Meet Joe Coakley
Community Connector
Joe Coakley’s career path has been anything but ordinary—police officer, ambulance medical team member, car salesman, employment agency owner, and medical office manager. Yet through every role, his purpose has remained constant: helping people. Often, that meant showing kindness in difficult situations, a skill that taught him how to put others at ease and make them feel valued.
When a health issue brought his auto sales career to a halt, Joe pivoted and became a residential loan officer at Barnett Bank. It was there that he first met Marine Bank President and CEO Bill Penney. Over the next decade, Joe explored several careers and even tried retirement—twice.
But fate had other plans. A chance encounter with Bill Penney in 2018 led Joe back into the workforce as Marine Bank’s community relations representative. “How blessed am I?” he reflects. “I get up every day knowing I get to interact with the community, connect my friends and neighbors to local resources, and collaborate with a team of very friendly and knowledgeable banking professionals.”
That joy is evident in his contagious smile and boundless energy. At 82, Joe insists he feels closer to 60. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, he moved to Vero Beach in 1988, where he lives with his wife Judy. He’s the proud father of two children and grandfather of two.
Deeply committed to his community, Joe is an active member of the Vero Beach High School Booster Club and Sunrise Rotary Club. In August, Sunrise Rotary honored him with the prestigious Paul Harris Award for Service Above Self, recognizing his achievements, his ability to inspire, and his lasting impact on the community.
Ask Joe about his hobbies and he’ll mention he’s a sports fan—but the truth is clear when he flashes his trademark grin: “Definitely people."