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Our Staff
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Owners:
Dean and Nick Ouilette, brothers and Co-Owners of Bellingham Yacht Sales and Charters purchased the company twenty-four years ago in 1984. Both are graduates of the Maine Maritime Academy with BS degrees in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering. They both also hold unlimited tonnage and horsepower licenses from the United States Coast Guard. Having spent their entire adult lives on the water, they decided a family owned and operated business combining their love of the water and boating would be the best of all worlds. What started out as a small brokerage, basically a two man operation in 1984, has evolved into a thriving yacht sales, service, and charter company with a total of 8 full time staff/sales members along with various part-time employees and subcontractors.
Dean acts as the day to day Sales Manager and is responsible for all business administration. Before coming ashore to be with his family, he worked as the navigation officer aboard ARCO supertankers. Dean, recently joined his brother Nick, in passing the necessary tests to obtain his Certified Professional Yacht Broker designation. Dean loves seeing each BYS customer matched with the right boat and hearing about all the fun they are having years later! He has been awarded the Sabre Yachts Broker of the Year in 1996 and 2006.
Finally, Dean has a passion for Christian missionary work having been to Haiti and Mexico on several missions trips. He serves as a member of the Cornwall Church Haiti Maranatha Board.
Nick's life has revolved around maritime related professions since entering the Maine Maritime Academy in 1967. Upon graduation in 1971, and receiving his USCG license to be an engineer aboard tankers, cruise ships and other large ships requiring the unlimited horsepower rating, Nick then led the life of a professional seafarer for 7 years. After that there was also employment as a planning engineer, nuclear refueling engineer in East Coast shipyards, and power plant operator. This was all leading up to his current career as co-owner of Bellingham Yacht Sales, that began in 1984 with his brother Dean. His engineering background has been beneficial in covering yacht maintenance, repair, new installations and warranty interface with Sabre and Back Cove yachts. Nick also enjoys the sales and marketing side of the business and was one of the first 50 brokers in the nation to receive the National Professional Yacht Broker Certification. www.ybaa.com.
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Staff Members:
Mark Enstad - Chief Shipwright. Mark brings 22 years of experience in the marine industry to our company. He is crazy about his family, wife Cheryl and two girls, Maya and Claire and is delighted that they enjoy boating as well. He has focused his fine woodworking, electronic and mechanical skills on high-end yachts. He knows customers want their investments just right. According to Mark, “It takes a combination of respect for the customer, the vessel itself and patience to tend to every detail in a way that leaves the customer feeling heard and satisfied”.
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Matt Ouilette - Associate Broker and Service Coordinator. Matt is the son of Dean Ouilette and nephew of Nick Ouilette, company co-owners. He has spent his entire childhood around Bellingham Yachts and has much experience in the boating industry.
Since his start down on the docks as a shipwright in 2003, Matt's service experience made him an excellent choice for his current position as service co-coordinator. Beginning in 2007 Matt became an associate broker where he enjoys helping customers find the boat of their dreams. In his spare time Matt enjoys playing softball and hanging out with his Bernese Mountain Dog named Owen.
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Hervè Burnel- Charter Manager. Joins the Bellingham Yachts team bringing with him over 24 years of service in the marine industry. Hervè has done everything from boat building, to commissioning, to cruising and even racing yachts. This passion has taken him cruising all along the eastern sea board and throughout the Caribbean, with his true passion being sail and power multi-hull boats.
Having been involved in the marine industry since childhood, it was only natural to continue with this into adulthood. He has spent over 14 years in the boat chartering business, including many years as a Charter Manager for Sunsail. We are so happy to have Hervè here in Pacific Northwest where he and his wife have chosen to call home for a number of reasons including but not limited to, the beauty and access to the outdoors. Hervè is also an avid motorcyclist and skier.
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Tyson Laurabee - Detailer/Vessel Maintenance. Born in Santa Barbara, CA and raised in Bellingham, WA, Tyson brings with him some of the local talent and energy that highlights our town. He spends much of his winter snowboarding at the local mountain, Baker. Summer is spent on or near the water, boating, wake boarding or hiking and now working.
He has an excellent work ethic and has become well versed in the craft of boat maintenance. He has a special affinity for fine varnish work, though all his work is of exemplary quality.
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Emma Donohew - Receptionist/Office Manager. Emma joined our team at BYS in August 2008 as our front desk Receptionist/Office Manager. Born in Sheridan, Wyoming and raised in Bothell, Washington, Emma recently graduated from The University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington with a B.A. in Religion in May 2008.
Bellingham's small town charm, has been a nice change from the south sound city life and was a real draw after college as she is always on a hunt for new adventures. As a newcomer to the boating world, Emma is enjoying working down by the water and learning all about boats! In her spare time Emma enjoys traveling, anything related to the outdoors, cooking and being involved in the local, regional art scene.
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Jess Curry - Boat Detailer. Raised in Whatcom County, Jess grew up in or on a boat whether it was racing hydroplanes or commercial fishing in the Puget Sound for the past 20 years. In his off time he enjoys spending time with his new wife and two step sons. He is an avid search and rescue volunteer and also enjoys driving a WWII Dukw (or Duck) as well as operating jet boats.
Jess joined BYS in 2008 and since then has shown that he has an impeccable eye for detail whether it be detailing boats or saving lives!
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Additional Information
We also work with additional companies and contacts. Many of these individuals have been with us for over 20 years and are very familiar with our systems and our constantly evolving fleet of vessels. Bellingham has a wide range of marine facilities and expertise available; with four large haul-out facilities, four electronics shops, one marine electrical shop, numerous marine mechanics, marine surveyors, and four chandleries. This gives us a broad range of expertise and experience upon which to draw to ensure that you have a quality experience when dealing with us. If you have further questions, feel free to give us a call or send us an email.
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