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 is currently a Board Member of YBAA.