PYS Crew

 

Front Office

Jason Curtis
Portland Yacht Services' operations manager, Jason Curtis is also one of the company's longest serving employees. Hired as an outboard motor technician in early 1999, Jason was by then experienced as both a service department manager and motor technician.

Following his initial work experience as an outboard motor and snowmobile technician, Jason joined the U.S. Air Force in 1991. It was while in the service that he received arguably his most technologically advanced training. As the top graduate in his electro-environmental systems class, Jason showed a significant amount of promise. The Air Force subsequently assigned him to Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, CA where he worked on advanced aircraft such as the U-2 spyplane.

After leaving the service in 1995, Jason returned to the marine industry where he worked first as a technician and then later as a service manager in regional boatyards. At PYS Jason worked his way up from technician to service manager before assuming his present responsibilities as Operations Manager in 2005.

Justina Marcisso
Typically the first person customers meet when they come to Portland Yacht Services, Justina Marcisso has worked in the front office of PYS since 2000. Since then Justina's organizational skills and ability to remain calm under stress, have made her a vital part of our efforts.

Prior to her arrival at PYS, Justina worked as office manager and dispatcher at New England College's department of security. This experience provided Justina with the tools to manage the flow of information, visitors and work orders through the PYS office, no matter what time of year or how busy the yard becomes.

Outside of work Justina is active in the community. She has served as the assistant director of the Old Port Festival and is a member of the Adams School Re-use Committee.

Rob Benson
Portland Yacht Services' service manager, Rob Benson began working in the marine industry shortly after he graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1981. After several years working variously as a sailing instructor, mate on an offshore supply vessel and as a yacht delivery captain, Benson returned to school in the late 1980's. In 1990 he graduated from the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design.

After graduation, Benson worked as a draftsman at John Gilbert Associates Naval Architects before returning to the Landing School as Facilitator of Marine Systems from 2000-2001.

It is Benson's wide-ranging experience and professional demeanor which make him such a valuable part of the PYS team. As an enthusiastic yachtsman Benson understands the concerns of boaters, but has the technical background to explain maintenance and service issues in a clear and concise style.

                                                                                                                                                                       

Parts Department

Kerry Getchell
Kerry Getchell began his career as an automotive parts technician in the mid-1980s. The end of the decade found him managing the Portland branch of Steego Auto Parts thanks to his dedication to customer service and scrupulous maintenance of inventory. Getchell stayed on as manager even after Steego was acquired by Carquest and over the years developed a reputation locally as an authority on auto parts distribution.

Since 2002, Getchell has brought his parts management experience to bear in the Portland Yacht Services parts department. This move allowed him to combine a lifelong affinity for boating with his professional career. While at PYS he has dedicated himself to streamlining inventory and developing more opportunities to distribute marine parts.

In his spare time, Getchell serves in the US Army Reserves and rebuilds vintage muscle cars.

Joe Glantz
Having worked for several marine parts suppliers in the area, Joe Glantz can boast of extensive experience in his field. Joe began working on the Portland waterfront in the early 1970s for Harris Company, a marine supply company then known for supplying everything from paint and marine hardware to tools. Joe later moved on to Chase Leavitt and Company on Dana Street in Portland.

It was while he was employed at Chase Leavitt for more than 20 years, that Joe learned the intricacies of the most common of marine auxiliary engines. During Joe's tenure, Chase Leavitt became known locally as the place to go for parts for Universal, Westerbeke and Yanmar engines. Not only was Joe surrounded by the company's stock of replacement parts and service manuals, but Chase Leavitt sent him to a series of technical schools offered by the manufacturers.

When Chase Leavitt closed their service department in 1999, Joe brought his training and experience to PYS. Since then, PYS has moved and expanded its parts department, but Joe is still at the center of our operations.

In his spare time, Joe enjoys camping, hiking, working with his church and refinishing furniture.

                                                                                                                                                                            

Maxim L. Zhdanov (Bio Pending)

Yard Crew

 

Tim Grover
Tim Grover got his start in the marine industry immediately after high school when he began working for Florida-based boatbuilders. Over the course of a decade, he worked for Island Packet, Gulf Star and Viking.

When he returned to Maine in the 80s, Tim shifted to the construction industry where he was to work for the next 15 years. During this time, Tim became adept at a wide range of carpentry jobs from new house construction to apartment renovation. For five years during this period, Tim owned his own carpentry business.

Ultimately, however, Tim returned to the marine industry, briefly working for Sabre Yacht before shifting to full-service boatyards. In 2005, Tim came to PYS where he has become a versatile member of the crew. While his background has allowed him to help several departments at PYS during the off-season, Tim's schedule becomes much more specific during the spring and fall when he directs the hauling, launching and movement of the many different sizes and variety of boats stored at PYS.

                                                                                                                                                                         

Jason Phippen (Bio Pending)

Mechanical Shop

Mike Stackhouse (Bio Pending)

 

Bernie Smith
Bernie Smith has perhaps the largest ship experience at Portland Yacht Services, having served on the U.S.S. Enterprise while in the U.S. Navy. Once out of the navy, Bernie used the G.I. Bill to finance an associate's degree in computer science from Andover College.

After four years as an automotive technician, at Palmer Volkswagen and Maine Mall Motors, Bernie turned to the marine field. With 13-years as a marine engine technician at area boatyards under his belt, Bernie arrived at Portland Yacht Services in 2004 with a variety of experience. Over time he had also received training from a number of marine companies including Mercury, Volvo and OMC (now Bombardier).

In his spare time, Bernie pursues his love for music, woodworking, repairing, maintaining and riding motorcycles.

Bud Parson
With a lengthy history in technical systems maintenance and repair Bud brings the discipline of a military career and several decades worth of technical work in the private sector to Portland Yacht Services. A Maine resident for nearly 20 years, Bud began his career servicing film production equipment at Polaroid in Waltham, MA. After four years in the United States Air Force maintaining and repairing Minuteman Missile Silos, Bud rejoined the private sector in the mid-1970s. By the end of the decade he had rejoined the military for a three-year period, working on helicopter communications and avionics equipment at the US Army depot in Sacramento, California. Bud then moved back to the East Coast for good in the mid-1980s where he was employed by Tycom Global Ocean Systems in production research and development of trans-oceanic communications equipment.

Mike Smith (Bio Pending)

        

                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

Tyler Beran (Bio Pending)

Paint Shop

Eric Thibodeau
The head of Portland Yacht Services' Paint, Varnish and Fiberglass Department, Eric Thibodeau has refined his craft in a number of boatyards in Maine and Florida. Originally joining the PYS staff in 2003, Eric quickly established himself in the paint and varnish shop as a man with wide-ranging skills. He also brought a new emphasis on fiberglass and gel coat repair and reconstruction. Eric began his career in boat repair at Sailor's Wharf in St. Petersburg, FL in 1994. After two years there, he moved on to Maximo Marina, also in St. Petersburg. Maximo, a yard specializing in larger yachts, afforded Eric the opportunity to work on boats over 50 feet in length and to hone his skill with gel coat and Awlgrip. In 1997, Eric left Maximo Marina to start his own company, Superior Boat and Yacht Detail. Eric eventually found himself in Maine, however, working at a Casco Bay area boatyard where he not only painted and reconditioned gel coat and Awlgrip, but also operated the yard's travel lift.

Lee Latorre
Lee spent more than 11 years in the U.S. Army, posted around the globe. When he left the service in 1993, he shifted to the marine industry, working for Sea Ray boats in Merritt Island, Florida. While with Sea Ray, Lee began working for a surfboard manufacturer in Cocoa Beach, Florida. In 2000 Lee turned those new skills as a surfboard fabricator into an opportunity to travel again and moved to Europe where he worked for a Portuguese firm, C.P.L.

After five years in Europe, however, Lee returned to the U.S. in the fall of 2005. Since his arrival at PYS, Lee has become a vital part of the Paint, Varnish and Fiberglass Shop where he has proven himself adept at everything from major structural repairs to minor gel coat or paint touch-ups.

Away from work, Lee finds time for kayaking, surfing and snowboarding.

Rigging Department

 

Eric Szymczak  (Bio Pending)

Jake Maloney

Jake will be the first to tell you he works as a rigger to support his addiction to sailing and racing. But the truth is he has a great love for boats and the sea. Jake takes great pride in his work and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PYS team. At various yards through out Southern Maine Jake has swung from the rattlins as an equipment operator, boat builder, systems tech, electronics installer, rigger and team player! Jake holds numerous certificates from ABYC, NMEA, ABBRA, Raymarine, Yale cordage, Harken sailing equip as well as a degree in Marine Systems from the Landing School of Boatbuilding.

Jake is very involved in the sailboat racing scene here on Casco Bay. Founding the PYS racing team in 2009 Jake has used his 33' yacht to instill values of seamanship, respect & teamwork in his coworkers/crew.

 

Woodworking, Cabinetwork, Brightwork

 

Michael Gorman   

Michael began his formal training in woodworking at SUNY Cortland in 2001 an over the past decade has dedicated himself to his craft. He holds a certification from the New England School of Architectural Woodworking, is a graduate of the Landing School Traditional Boat Building Program, and apprenticed under Master Shipwrights at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. From there, he has gone on to contribute his time and prodigious skill to maintaining traditional boats across the country. Michael joined PYS in 2009 and currently manages the woodworking department.

Outside of work, he enjoys sailing, is interested in modern design, and enjoys all the fine dining Portland has to offer. He is an integral member of the PYS Race team and can usually be found at the Wednesday night races.  .

Curtis Carlisle

One of the most recent additions to PYS, Curtis brings new talent to the Woodshop at Portland Yacht Services.  He holds a degree in Print Making and Art Theory from Alfred University and is a recent graduate of the Apprenticeshop in Rockland.  When not in the shop, he enjoys surfing and art.

 

 

Waterfront  

          

Matthew Ridgway (Bio Pending)