On the Front Lines

On the Front

CFK alumni take more than just knowledge, skills, and sun-soaked memories along with their diploma. Living and learning on an island chain — separated from “real world” conveniences like Target, and in the path of tropical storms and hurricanes — CFK students develop a strong sense of community and the importance of lending a helping hand.

This spring, when the coronavirus pandemic usurped our daily lives, we saw those qualities radiate in the CFK family. Alumni, students, and employees have provided — and are still providing — heroic services on the front lines in a variety of professions. This segment salutes just a few of many who deserve gratitude, recognition, and emulation.

Tina Carr

(AS, Fin Mgmt ’81)

Senior Vice President and Loan Servicing Manager / First State Bank of the Florida Keys

At the onset of the pandemic, as jobs were being lost, businesses closed, and incomes restricted, many wondered how they would put food on the table, let alone pay their bills. CFK alumnus Tina Carr, who serves as Senior Vice President and Loan Servicing Manager for First State Bank of the Florida Keys (FSB), headed up the team that immediately jumped into action creating two loan deferral programs allowing hundreds of Monroe County bank customers six months of breathing room, in a world in which they were otherwise scared to take a breath.

Tina also was a part of FSB’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) team that processed almost 1,000 loans (26% of all PPP loans in the Keys). These loans provided over $50 million in desperately needed funding to local businesses, and thus to their employees, impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown.

A native of Key West, Tina joined FSB in 1975 as a Switchboard Operator after graduating from Mary Immaculate High School. She earned an Associate in Science in Financial Management at CFK in 1981, helping her to climb the ladder in her banking career. This year, Tina celebrated 45 years of service to FSB as well as the Keys community.

Meghan Foster (BLE ’20)

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy

Since she was a girl, Meghan Foster knew she wanted to be a police officer. She watched her father’s struggles take him in and out of jail throughout her childhood. While such painful events may traumatize some people, Meghan found motivation. She decided that she wanted to help people and contribute to the “right side of the law.” The Coral Shores High School graduate set a plan to reach her goal before her 20th birthday.

Meghan joined the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO) Civilian Reserve Volunteer program in 2019 after participating in a ride-along with a deputy she met while waitressing at Hobo’s Café in Key Largo. Soon, she was spending her weekends on ride-alongs that spanned day and night — soaking up the real-world experience and learning from multiple mentors. During the week, she formally trained in CFK’s rigorous Basic Law Enforcement Academy — studying law, communications, firearms, and vehicle operations.

When the pandemic hit, Meghan asked to help at the US1 checkpoint. The checkpoint was set up at Monroe County’s northern border to limit the number of people entering the Keys so as to protect residents from the initial spread. She joined MCSO from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the grueling heat — all while balancing her evening classes. She racked up 180 hours working the checkpoint, which earned her MCSO’s Reserve Deputy of the Quarter award. Meghan graduated from CFK in October. During the ceremony, she was sworn in as a new MCSO officer — officially joining the force and embarking on her dream career.

Lines In its 55-year history, The College of the Florida Keys has cultivated legions of graduates who set forth from the tiny island campus to make their mark on the world.

Amy Dees

(ASN ’20, BSN)

Respiratory Therapist / Lower Keys Medical Center

Since the first ventilator went up at Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC), Amy Dees has led respiratory care in the ICU as coronavirus infiltrated the Keys. Although still in the final semester of her nursing degree, the Navy wife and mother was well-qualified for the challenge. With over 21 years of critical care experience, she has cared for patients during SARS, Swine Flu, Avian Flu, and other outbreaks in various locations. Amy considered putting school on hold. She was working days and nights at the hospital to keep a watchful eye on her patients. While an academic break would have been understandable during such trying times, her fellow nursing students and instructors rallied behind her. They helped her study and made sure she was eating. They sent her texts of encouragement as well as condolence.

Remarkably, Amy persevered and finished her associate degree in Nursing in May and became a Registered Nurse in June. She continues to fight COVID-19 at LKMC. She also works for the state of Florida in a COVID-19 crisis relief program that deploys Respiratory Therapists and Nurses to struggling hospitals. Since March, Amy has spent weeks at hospitals in Miami and Boynton Beach caring around the clock for critical patients on ventilators and life support.

The horrors of the pandemic have only driven Amy to do more and give more. In August, she began her bachelor’s degree in Nursing at CFK. Somehow, she balances schoolwork with two jobs and caring for her two children while her husband is stationed overseas. The epitome of grace under fire, Amy is a hero and role model.

Carmen Garcia

(AA ’11)

Regional Disaster Workforce Engagement Manager / American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region

Fire, floods, and hurricanes wreak havoc throughout the world at increasing rates — leaving devastation and human suffering in their wake. Valiantly, the American Red Cross deploys droves of volunteers to render aid and ease suffering in disaster zones year-round. CFK alumnus Carmen Garcia leads a team of such heroes in Houston, Texas.

When the pandemic arrived, problems compounded for thousands of people in Carmen’s region, who were displaced, low-income, and still recovering from Hurricane Imelda, which made landfall in 2019. Committed to continuing their invaluable mission, she had to find ways to keep her volunteers safe as well as the families they were serving. Half of their operations moved to virtual and new safety protocols were established, requiring Carmen to quickly train dozens of volunteers in the new ways of delivering “hands-on” services in a new era of social distancing. As Hurricane season ushered in storm after storm — Hannah, Laura, and Beta — Carmen and her team were ready to help. They continued to provide shelter (now in individual hotel rooms instead of mass shelters) and continued to distribute food and emergency supplies (now packaged individually and delivered without contact) to the hard-hit communities.

Carmen is no stranger to humanitarianism. Before joining the Red Cross, she built upon her CFK degree (which she earned while still in high school) with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sustainability. After college, she returned home to work with the S.O.S. Foundation, which provides food to the most vulnerable people in the Keys. Her passion for helping people and solving food security crises eventually led her to the Red Cross, where she plans to contribute for years to come.