Staff Spotlight, Emerita Ortiz

Emerita Ortiz, Senior Clerk

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Senior Clerk Emerita Ortiz was encouraged to apply for a toll collector position (now called senior clerk) at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park by a park employee who knew her to be a hard worker and congenial person. In her position, she greets people when they first come into the park, answers questions and collects fees.

Growing up on a farm in southern Mexico gave Emerita an appreciation for nature. She loved the vegetation and hearing the birds singing. She originally came to the United States to help her brother in California with his six children. Most of her family had moved to Florida from Mexico, and she later joined them here.

One of Emerita’s finest qualities is her pleasant interaction with people. Since she works in the ranger station at the park entrance, she’s a “Director of First Impressions.” What Emerita enjoys most about her position is when someone tells her it’s their first visit to the park, and they want to know what they can do here and what the park has to offer.

Emerita’s favorite thing about John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is the visitor center and aquarium. She enjoys seeing the many species of fish, but especially one of the smaller aquarium displays that has a yellowhead jawfish. This fish hovers over its home, a hole in the bottom sand, and quickly darts, tail-first, back inside when startled.

Emerita also loves snorkeling at the Cannon Beach swimming area, where she sees tarpon frequently and once even a rare sight of a turtle that was close to shore. She likes April and May best for snorkeling. Emerita encourages you to take a boat tour from the land base of the park to snorkel at the reef, or the comfortable “Spirit of Pennekamp” glass bottom boat if you don’t want to get wet. When you visit our park, be sure to trust her recommendations and enjoy the unique Pennekamp experience!