Jan/Feb 2012 - Florida Yacht Brokers Association, Inc.

2012 FYBA Board
members
New Board Members Elected
FYBA welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors during the FYBA
Annual Meeting - Bob Denison, president of Denison Yacht Sales, and Whit
Kirtland of Bradford Marine Yacht Sales. They join FYBA’s current Board
members: Bob Zarchen, Ardell Yacht & Ship Brokers; Crom Littlejohn, Merle
Wood & Associates; Lon McCloskey, The Marine Group; Jonathan Burkard,
Allied Marine; Bruce Schattenburg,Y.CO; Gary Smith, Sarasota Yacht & Ship;
Jeff Erdmann, Bollman Yachts; Paul Flannery, HMY Yacht Sales, and Bob
Saxon; International Yacht Collection.
Bob Denison’s grandfather, Frank Denison, and father,
Kit, founded Broward Marine and Denison Marine,
respectively. Thanks to this great family heritage, Bob has
held a variety of jobs in the yachting industry. A graduate
of the University of Miami with a degree in Business
Management, Bob began working with two visionary
entrepreneurs in the e-commerce and aerospace fields.
In 2002 Bob assumed all management roles of Denison
Yacht Sales. Since that time. he has overseen the
company’s steady growth and expansion to four marina
offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Marina del Rey, Calif.; Old Saybrook, Conn., and San
Carlos, Mexico. Bob also oversees Denison’s new boat sales with the support of
Denison’s 32 licensed and bonded yacht brokers.
Denison Yacht Sales is currently an active member of the FYBA, MIASF and CYBA.
Bob has served on several FYBA committees, including Seminars and Legislation.
Bob also serves on the 2011/2012 MIASF FLIBS Committee.
Whit Kirtland has brokered all sizes of yachts over the
past 28 years; both power and sail. Along the way he also
has represented Dutch, French, and Italian yacht builders
in marketing and sales. He is the third generation of his
family to work in the maritime business - his grandfather
was a master shipwright and his father was a broker and
head of Merrill-Stevens’ Miami yard - and it’s his first
love. Whit learned the maritime business the hard way;
working in every shop at Merrill-Stevens, serving as a
ship mate on an ocean-going tug, and as mate aboard a
110’ Feadship. He also sailed on the racing circuit as a
“grinder” aboard a 51-foot Swan.
Due to Whit’s in-depth experience, he is well respected in the brokerage business. In
addition to serving on the FYBA Board of Directors, he also is a three-time past FYBA
President. He’s also on the Board of the International Superyacht Society, participates
in the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and the National Yacht Brokers’
Certification program, and has served on the Certification Advisory Council of the
Certified Professional Yacht Brokers’ program.
PUBLICATION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA YACHT BROKERS ASSOCIATION
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2012
C MPASS
FYBA GOES GLAM
AT ANNUAL DINNER
2012 Yacht & Brokerage
SHOW PREVIEW
PLUS
MARITIME LAW:
TENDER ORIENTATION
PLUS
MARITIME LAW:
TENDER ORIENTATION
Inside This Issue
Judging by the crowd, this year’s
FYBA Annual Meeting proved to
be an overwhelming success.
Attendance was up over last year,
and the comments received during
and after the affair tell us that a good
time was had by all.
PUBLICATION FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA YACHT BROKERS ASSOCIATION
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2012
C MPASS
On the Cover
2012 Yacht & Brokerage
SHOW PREVIEW
The meeting serves as a chance to
celebrate the accomplishments, not
only of the association but also those
of our member brokers. We also take
time to honor the men and women
who volunteer their time and energy
in support of FYBA, whether it be
to serve on the FYBA board or help
guide our all-important legislative
affairs program.
FYBA GOES GLAM
AT ANNUAL DINNER
In addition to coverage of the annual
meeting, you’ll also find in this issue
of COMPASS a preview of the
upcoming Yacht & Brokerage Show in
Miami Beach. The show often serves
as a bellwether for the upcoming
year. As you’ll see expectations are
that this year’s show will generate
more crowds, and hopefully sales,
which would be a positive indicator
for 2012 and beyond.
As always, we welcome your
comments and feedback, as well as
story suggestions. Just e-mail Randi
Myers at randi@fyba.org.
The Yacht & Brokerage Show on Collins Avenue
in Miami Beach. Photo by Forest Johnson.
www.fyba.org | florida yacht brokers association | january/february 2012 3