SAUNDERS YACHTWORKS - Key Persons
In her role as marketing manager, Ashley manages all advertising, public relations, social media and web content, as well as planning and coordinating all special events, trade shows and tournament participation. She came to Saunders in 2011 with local, regional and national marketing communications experience in education and in the outdoors/marine industry.
Blake brings a variety of marine industry experience to Saunders from fishing tackle sales to running a charter boat. In his role as a customer service manager, Blake is responsible for making sure all customer requests are completed to their specifications, and he works directly with department managers and subcontractors to ensure work is progressing.
Job Titles:
- Senior Customer Service Manager
Bob started in the customer service department at Saunders Engine Company in 2003 and transitioned to Saunders Yachtworks as a customer service manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in marine and industrial sales and customer service management. As the senior customer service manager, Bob serves as a main point of contact for our customers, ensuring all service requests are communicated and completed to the customer's specifications.
The son of a sportfish boat captain, Chris has been around the marine industry his whole life. He attended the University of Alabama, worked at J&M Tackle, and then joined the Saunders team in 2016 in the boatyard. He then transferred to the systems department as a technician a few years later. In his current position as Vessel Systems Manager, Chris is responsible for supervising, assisting, and dispatching technicians within the systems and electronics departments and ensuring all work is completed to customer specifications.
Cheese joined Saunders in 2007 as part of the boatyard crew at our Orange Beach facility. In 2010, he began running our 165-ton Travelift in Gulf Shores, as well as training as a lead technician in both yards. As boatyard manager, Cheese oversees all service basin and boatyard operations, including haul outs, bottom service, and driveline and running gear maintenance and repair.
David joined the company in 1994 as a mechanical service apprentice and brought with him the skills he had learned as an A&P mechanic working primarily on helicopters. David quickly grew into a lead field service mechanic in the early days of Saunders Yachtworks and reliably filled that role for 15 years. He then spent several years as the Vessel Systems Manager and has now moved back to his roots as the Diesel Service Manager.
Job Titles:
- Outboard Service Manager, Saunders Marine Center
- Saunders As Our Outboard Service Manager
Dylan recently joined Saunders as our outboard service manager. In this role, he manages our outboard service technicians and coordinates with the customer service department to schedule work. Dylan is a former powersports technician who has 16 years of experience in all aspects of dealership operations.
Greg started at Saunders Engine Company in 1984 as an apprentice service technician. In 1995, he moved to the pleasurecraft division in as a senior field service technician, eventually moving to the projects/repower division. In his current role, Greg files all warranty claims with vessel-related manufacturers, organizes company-wide safety programs for all employees and coordinates day-to-day repairs to the Gulf Shores facility as necessary.
Job Titles:
- Director of Customer Service
Hannah joined Saunders in 2014 in the Gulf Shores Parts Department, and she quickly became a go-to person at the counter for customers and employees alike. She is accomplished at navigating customer service and relationship building at the parts counter. Hannah was recently named the Director of Customer Service, leading the customer service team. She works directly with our customers, writing service orders and coordinating with service managers and subcontractors to get work completed.
Jim is a marine industry veteran and former owner and president of Rybovich in West Palm Beach, Fla. In 2008, he joined the board of directors at Saunders and became the board chairman a year later. Jim is also the president of Marine Business Advisors, a consulting firm that specializes in assisting marine-oriented businesses with organizational, operational and business development issues.
Jim joined Saunders Engine Company in 1983 as a field service technician. When the company decided to branch out into the yachting service industry, Jim moved to the pleasurecraft division in Orange Beach. He then became a service manager and is now the general service manager overseeing all field service technicians, service vehicles and mechanical facilities.
The personal and professional guidepost for John Fitzgerald is servant leadership. This commitment to a life of service applies to his family, community, and his role as the president of Saunders Yachtworks. At Saunders, the mission of the company is to provide extraordinary service.
John's career started in public education as a teacher and administrator. He joined Saunders Engine Company in 1999 and is the third-generation member of the Saunders/Fitzgerald family to lead the company. As president, John has full responsibility for the financial performance and daily operations of the company. He has also served on industry boards such as ABBRA and the US Superyacht Association. Outside of work, he volunteers with many community organizations including L'Arche Mobile, KAIROS, and Fairhope Unite/Hope Community. He has followed his children into coaching youth sports teams and participating in community theater. He and his wife, Andolyn, also run the Carolyn Williams Saunders Foundation.
Boyd joined Saunders in 2014. While his professional background is in advertising and business, he grew up along the Gulf Coast, and his passion for repairing and rebuilding locally produced boats led him to pursue a career move to the marine industry. In his time at Saunders, he has worked in our crafts, special projects, and customer service departments. As director of operations, he oversees all of the operations of the Yachtworks boatyard and mechanical departments. His primary role will be to coordinate the priorities of the managers of each department to match current commitments customer service.
Randy started in the parts department at Saunders Engine Company in 1980 and has worked in parts ever since. As parts manager, he is responsible for all parts operations in both locations, including inventory control, purchasing and vendor relations.
Scarlett came to Saunders in 2014 as our controller and was recently named our Chief Financial Officer. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in public and private accounting, including cash flow and investment analysis, budgeting, debt financing and tax preparation. In her role as Chief Financial Officer, Scarlett is responsible for directing all financial, administrative and office management functions, including dealership management, information technology, risk management, benefits administration and corporate recordkeeping.
As crafts manager, Seth is responsible for all carpentry, fiberglass, and paint operations at Yachtworks and Marine Center. Seth has worked in the boating industry his entire life, becoming a full-time yachtwright in 2013 after completing college. His father was a yachtwright for 40 years so the career came naturally. Seth's experience as an accomplished marine carpenter and business owner in yacht repair were great preparation for joining our company in 2019.