S&J YACHTS - Key Persons
I possess a 50-ton, near coastal, Master License and grew up big-game fishing offshore of New Jersey and waterskiing the rivers of South Jersey. Additionally, I spent more than 20 years on active duty serving in all four corners of the globe before retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 2008. Whether in the market to buy or sell, let me continue serving but in a different way by asking you to put my 35+ years of boating experience to work you for!
Art began his career in the marine industry upon his discharge from the US Army in 1974. Over the years he's developed a multitude of maritime skills through his experience as a hands-on rigger, technician, sailing instructor, charter fleet operator, yacht broker and new boat dealer for Mariner Yachts, Tartan Yachts, CS Yachts, Sabre Yachts, and Gozzard Yachts. Most notably, he can be attributed as a marina developer, owner, and manager after opening and operating The Sailing Emporium in Rock Hall, MD from 1978-2017. This unique experience further afforded him the opportunity to be intimately familiar with most aspects of the marine industry.
I enjoy the ever evolving world of boats; all sizes, shapes, and genres. What I find most rewarding however, is working with the people who share my love for boats, boating, and the Chesapeake Bay. I joined S&J Yachts to be part of an organization that is distinguished by well-deserved customer satisfaction and loyalty. The purchase of a boat, whether it be your first boat or that ‘last' boat, should leave you with the satisfaction of knowing you made a good choice of both a boat and a broker. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences with you.
For 29 years, Bill was the public "face" of Island Packet Yachts to customers, dealers and industry members worldwide. A well-known speaker at boat shows, owner rendezvous' and marine-industry events, Bill had joined the fledgling boat builder in 1987, fulfilling a wide variety of roles over the years including customer service, dealer acquisition and training, sales, marketing, and quality assurance. Bill first got hooked on sailing at the age of 13 after sailing a Sunfish across the crystal-clear waters of Montego Bay, Jamaica. After graduating from college, he bought his first new boat, a Hobie 16, started a sailing school with a friend, and on a first date with his future wife, won the Hobie 16 Tri-State Championship with her as crew. After several years working as a marine patrol officer for the state of Ohio, Bill began selling yachts and teaching sailing for a Lake Erie dealership. He moved to Florida a few years later, where his new-boat sales acumen included models from companies such as Tartan, Pearson, C&C, S-2, Cal, Catalina, Beneteau, Morgan, Endeavour and, of course, Island Packet. Bill served nine years on the board of Sail America, including two terms as president, and was selected to be one of three judges for the 2018 Cruising World magazine Boat of the Year competition. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Yacht Broker's Association of America, and is a Certified Professional Yacht Broker. His in-depth knowledge of the industry and keen focus on customer relations make him a valued addition to the S&J Yachts team.
I look forward to sharing my boating knowledge and passion with my clients, and helping them get the very best experience throughout the boat-buying or selling process.
Cam Brien is a native of Lawrence, Mass., where he grew up learning to sail on Mercuries and Sunfish at the Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program on the Merrimack River. At an early age he was fortunate enough to be taught that it is possible to do something as a profession solely for the love of it rather than for other reasons. As an avid sailor above all else, the path forward was lit and there was no turning back. Sailing, and life on the water in general, was the top priority!
Cam attended Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass., a nautically-oriented college preparatory school, where he sailed as crew of the training schooner SSV Tabor Boy for four years, graduating in 2010. During that time Cam's voyages on Tabor Boy ranged from Maine to the Caribbean where he got his first real taste of offshore sailing. Afterwards he attended Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, where he graduated with a B.S. in Vessel Operations and Technology, earning a 1600-ton Mate's license and a 100-ton Master's license. His time at MMA included extensive sailing and training cruises all over the East Coast of the United States and Canada on everything from offshore racing yachts to schooners, such as SSV Bowdoin, to 100,000-barrel tug and barge units transporting refined oil products.
After graduating from MMA, Cam entered the commercial maritime industry on tugs and barges but never lost his love of yachting. He continued sailing and racing his friend's S&S NY-32 on the coast of Maine during his time off of commercial vessels. He eventually went on to teach for a year at Maine Maritime Academy before re-entering the world of professional yachting full-time as a yacht delivery skipper and yacht broker. He is a regular participant in classic yacht races in New England and is always involved in one effort or another to get more people, especially youth, involved and to share in his sincere adoration of the sport.
Let him use his talents as a broker to aid you in experiencing a passion for being on the water as ardently as he does!
Growing up in New Jersey, New England and San Diego, there had been several opportunities for Chip to catch the sailing bug. But it wasn't until he moved to Austin, Texas, near the shores of beautiful Lake Travis, that he bought his first sailing dinghy. That boat sparked a passion for boating in general and a deeper love of sailboats, sailing and seamanship. After 30 years of buying, selling and sailing boats of his own, Chip is now anchored down in Stuart, Florida, where some of the finest boats come to enjoy the great water, weather and, of course, the islands. If you're considering selling your beloved vessel or chasing that dream of sailing off into the blue, give Chip a call to talk about boats and all the possibilities.
Job Titles:
- Settlement Specialist / Rock Hall
Born and raised in Rock Hall, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Ed, or "Cap" as the locals know him, grew up around, near, or on a boat. The love of the sea and duty followed him after high school to an appointment at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. After graduating in 1997 with a USCG Third Mates License, All Oceans, he was able to pursue multiple opportunities in intermodal transportation while still serving in the United States Naval Reserve. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant in 2009. Cap is still drawn to the water, in particular, the Upper Chesapeake Bay. He enjoys time with his family (wife Amy and children Hannah and Evan) usually outdoors and recently on their 1976 Pearson 365 Ketch. If you are in the area, stop in and say hello… he would be happy to meet you!
Ed can be reached at edpickering@sjyachts.com or 410-708-0633.
Gregg is a Sarasota native and has spent his life sailing and boating these waters. He was taught to sail by family and professionals alike and his love of the water has never lessened. He has been involved in many youth sailing programs over the years and enjoys sharing his expertise and love of being on the water to all who wish to learn.
Gregg began working in a sail loft at the age of 13 and ultimately opened his own loft at the age of 19. He ran his own successful business for over 30 years. His knowledge of boats and all phases of equipment that will keep them running at their optimum best is one of the things he enjoys most. His sail designs and rigging experience are one of the things that keep him a standout in this field and kept both his clients yachts and his own consistent winners. He has collaborated with many different yacht designers and engineers over the years. In doing so he was able to become close friends with the late Olin Stephens of Sparksman & Stephens Yachts while both designing sails, and discussing keel changes to multiple yachts as well as sailing with him in the classic wood boat series in the northeast. He has also worked closely with Island Packet Yachts and enjoys an intimate knowledge of them.
Gregg has most recently been sailing classic wood yachts in New England. His love of these yachts has enticed him to purchase a 1947 Loki Yawl. He sold his loft 3 years ago and went into the yacht brokerage business full time. He loves sharing his experience and love of all yachts with his clients and helping people achieve their dream of finding and buying the perfect yacht.
BETTER THAN NEW! This four year old boat has been constantly upgraded and maintained in Bristol fashion. Ready for bluewater adventures, Gypsy Skye has a new arch, dinghy, outboard, canvas enclosures, solar and a water maker. Live off the grid or join a cruising rally.
GYPSY SKYE is a rare, three-cabin owner's version of the Bavaria Cruiser 51 and has been maintained in Bristol fashion. Better than new, the current (and only) owners have upgraded and equipped this boat for bluewater cruising with solar, water maker, custom ss arch and davit system, raised stanchions for higher lifeline support, an additional fuel tank, full cockpit enclosure in vinyl and screening, and more. Thinking about taking off and being self-sufficient? Joining up with the ARC or another cruisers' rally? GYPSY SKYE is turnkey and ready for adventure in style! Act quickly on this rarity; it won't last long.
Welcome to my little part of the marine industry. Let's see how I may be of help to you. My name is John Heffner (Jack) and I have been in the marine industry since 1984 when I moved to Rock Hall, Maryland, to work for Gratitude Yachting Center. I entered the boating industry after leaving a career in HVAC, plumbing and electrical design with a consulting engineering firm in Pennsylvania. I joined the staff at Gratitude Yachting Center working as a rigger and systems installer for 10 years. I became a partner and have worked in most aspects of the business from installer, service manager, sales of both new and used boats, and the liaison with several of the boat manufactures that we sold. For the past 29 years, I have been around and understand the characteristics and construction of many types of boats and have worked with builders of boats from England, Finland, France, Spain and the United States.
I feel my strongest asset to my customers is my ability to understand their wants and needs, and an ability to help them get the end product that they are looking for, while making it a fun experience. I am a very hands-on broker and like to be involved with my customers to be certain he or she is satisfied with their purchase.
In coming on board with S & J Yachts I am looking forward to this new chapter in my boating career.
Job Titles:
- International Superyachts Broker / Fort Lauderdale, FL
Joshua Simcox is a graduate of Kings Point Federal Academy which launched his maritime career as an Unlimited Tonnage ships officer over 25 years ago. He served many years as a large-yacht captain, which has given him the unique ability to anticipate his clients' needs as well as answer their technical questions with meticulous and uncommon expertise. He is described as knowledgeable, honorable, and genuine.
Joshua always looks out for his client's best interests. Whether his clients are looking to sell an older yacht or buy and build the Superyacht of their dreams, he makes the experience enjoyable, stress-free, and financially metered and managed to its parameters.
Joshua has integrity and passion for all things maritime, which is why his clients recommend him and return time and again. For the customer who feels like they are negotiating through water filled with reefs and rocks…. Joshua is an experienced consultant to have at the helm beside them.
Job Titles:
- Managing Broker of S & J Yachts
Matt Malatich is the Managing Broker of S&J Yachts in Charleston, S.C., where he is a standout in helping clients navigate the acquisition or disposition process of luxury cruising yachts.
Matt's calm and easy demeanor provides clients with a steady hand at the wheel to help them obtain the best value for their dream yacht, as well as assisting sellers with a smooth sale of their vessel when the time is right. He is well positioned to be an advocate throughout the entire transaction process by prescreening boats (including obtaining their true histories), facilitating showings, navigating financing options, insurance needs, surveys and the closing process.
Michele started her career in January 1987 by developing the brokerage division of Gratitude Yachting Center. This followed a career of teaching special-needs children for more than 18 years. Michele's summers during her teaching days were spent working with a charter company and sailing school located on the Chesapeake, and her years there gave her the opportunity to sail many different designs. She also handled the provisioning for these charters and owned the Galley Elf, a catering business. The Galley Elf eventually introduced her to the gang at Gratitude when she catered their Island Packet Rendezvous and the rest was history.
Over the years Michele amassed specific knowledge of each of the Island Packet models. She earned every Certified Sales Representative certificate offered by Island Packet. It is not uncommon to find that she has sold the same boat several times, sometimes going back to the date she sold it as a new boat.
When the doors closed at Gratitude in 2013, Michele had enjoyed 26 years of helping her customers/friends buy and sell quality yachts, of any manufacturer, both power and sail. And, as luck would have it, as one door closed a new door opened with her friends and business associates at S&J Yachts. Michele is excited and looks forward to many more years of helping customers realize their yachting dreams.
Michele Martinage is a fantastically good broker and I am not given to praise lightly. You can trust her explicitly and she will steer you the right way.
Neil has over 40 years of boating experience that he brings to his clients. His love of sailing and racing has been an avocation for all of those years. Having owned many boats, both sail and power, Neil has a good understanding of what it takes to help a client find their boat: a boat that fits their needs and one that brings pride of ownership. After all, it is an affair of the heart when you find just the right one.
His professionalism is apparent and his background as an executive consultant in the technology and information field uniquely equips him to dig deep to help clients find the right boat. If you are selling your boat, Neil's understanding of the internet and how to effectively reach the largest audience will ensure that best efforts are being made to get your boat sold as quickly as possible…and at the best price!
Email or call me. I believe in customer satisfaction that comes from the right expectations. Let me treat you, your vessel and your boating experience in the way you expect.
In October 2019, we met with Neil Andersen, broker with S&J Yachts, to look at a 2003 Hunter 356. Although we decided not to make an offer on that particular boat, we found Neil to be very knowledgeable and helpful to us. Being first-time buyers, Neil carefully explained the process and the key points to consider when making an offer. Neil took care in listening to our "must have" items we were looking for in a boat. With that information, Neil provided us with a list of Beneteau and Hunter boats along with a 2000 Catalina 36 Mark II. As we reviewed descriptions of each vessel, Neil responded quickly answer all of our questions. On a cool Sunday in November, Neil spent the day taking us around Rock Hall, MD., to look at the five boats we had selected from the list. By the end of the day, we had decided on the Catalina, and once we notified Neil, as the buyer's broker, he drew up our offer and sent it to the selling broker. Neil helped us through the whole process which included providing us a list of professional marine surveyors for an independent inspection of the boat. Once the seller accepted our offer, we selected a surveyor and scheduled the inspection date. The survey took roughly six hours and Neil was there with us for the entire day. Within a week, we had our survey and with Neil's experience and professional advice, we were able to close the purchase of the vessel within two weeks. We would certainly recommend Neil Andersen and S&J Yachts for anyone in the market for a sailboat.
Job Titles:
- Broker / Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nicole has been a world traveler and a lover of water sports since an early age and has used every opportunity to expand her understanding of the yachting industry. Growing up as a commercial airline brat she learned to appreciate cultures and customs from around the globe. Her love of the water and sense of adventure led her to join the US Navy where she spent 18 months working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier as an avionics electrician on Black Hawks for two tours to the Persian Gulf. During this time she was able to explore Bahrain, Singapore, the Ko Phi Phi Lee Islands of Thailand, swam with elephants in Kuala Lumpur, went off-roading in the dunes of Dubai, and scuba dived in Kota Kinabalu. Returning to the US, she finished her college degree in Pre-Physical Therapy at San Diego State. While living in Washington State, she took the ASA Sailing Program to better enjoy the beauty of sail. Spending time in the Mediterranean, especially around Sardinia, Nicole was taken with the large sail and power yachts traveling from around the globe and went to Fort Lauderdale to get certifications to work on yachts including the Approved Engine Course 1 and 2 certifications. To gain more sailing experience, she joined a crew on an Oyster 55 going from Namibia to the Caribbean only to get stopped on St. Helena Island for four months when the global pandemic caused shutdowns for international travel. Nicole's enthusiasm for boating and adventure is contagious and her technical and mechanical knowledge will be a huge benefit to her clients.
Job Titles:
- Commissioning Manager / Annapolis
Richard has lived in Annapolis for over forty years and has been in the marine industry all his adult life. He is the former owner-operator of a successful sailing school on the Chesapeake
Matt Malatich from the Charleston office just sold my classic 1978 Freedom 40 in what is decidedly a difficult current market. He got me two offers and it just closed for what would have been a good top of the market price in good times. And Susan Gatling made the closing between a CA buyer and a NJ seller seamless. Kudos to them and the whole S&J Yachts team. I give them a 5 with a pandemic plus.