Daniel Samess, CEO and president of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about upcoming events.
A member luncheon will happen today at noon.
Samess said, “It’s going to be at the Elks Elks Lodge here in town. So we’re really looking forward to them hosting us. They’re going to do a great job on the food, they really have kind of a home cooked kind of vibe going with the way they do things. It’s a wonderful local nonprofit organization that does a lot for the community, does scholarships, gives a lot back, donates a lot of money and they have a good time doing it. So we’re excited to be with them. They’re, of course, a proud member of the Marathon Chamber.”
Overseas Media Group will be discussing digital marketing.
Samess said, “Digital marketing is obviously just such a huge part of any businesses marketing and advertising plan as it should be, and we just love focusing on that as a topic at least once a year, because it’s just too important to ignore. It’s really going to be a holistic approach to digital marketing, and how to get your business front and center on all the platforms that you want to be on, that you should be on, and how to do it and give good, real, basic tips of the trade, which every business owner, member, leader needs to have, needs to engage in, otherwise you truly could be left behind. So we’re excited for that.”
Business after hours is also a great event that is held every month.
Samess said, “Last Wednesday, that was a treat. We had two private chefs. They had a wine tasting, two wine bars. I mean, they had live music. It was a beautiful night. It was a lovely evening for Chamber members. We had a great turnout. We do those every month. So we’re always excited about that. Next month, I believe, is at Crane Point Hammock. It’s going to be another lovely event.”
There will be a ribbon cutting of Lalo’s Restaurant in Marathon tomorrow.
Samess said, “I love this because it’s not only a new business, it’s the American dream. It’s beautiful. It’s two great young men who have been in the restaurant business here in town, at other other places, just kind of honing their crap, cutting their teeth there, and they partnered up and started Lalo’s together. I just love to see that. They’re taking the next step in their professional career and starting a business. I actually had lunch there. Actually they catered one of my chamber board of directors meetings earlier this month, and then I had lunch there with a colleague. Every time it’s been great. They do amazing sushi over there. That’s one of the things they specialize in. But they have other great Latin cuisine as well, and a nice, diverse menu. Inside is really lovely. It’s comfortable. It’s actually not quaint, because it’s got some good size to it. You can go with a huge party if you want, or if it’s just a date night or whatnot, it’s great. Or you can sit at the bar. So yeah, we’re looking forward to it. It starts at 5:30. We’re going to cut the ribbon probably around six. And again, they’re going all out for it, they’re going to have live music, they’re going to have libations, they’re going to have food to try. So please come on by, support them and then definitely patronize them. Check them out, and let’s share the love and cut the ribbon and welcome them.”
The Seafood Festival will be held on March 14 and 15 at Marathon Community Park.
Samess said, “It is the 50th anniversary, 50th year for our original Marathon Seafood Fest, originally started in 1976 by our local commercial fishermen and the families just kind of celebrating the fruits of their labor. And it was originally held in the property where our Publix is in Marathon which, of course, there was no Publix there. Then it was more of a vacant lot and then it was a bank, and then it was Publix. But that’s where it started. And then it was at the airport for a while, and then in 2007 it moved over to our newly refurbished and built Marathon Community Park and it’s been there since then. So we’re excited about it. We have the whole entertainment line up, set up, everything’s on the website, marathonseafoodfestival.com We always have great musicians and bands. Anyone who still wants to be a sponsor can just reach out to us again, from Marathon Chamber of Commerce, the sponsors get a lot from either complimentary vendor booth space to signage, banners that we put up, being acknowledged on the website, social media, free admission tickets for their staff, colleagues, customers, T shirts, all kinds of goodies as a sponsor. And again, it all supports a great cause between the chamber and the commercial fishermen. Each year, about $75,000 ends up going back directly into the community in scholarships, grants, donations to local nonprofits, youth sports clubs. So it’s a feel good thing too. We also always need volunteers. So if you want to volunteer for a four hour shift, you get a free volunteer seafood fest t shirt. It’s a beautiful t shirt, has the full art logo, everything on it, and you get that and free admission the day you volunteer, because it truly takes a village to put on an event of this size. So sponsors, volunteers, and then again, just come on out too and enjoy. Kids 12 and under are always free, and veterans and first responders are free on Sunday as well. So good stuff.”
Vendor booths are still available.
Samess said, “We’ve sold, I think about little more than half, and we usually have space for around 200 or so. I think it is up to about 120, 130 spaces filled. So it’s getting there, definitely get reach out to us. It’s a great way to to promote and or sell products, services, brand recognition for your business to get out there. We’ll do about 15,000 plus people over the two days, and it’s a nice mix, of course, of visitors, tourists and locals from up and down the Keys that love to attend. So we’ve got rides and games for kids. We’ve got craft beers. We’ve got all kinds of fresh seafood, obviously, and even burgers, dogs and sausages for those who might not want seafood and sweets and Cuban coffee and all kinds of good stuff. We do all the food ourselves. We don’t bring in really any outside food vendors, because that’s the tradition of the events, and the fishermen do such a good job with it, obviously. So it’s something for everyone. It’s a good time. It’s good place to be.”
Relationships are important to the Marathon Chamber.
Samess said, “The advocacy and support part is obviously also a big part of what we do, whether in Tallahassee, here locally, it’s important. We have really great working relationships with our city of Marathon, our Monroe County Commission commissioners and as well as our State Rep and State Senator and Congressman as well. So it all helps, and it’s all here to help make sure that everyone’s doing everything they need to be or not doing stuff they shouldn’t be, that could hinder or hurt our businesses and our community here in the Middle Keys and in Marathon, so we like keeping an eye on all of it. We’re typically blessed to have a lot of great leaders that have great hearts and in the right place. But we do engage and take a lot of pride in speaking up and out when we need to.”
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