December 2007

contributed photo

Maria and Ronnie Jones met as teenagers in the Upper Keys when Maria's family moved to the Keys from Pembroke Pines.

Meet Maria Jones...

Maria Jones was born in Michigan but her family lived in Pembroke Pines before moving to the Upper Keys in 1983. Her husband Ronnie was one of the first people she met when she moved here as a teenager. In 1995, their friendship became a romance and they married several years later.

Jones has two older brothers and several nieces. "In addition to my family I am also lucky to be close to my husband's brother, sister-in-law, and their son," says Jones. "Ronnie and I really enjoy spending time with Billie, Kim and Paul."

Jones and her husband enjoy watching and occasionally attending college and pro-football games and Indy Car races. "I'm a New York Giants' fan and he is an Atlanta Falcons' fan, but we do agree on the Miami Hurricanes," Jones says with a smile.

Jones also enjoys traveling with Ronnie and her friends. They recently attended a surprise birthday party for a former FKEC employee who moved to Ohio. They have also been to Mexico and New York to celebrate important milestones.

Prior to joining the Co-op, Jones ran a dive travel business in Key Largo for 12 years. It was at this position that she honed her event and party planning skills, a talent that her co-workers have encouraged and enjoyed.

In addition to fulfilling the demands of her job as Member Service Representative, Jones also helps plan and organize endless company events including the Co-op's Annual Meeting, employee celebrations, ACRE¨ picnics, the Co-op's entry into the Fourth of July Parade, tours for local children and many more. Her above-and-beyond attitude earned her FKEC's Illumination Award after being nominated for the recognition by fellow co-workers.

"I like working with people," Jones pauses, "and that is a big part of my job at FKEC. I guess that's why I like it."

Jones joined FKEC in 2000 in the Billing department. She went on to work as the Engineering Secretary and then as an AUTOCAD technician before being promoted to Member Service Representative in Tavernier.