Vincent Yacuzzi deadlifted 584 pounds at the 2022 IPL World Championship in Orange Beach, Alabama, finishing second in the 165-pound class. Now the 38-year-old powerlifter oversees more than a dozen park areas on Key Biscayne, and Village Manager Steve Williamson honored him with a "Rising Star" award on Wednesday, July 1.

Yacuzzi, who goes by "Vinny," joined the Village as Park Supervisor at the start of 2026 after 16 years as a Patient Access Manager in the emergency room at Baptist Health. Village Human Resource Director Juan Gutierrez recruited him with a phone call on Christmas Eve 2025.

The Worcester, Massachusetts, native stands 5-foot-5 and has competed in powerlifting since age 17, according to the Islander News. His verified personal bests, per OpenPowerlifting records, include a 501.5-pound squat, a 314.1-pound bench press, and a 584.2-pound deadlift for a 1,399.9-pound total. He placed second in the Raw Open 75-kilogram class at the IPL World Championship on Oct. 20, 2022, a meet originally scheduled for Russia but relocated to Alabama after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

His championship-level discipline translates well to the job. Williamson said Yacuzzi led the replacement of rusted furniture at Beach Park, helped refurbish the dog park, decorated the Village's debut Fourth of July Parade float, and organized FIFA World Cup viewing parties.

"Vinny has been a great addition to our team," Williamson told the Islander News on Friday, July 18. "Taking care of our parks, assisting with our community programs and engaging with our residents, he has taken our Parks and Open Spaces to an even higher level."

Parks and Recreation Director Todd Hofferberth said Yacuzzi earned the respect of co-workers through his work ethic and teamwork. Yacuzzi credited fellow parks workers David Carreño and Richard Perez for helping him settle in.

"I just keep my nose in the dirt and stay busy," Yacuzzi said.

He lives in Kendall with two 70-pound mutts and spends his off-hours fishing, paddle-boarding, hiking, and mountain biking. His lifting career spanned meets from 2014 through 2022, including two prior IPL Drug Tested World Championship appearances in 2018 and 2019.