SPOTLIGHT:

Johnny Mackey

Johnny Mackey looks like he’s ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but that’s not surprising. As co-owner of Shamrock Restoration, he looks that way most days. He and Rob Dodson, an old high school buddy from Virginia as well as his partner in the water restoration and mold remediation business, are both proud of their Irish roots. Community involvement is key for Mackey. In his early days in Delray—he moved here in 2013 to pursue a job opportunity—he gained a certain level of notoriety thanks to a banana costume that he initially wore in an effort to drum up support for the Delray Chamber Education Fund. The banana costume usually stays in the closet these days, but Mackey has continued his involvement with the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, more recently serving in the Ambassadors Program before becoming one of the youngest board members the organization has ever had.

WHY HE GOT INVOLVED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: “The Chamber is probably the best place to refine your business ownership skills. You can meet people that have been in business longer than you, and they can give you advice. … But more than anything, it just gets you out there and helps you meet people. And in my opinion, there are few things that are more important.”

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HE’S INVOLVED WITH: “We are excited and proud to be one of the businesses in the area that are doing everything we can to support Eat Better Live Better. They actually have a big event coming up that we’re trying to garner attention for; it’s the Feeding the Hands of Hunger Luncheon on April 4.”

HIS FAVORITE THING TO DO IN DELRAY: “I love to peoplewatch on Friday and Saturday nights on Atlantic Avenue. There’s nothing better than seeing all the different walks of life; you’ve got the young, you’ve got the old, everyone’s in their finest attire. I always find that fun.”

WHAT HE THINKS MAKES DELRAY SPECIAL: “There are really a lot of things to do! Whether it’s going to different restaurants and bars, or the art galleries, the GreenMarket and the events and the live music—it’s just a very vibrant city. … It’s not a big city, but it’s got a lot of things that a big city would have.”

AND THE BANANA COSTUME: “In marketing, the most important thing is gaining people’s attention. Once you have their attention, then you can give them the message. There has never been a better way to gain attention than the banana.”

SPRINGFEST CELEBRATION: APRIL 7-8

This free event at Robert P. Miller Park starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, with fun activities geared to teens and adults, including a flashlight egg hunt and LED games. On Saturday morning, it’s all about the kids with crafts, bounce houses, food and more! Children ages 1 to 12 will want to bring a basket from home for the egg hunt at 9 a.m. 1905 S.W. Fourth Ave., Delray Beach, delraybeachfl.gov

Delray’s Achievement Centers for Children & Families (ACCF) celebrated World Kindness Day with a Kindness Carnival, at which more than 200 children from various Achievement Center programs gathered for a day of fun activities and giving back to the community. Pictured: ACCF kids with a pony provided by Personal Ponies FL.

More than 300 witches dressed in their best witchy attire rode their brooms (bikes) through the streets of Delray to benefit Delray Beach’s Achievement Centers for Children & Families, raising more than $28,000. Pictured: Witches riding through Delray Beach.

Boca resident Kerrie-Ann Cuffie-Moses celebrated her birthday by giving back to the community at a pizza party she hosted for Delray’s Achievement Centers for Children & Families (ACCF). Pictured: Kerrie-Ann Cuffie-Moses with an ACCF teen.

Members of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, city council, and Downtown Development Authority (DDA) celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the new West Atlantic Avenue Amazon Hub, owned and operated by Gina Pierre, the first Black female to own and operate an Amazon Hub in the country. Pictured: Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, city council, and DDA members with Gina Pierre.

The Achievement Centers for Children & Families (ACCF) was chosen as the 2022 beneficiary of the Gables Day of Service, a day of recognition and service carried out by employees from Gables Residential, a national residential management company. Pictured: The Achievement Centers for Children & Families.

BY JOHN THOMASON