Born on May 4, 1956 to a Cuban father (Manuel) and an American mother (Verna), Marty Casado was raised in Wichita, Kansas. A self-proclaimed "computer geek," Marty admits to being a "math junkie" who took computer classes as early as 1974.

    Following graduation, Marty married his high school sweetheart, Becky, and together with five other friends, they moved "en masse" to Eugene, Oregon. Having worked in restaurants all his life, Marty easily found work in the big city. After some time, he became the chef at one of the finest dining establishments in Eugene, the North Bank Restaurant located on the Williamette River.

    In 1994, when he was not performing his duties as Executive Chef, Marty began creating a web site for a local Eugene school and served as the school's computer consultant as well. In his spare time, he also wrote articles for computing magazines.

    The following year, while working for a computer company called Advantage Information Management, Marty heard about a wonderful place called Ambergris Caye. His boss, Alan McNeil, had visited the island and decided to create a web site for the up and coming tourist destination. In April of 1996, Marty joined Alan for his first visit to "paradise". Through Wil and Susan Lala of Caribbean Villas, the two met Bruce and Victoria Collins, who were at the time the editors of The San Pedro Sun. They, in turn, introduced Marty and Alan to the community. After establishing all the necessary contacts for their project, the Oregon businessmen submitted a bid to establish the destination's web site, and following an official endorsement from the San Pedro Town Council, AmbergrisCaye.com was born.

    Eventually, Marty became sole owner of the company, renaming it Casado Internet Group. Now a family enterprise, his wife Becky, daughter Myah (22) and son Ryan (19) combine their individual talents to make AmbergrisCaye.com one of the finest web sites in Belize. "I owe everything to my family for all their hard work and the support they give me," said Marty.

    What started out as a very small enterprise soon became a full-time job. The results of Marty's efforts are evident as AmbergrisCaye.com receives 8-9,000 visitors per day. "Someday, I'll calculate how many hits that is per minute," Marty joked. "I probably work 50-60 hours-a-week on the site between the message board, answering E-mails and distributing print materials (copies of The San Pedro Sun, glossy brochures, books, etc.) to anyone interested in receiving more information on Ambergris Caye," he continued. Because of his reputation as the "off-island tourist information center," potential visitors to Ambergris Caye drop by his house in Eugene at least twice a month. "At the house, I have maps of the country and the cayes on my office walls; I keep my clocks set to Belize time in there," Marty explained. He also lends out Belize reference books on a regular basis.

    Marty credits numerous people with his love of Ambergris Caye but recalled his first underwater experience as a life-changing event: "I must mention my ėmidwife' Norman Eiley who literally helped give birth to my love for this island and the sea, by putting me in the water and waiting patiently until I decided to come out, some five hours later!" He also  works extensively with Julian Rivero, his "local island computer expert".

    Other than updating current business information, Marty continues to collect old pictures and local island memorabilia to add to the web site's historical section. He credits local marine biologist Richie Woods for a "mountain" of research material used in the beginning of AmbergrisCaye.com and the data Richie is currently sharing with him. "Richie likes looking for treasure and he's already got it - his extensive research material about the area," Marty exclaimed.

    Marty Casado also works a "real job to get him out of the house," as a computer consultant for the International Society of Technology and Education (ISTE). This company assists school systems with computer hardware and software needs for their computer education curriculum.

    To get a little exercise, Marty plays soccer - a sport he has enjoyed for the past twenty years. He actively participates on the Eugene "over-40" Soccer League as a "right wing". Aside from being a soccer fiend, Marty's other hobbies include snow skiing, snow boarding and being a "house husband".

   As if all this were not enough, in times of need, Marty Casado comes shining through like a champ. During both Hurricane Mitch and Keith, Marty was instrumental in distributing information over the Internet as to the status of the island and the location of its residents. He and his "friends" have also donated to several local charities for one reason or another. Marty's generosity does not stop there, for he provides free web services to the Saga Humane Society, The San Pedro Lions Club, the San Pedro Roman Catholic School, the San Pedro High School, the San Pedro Town Council, to name but a few.

    Someday, when his kids are settled, Marty hopes to "retire" in Ambergris Caye, and build a little house on the lagoon side of the island. "I love it here, especially the people. There aren't so many rules - I love the ėNo Shoes, No Shirt' and less problems."

    The fact that so many people continue to arrive on the shores of Ambergris Caye is not surprising, especially when there are people like Marty Casado marketing and generally "overseeing" the situation here on the island. We can only hope that someday, someone will want to fill those big shoes whenever Marty decides to become a more permanent and visible part of "Our Community."