Webinar: Caribbean Update Webinar by IYBA

About This Webinar

Detailed agenda to be provided in coming weeks.

Presenters

IYBA

Umberto Bonavita

Robert Allen Law

Attorney Umberto Bonavita, a senior partner at Robert Allen Law, advises clients in general corporate and international business transactions with a strong focus on transactions related to the yachting industry.

He regularly counsels owners, buyers, sellers, brokers, and lenders on all aspects of yacht transactions, including chartering and the purchase and sale of luxury yachts. He also advises leading yacht manufacturers and dealers on all aspects of their businesses, including corporate, tax, real estate, employment, immigration, and litigation matters.

Umberto is admitted to practice law in Florida and New York and is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian. He is a graduate of Fordham Law School and the University of Virginia. To learn more about Umberto and Robert Allen Law, please visit www.robertallenlaw.com

Craig Cohen

Partner-Charter Broker at Burgess

I have been in the industry for nearly 23 years. I worked as crew for 12 years being involved with some of the top charter yachts in the fleet at the time: 62m Feadship CAKEWALK, 58m A&R LADY SHERIDAN and 57m A&R EXCELLENCE III. I worked my way to Chief Officer during his time. I joined Burgess in 2011 in the New York office.

Bert Fowles

VP of Sales & Marketing - IGY Marinas

With more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience, Bert Fowles joined the IGY Marinas team in 2007 as Vice President of Marketing & Sales. Fowles is responsible for developing and implementing marketing plans leading to revenue growth for numerous international marinas, as well as providing direction and support to IGY’s third-party clients in respect to marketing and sales.

Prior to joining IGY Marinas, Fowles served as operations manager for Prime Sports Ltd., one of the Caribbean’s leading casino gaming companies. He has also held several key marketing management positions in the hospitality and resort industry, including a number of years with SuperClubs Resorts where he serviced brands such as Hedonism, Grand Lido and Breezes.

Fowles serves on several boards, including the United States Superyacht Association and Marine Industries Association of South Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida, where he majored in Business Administration.

David Maass

Associate Lawyer - Alley, Maass, Rogers, Lindsay, P.A.

David R. Maass is an associate at Alley, Maass, Rogers & Lindsay, P.A., in Palm Beach, where he focuses his practice on yacht transactions. He represents clients who are buying, selling, and chartering yachts and advises on related matters, including registration, finance, insurance, taxes, and crew. David received his law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and holds a Master of Laws in Admiralty from Tulane University Law School.

Nicole Caulfield

USA Charter Fleet Manager - Burgess Yachts

Nicole Caulfield joined RJC Yacht Sales & Charter in 2002 after having worked on board charter yachts for nearly ten years. Nicole's time as a crew member allowed her to hold positions of stewardess, mate and then chef. Her time on board charter yachts allowed travel throughout the Bahamas, Caribbean, Great Lakes, US East Coast, Pacific Northwest, and Eastern and Western Canada.

Nicole is a committee member of the International Yacht Brokers Association, the American Yacht Charter Association and the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association. Nicole is actively involved and participates in each of these associations and in all aspects of the charter industry. Nicole attends several charter shows a year including, Antigua, Barcelona, Greece, Newport, Miami, Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. She also attends charter open houses once a month in Ft. Lauderdale. This keeps Nicole current with the charter yachts on the market and their crew; allowing her to make personal recommendations to clients when choosing the best yacht for their charter.

Nicole is married to a yacht captain and they have two sons who also love the water and all aspects of boating.

Ann Landry

Senior Charter Broker - Northrop & Johnson

As a native of the port city of New Orleans, travel and adventure have always been high on my agenda; I have lived in each of the five time zones from the Caribbean to the Pacific Coast of America.

It all started innocently enough with two charter vacations – a bareboat charter in the Abacos and a dive/sail charter from St. Barth to St. Thomas - which led to buying a boat and sailing from California to the Virgin Islands. After running sailing charters for a few years, it was time to move back ashore and booking charters seemed a logical step. All a far cry from my technical education and experience as a clinical chemist.

Yachting has been good to me, generous to me. I love the sea, boats and the fascinating people who run the yachting industry worldwide – the most interesting people from every country and continent.

Clayton Swart

Business Development Manager - MHG Insurance

Clayton Swart is a Business Development Manager at MHG Insurance, specializing in charter cancelation insurance and crew health insurance. Clayton has spent his entire career in the yachting industry, where he started working onboard yachts as a crew member, and later transitioned to a yacht broker. Given his experience and background, Clayton is now regarded for his insurance expertise, and is seen as the industry’s charter cancelation expert. He is often used as a resource by charter brokers, helping them determine the best plan for their clients, and offering his services throughout the entire insurance process.

Clayton, born and raised in South Africa, is an avid outdoorsman who loves the water. It was no surprise that he would meet and marry his wife, Aran, who is from Wyoming. It is a family goal each summer to spend quality time out west where they all unplug and get back to their roots with their 13 year old son.

Adam Fitzmaurice

Senior Charter Manager - Northrop & Johnson

Northrop & Johnson Senior Charter Manager Adam Fitzmaurice grew up in northern England. At age 18, following his love of life on the water (diving and watersports are two of his passions), Adam moved to the Antigua, eventually becoming a partner at ABRACADABRA. Based in Antigua and surrounded by Yachts, a career onboard was inevitable. He was chief steward on VA BENE, SUNRAYS & ARKLEY and worked as sailing crew on RANGER, among other positions. Adam eventually moved ashore to pursue a land-based career as a Client Representative for Y.CO, eventually becoming a Charter Manager. Adam is an accomplished charter manager; an expert at managing yachts in the 50-meter-plus range anywhere in the world, his onboard knowledge and experience enables him to provide valuable insight to both Owners and Captains. Well versed in the yachting lifestyle and experiences on board, Adam is able to add value to the Yachts he manages whenever possible. Adam offers clients exemplary service, discreet attention and a cool, calm, collected attitude to anticipate and solve any situation.

Bob Saxon

President of Yacht Sales - Westport Yachts

Bob Saxon is an iconic figure in the global yachting community. With 40 years of experience during which time he has represented some 2,500 yacht owners, he has been a pioneer in yacht and crew management, yacht build projects and charter specializing in the luxury yacht space. He is regarded by many as the patriarch of yacht management and charter, bringing a highly professional and rigorous approach to the effective management and operation of megayachts around the world. He has held a series of senior executive and leadership position in the industry working with prestigious brands at Camper & Nicholsons, IYC, Marine Max, and Bob Saxon Associates. Most recently he assumed the role of President at Westport Yachts, builders of over 175 superyachts.

Bob is also founding President of the International Superyacht Society (ISS), an industry trade group that serves to facilitate best practices and networking across the industry-at-large. He is a licensed yacht broker manager and currently is serving his fourth term as President of the International Yacht Brokers Association (IYBA) . He is also a certified arbitrator with the International Yacht Arbitration Council (IYAC).

Bob is recipient of the ISS coveted “Lifetime Achievement Award” and an electee of the International Chartering Hall of Fame.