Key West, Florida, United States