The Grand Yachts Team
Well I so harkened to the Yacht Business, and only one reason was the Sea! In the recession of the early 80s, I saw nothing but opportunity in a fledgling industry! It was the opportunity to work closely with an amazing cross section of people at the most positive times in their lives - when buying and selling the object of their passion! Many of those relationships have grown into life long friendships! It was the opportunity to help grow an industry, by forming the Yacht Brokers Association of BC, which continues today and is a model copied elsewhere in North America. It was the opportunity to work with Roger Glassford, my partner of many years, and together to grow Grand Yachts into a polished, professional sales organization representing two world class product lines: Grand Banks and Fleming! It is the opportunity to grow as a person, to develop my understanding of yachts, people and cruising, and to make a difference!
BRIAN KELL
It’s been more than three decades since ROGER GLASSFORD made the call that landed him the Vancouver dealership for Grand Banks. Glassford insists he’s here for the long haul. "The day I retire is when Brian and Jim call me into the office and tell me I’m becoming an embarrassment.” (Pacific Yachting, February 2008). Photo credit Duart Snow
JIM CONNOLLY joined Grand Yachts in 2004. He says that his passion for boating and his experience in business development and sales have aligned very nicely.
In a previous life, Jim helped financial institutions and consulting companies establish in new markets including Taiwan, China, India, Brazil and The Caribbean. While he got to sail in many different places, he always said that the Pacific Northwest offered the prettiest cruising grounds in the world.
Through 2009, Jim has been enjoying sea trials on yachts ranging from the brand new Grand Banks 41 Europa to an immaculate 58' West Bay pilothouse. And he has been travelling with friends, clients and potential boat buyers to shows in Seattle, Miami and Shanghai, Genoa and Fort Lauderdale!
The line between work and play blurs...
Boating has been a part of ROB MACLUCAS' life since an early age. Growing up in Deep Cove, he spent a great deal of time on the water fishing. In 1986, he joined the marine publication "Boat Journal". After 10 years as an associate publisher he switched gears to pursue a career in yacht sales. Over the last 13 years he has enjoyed the experience of establishing and owning two successful yacht sales companies. He sits on the Board of Directors for The British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association & volunteers his time to a municipal level Marine Task Force.
As a keen member of RVYC and SNSYC, Rob enjoys racing his J24, "Blind Monkey" and spending time gunk holing on his Limestone with his beautiful wife Ladan and two young children; Aunaleigh and Idyn.
In 1994 after having obtained a degree in Recreation Programming from the University of Ottawa and serving as a reservist with the Governor General’s Foot Guards, ELISABETH RIBEIRO decided to runaway to Vancouver Island to start living the West Coast Dream. After a Hobie Cat ride on Elk Lake; kayak lessons and a few day trips on a cruising boat, she was hooked on the smell of the sea.
In 2000 she left the non-profit sector for the then hot technology sector. In 2003 after a company buyout, she got serious about her boating interest and began working for the Sidney based yacht sales office owned by Rob MacLucas, where her customer service skills flourished. Elisabeth is dedicated to providing the best possible customer service for her clients by consistently going that extra mile.
DAVID WORLAND joined the Grand Yachts team in January 2008 after 11 years with another Vancouver and Seattle brokerage. David is proud to be a Certified Professional Yacht Broker and he serves the BCYBA as a Director and Chair of the Professional Development Committee, and a member of the Certification Advisory Council to the YBAA. David also spent two years managing a Seattle-based yacht sales office.
Boating adventures are varied and include cruising from Cape Breton to the West Indies, (and most places in between!), offshore yacht deliveries and local and offshore yacht racing. Living and boating in BC and Washington since 1995, David enthusiastically endorses the remarkable beauty of cruising in the Pacific Northwest as second to none!
David is having fun with clients on recent sea trials on the new Grand Banks 41 Europa with Zues Drives, and a vintage Grand Banks 36 Classic in the hot June sun!
Born in Vancouver in February and boating by March BRUCE WHITE has been around boats his entire life. His early years were spent cruising from Seattle to Rivers Inlet and all points in between.
Bruce joined RVYC at the age of fourteen and has been a member of the Yacht Club for over forty years. Since he loved the water so much, he started a career working in the coastal tugboat industry, both on the boats and later in management. Bruce claims to have been up every inlet and visited almost every bay on the coast.
In 2002, Bruce joined Grand Yachts to start a new career with hopes of sharing the beautiful experience of boating and to pass along his boating knowledge. Crewing for Grand Yachts, Bruce is a solid team player who looks forward to assisting you search for your perfect boat.
BRIAN MORRIS began boating with his family at an early age, cruising our local waters in boats ranging from a 7ft Sabot to a 32 ft Chris Craft. During the summer between high school and college Brian worked on a 40 ft troller commercial fishing between Uclulet and Prince Rupert.
In 1993 Brian, his wife Judy and family purchased a 21ft Monaro as a summer experiment to make sure the family would enjoy boating. Boating was a huge success and in 1996 they purchased their “Dream Boat” a 36ft Grand Banks Classic. The “Dream Boat” of course, turned into the purchase of a larger GB, “Bountiful”, a 1983 GB42CL. Brian’s GB’s have provided he and his family truly wonderful memories and life experiences cruising our local waters, traveling the inside passage as far north as Alaska as well as exploring the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Brian has recently been lured back to the working world at Grand Yachts just to “help out with boat shows” It has however become much more over the last year. And for Brian…..why not spend more time working with great people and helping clients find just the right boat to fulfill their dreams.
JANICE SAHOTA started her “yachting experience” in 1998 when she joined West Bay SonShip Yachts Ltd. In 2006 she joined the Grand Yachts' Team. One of the important things that Grand Yachts offers is the range of skills and experience that truly do help our customers.
Janice is involved in the financial activities of Grand Yachts from the customers to the banks. Janice is also involved in the CGA program. Her phone call or summons for a meeting is one that we all avoid unless there is deal in the making…
Since KATHI JOHNSEN started with Grand Yachts in June, 2006, she has been continuously learning. Coming from The Prairies and having a background in home interior created an appetite for the boating lifestyle.
If you stop by to see boats in Coal Harbour, Kathi might be the one to give you a tour ‘aboard’ our fabulous lineup. If you are one Jim’s clients, you may have heard from her explaining why he is away at another boat show.
Or you may have heard her singing and playing her own country rock gospel songs at Coastal Church or The Wired Monk.
JANNINE MCDONALD fell in love with boating when she was taken out on the water in the summer of 2003. This prairie girl traded in her cow girl boots for her deck shoes.
Jannine joined Grand Yachts in 2004 and with her she brought a diverse background in finance, fundraising, quality assurance and customer service skills. Over the last four years, she has watched the company grow and is proud to be part of the Grand Yachts team: A team she believes is committed to fulfilling dreams and providing exceptional customer service.
RICKI PROSPER joined the Grand Yachts' team November, 2007. Her belief in customer relations has made her an outstanding addition to the team.
Born and raised in Southern Ontario, she spent her summers as a child vacationing in Cape Cod, fishing and crabbing with her family. In 2005, she packed her bags and said hello to the West Coast to pursue a career in acting.
Ricki may be the first person you will meet when you call or enter into the office. You can count on her for an “enthusiastic” welcome with her warm smile and friendly demeanor.
The British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association adapted the Certified Professional Yacht Broker Program in the Summer of 2009. It is the benchmark for measuring skills, abilities and performance of membership. The program was developed to raise the professional standards of brokers in North America and includes associations in Washington, California, Florida and Ontario who had already adapted this program.
Grand Yachts has a history of supporting the professional development of yacht brokers and was behind this program from its inception. We take particular pride that all 6 of our brokers are qualified CPYBs: Jim Connolly, Roger Glassford, Brian Kell, Rob MacLucas, Bruce White and Dave Worland.
Grand Yachts Inc.
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Grand Yachts, Inc. Vancouver Office 1535 Coal Harbour Quay Vancouver, BC V6G 3E7, Canada Toll-free 877-822-0358 Tel 604-687-8943 Fax 604-687-8948 Email Us |
Grand Yachts Inc. Sidney Office: Port Sidney Marina 9835 Seaport Place Sidney, BC V8L 4X3, Canada Toll-free 866-373-5772 Tel 250-656-8909 Fax 250-656-8969 Email Us |
