Fort Lauderdale

USA

Join Us

Founded in 2009, Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) USA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the continued education and professional development of the next generation of leaders in the yachting industry. Through a wide range of educational panels, networking events, mentorship and volunteer opportunities, YPY USA works to build strong professional relationships and support career growth. Our dedication to collaboration, environmental responsibility, community engagement, entrepreneurship, and adherence to ethical business practices, ensures the growth and sustainability of the yachting community.

Kathleen Hagan – YPY USA President

Our Chapter

The USA chapter, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, holds one official meeting every month that typically features a key speaker, and consists of sharing industry news and hosting professional development seminars. We allow members to share any industry news or updates for discussions, and encourage new ideas and member collaboration. The association also hosts sponsored social events for networking opportunities at local boat shows, an elegant Summer Soiree and our annual YPY Gala.

Since its inception, YPY USA has amassed more than 150 members from diverse fields and many influential companies in the marine industry of South Florida.

 

Our chapter’s by-laws can be viewed here.

Membership

Becoming a member of Young Professionals in Yachting has unique benefits which include: monthly meetings, networking opportunities, professional development, members-only access to job postings, professional mentoring program, meaningful volunteer opportunities, admission to our annual gala and so much more.

Full Member
$150.00
Paid Yearly
Join Now

We will review your application and email you back further membership details.



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Board Members

Meet the board of YPY USA

Kathleen Hagan

President

Katie graduated from the University of San Diego summa cum laude with a degree in International Relations and a minor in Asian Studies. Katie worked in China, then later for the ICRC in Washington, D.C., as well as at the United Nations in New York. She is a 2022 Gabr Fellow. Katie currently is on the Board of Directors for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), Board of Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) USA Chapter, is as an Ambassador for She of the Sea, and is an active WISTA member.

Kathleen Hagan
President

Casey Noble

Vice President

Casey is a South Florida native and joined the yachting industry and YPY in February 2020. She started her career at the International Yacht Brokers Association assisting with business development and marketing for their various resources. She now works as a Charter Manager for Hill Robinson, marketing and managing a fleet of luxury charter yachts on behalf of their Owners. She also specializes in the sourcing and planning of personalized, extraordinary travel experiences for high-end clients. As a patient and thorough individual with a passion for travel, the ocean and building strong relationships, she looks forward to welcoming new members to the chapter.

Casey Noble  
Vice President

Treigh Burton

Treasurer

As a Fort Lauderdale native, Treigh has always understood the unique value of life on the water. With a natural talent for organization, she pursued studies in accounting, finance, and real estate, which led her to launch her yachting career as a property manager at a local crew house. After transitioning into the world of brokerage, she chose to specialize in charter management - a role that allows her to leverage her skills in service of the brokers and owners that drive the industry. Grateful for the opportunities yachting has provided, Treigh now serves as Treasurer on the YPY USA Board, giving back to the community that has shaped her career.

Treigh Burton
Treasurer

Drew Orvieto

Programming & Sponsorships Director

Drew Orvieto is a distinguished product and business leader in the marine industry, playing a pivotal role in advancing the adoption of electric and autonomous technology. He holds a bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture, a Master's degree in Product Architecture, an MBA, and a postgraduate degree in Maritime Energy. A lifelong boater, Drew is passionate about innovation, particularly in the marine industry, and holds multiple patents for marine-specific products and software. He was previously named to Boating Industry's 40 Under 40 list in 2020, identifying him as one of the top young leaders in the recreational marine industry. He lives in south Florida with his wife and two young sons.

Drew Orvieto
Programming & Sponsorships Director

Morgan Sandoval

Marketing Director

Morgan’s love of the water started when she was 6 years old on the Orinoco River in Venezuela and remained constant throughout her earlier years in Florida and on the Hudson River in New York.

In 2020 she obtained her yacht broker’s license and is currently with The Italian Yacht Group as an Executive Coordinator. There she is in charge of all contracts and processes of deals and listings, marketing and customer relationship management, yacht management, charter liasion and more. Morgan is able to effectively communicate with diverse groups (being fluent in Spanish and maintaining a conversation in German) allowing her to reach multiple market segments and find the perfect yacht to best suit her clients.

An active member since 2021, she was elected in 2025 to the board of Young Professionals in Yachting as the Marketing Director. She is ecstatic to have the opportunity to be able to further hone her markerting skills as well as give back to a group that helped her find a sense of community and value as we navigate the Martime Industry together.

Morgan Sandoval
Marketing Director

Tony Planamento

Mentorship Director

Tony is the Technical Projects Supervisor at Advanced Mechanical Enterprises (AME Solutions), a leader in mechanical engineering services specializing in precision alignment and vibration analysis. With certifications and expertise in alignment, vibration analysis, and 3D dimensioning/scanning, Tony tackles some of the toughest challenges in yachting propulsion systems. After earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida, he joined AME Solutions in 2016, progressing through roles such as Field Service Engineer, Technical Sales Representative, and Interim Service Manager before stepping into his current position. Tony has been an active member of YPY since 2022 and looks forward to utilizing his passion for guiding and connecting people in his role as Mentorship Director.

Outside of work, Tony enjoys playing ice hockey, golfing, and mentoring the next generation of engineers.

Tony Planamento
Mentorship Director

Gabriella Cramer

Volunteer Director

Born in The Netherlands and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Gabriella (or Gabby as most know her), has worked in the yachting industry since she was 19 years old. She started off as crew onboard in the deck and interior departments for 4.5 years, went back to uni to study Marine Affairs & Policy with a minor in Environmental Science at the Univerity of Miami, worked on the Plaintiff's side at a maritime law firm, and discovered a love for safety. She went to the UK and obtained her Master's of Law in Maritime Law at the University of Southampton, worked at a prominent yacht management company for seven years ending as a DPA/CSO, then started her own company for maritime compliance consulting and training in Nov. 2024.

Gabby promotes best practice and a strong safety culture mindset and loves engaging with the community to learn from others and see where all she can help. She is also a member of WISTA, PWY, ISS, and PYA and is very excited to be in her first YPY board role as Volunteer Director this year.

Gabriella Cramer
Volunteer Director

Morgan Crumpton

Administrator

Morgan is originally from the coastal town of Morehead City, North Carolina, where she grew up boating and offshore fishing with her family. She also spent a significant amount of time cruising the waters of The Bahamas during her upbringing. Morgan attended NC State University where she received a Business Management degree with a concentration in Marketing. During undergrad she did a summer Sea|Mester where, she sailed the Lesser Antilles on a schooner. Afterward, she pursued a dual master’s degree in Global Luxury Management from NC State and SKEMA Business School, spending a semester in Antibes, France. With boating being one of Morgan’s passions, she moved to Florida after graduation, where she began working for Galati Yacht Sales and later joined Northrop & Johnson. She is currently the Director of Marketing & Growth at YATCO.

Morgan Crumpton  
Administrator

Lexi Leventry

Events Director

Originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Lexi's curiosity led her to relocate to South Florida in 2014, seeking new adventures and year-round beach weather. Obtaining a degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Lexi embarked on her professional journey in residential design.
Throughout her career, Lexi collaborated with builders on luxury private residences and speculative homes situated on Palm Beach’s prestigious billionaire’s row. Concurrently, she refined her skills at a yacht upholstery workroom, where her time onboard vessels ignited a passion for the yachting industry. Lexi then landed a designer position at a yacht interior design firm, where she made significant contributions to major retrofit and yacht design projects across the globe. This experience set the stage for her current role as an outside sales representative at a leading industry company.
Lexi joined YPY in 2022 with the intention to expand her network and forge meaningful connections. By 2023, she joined the events committee which led to her appointment as the Events Director of the YPY USA Board in 2024. In her free time, Lexi indulges in her love for the beach, showcases her culinary skills through baking, and cherishes moments spent with friends and family.

Lexi Leventry
Events Director

Éire McGowan-Seip

Membership Director

Éire McGowan-Seip is the Marketing Manager at Engineered Yacht Solutions that specializes in Welding, Marine Plumbing, Metal Fabrication, Valve Testing, etc. She is a South Florida native and graduated from the University of Florida with her degree in Public Relations. Before she began her career in the yachting industry, she worked for Broward County Public Schools as a paraprofessional working with children with disabilities. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling to new destinations every year.

Éire McGowan-Seip
Membership Director

Julia Russell

Alumni Relations Director

Julia Russell was born and raised in none other than the “City of Brotherly Love” – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her love for traveling and the marine industry blossomed when she circumnavigated the globe onboard Semester at Sea in 2009. After a successful career as an Account Manager at a full-service digital agency in Philadelphia, she eventually made her way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida working for the well-known superyacht magazine, Boat International.

With travel being one of her many passions, Julia joined GMT as their Marketing Manager in 2018, bringing expertise in both the yachting sector and the digital world we now live in. Julia has been an active member of Young Professionals in Yachting and first served on the YPY board as the Mentorship Director in 2020, followed by the Programming & Sponsorships Director in 2023, and eventually finding her new role as Alumni Relations Director in 2025. She is additionally an active member of the Marine Industry Association of South Florida, US Superyacht Association, the International Superyacht Society, and the International Yacht Brokers Association.

Julia Russell  
Alumni Relations Director

Andrew High

Legal Counsel

Andrew High handles both transactional and litigation matters focused mainly in the area of Pleasure Boating & Yachting. Mr. High has worked on a wide range of maritime matters. Mr. High is involved in a number of professional organizations, including the Florida Yacht Broker's Association, the Fort Lauderdale Mariner's Club, Young Professionals in Yachting, and others. He also serves on the Board of Directors for AMIKids Greater Ft. Lauderdale, serving to better the education of troubled youths in part through teaching the principles of boating and seamanship.

Andrew High
Legal Counsel

Sponsors

Past Speakers
Bert Fowles - Vice President of Sales & Marketing
https://www.igymarinas.com/
IGY Marinas
Captain Kelly J. Gordon - Superyacht Captain
https://www.captainkellyjgordon.com/
Master 500 GT Captain, Mentor and Educator
Patrick Knowles - Designer
www.patrickknowlesdesigns.com
Patrick Knowles Designs
William (Billy) Smith - Key Accounts Manager
www.metalsharkboats.com
Metal Shark Boats
Chuck Cashman - Chief Revenue Officer
www.marinemax.com
Marine Max
Kevin Merrigan - Chairman
www.northropandjohnson.com
Northrop & Johnson
Carlos Vidueira - Vice President
www.thesuperyachtlife.com
Rybovich Superyacht Marina & Refit and President of Superyacht Life Foundation
Jim Ruffolo - President & CEO and Ron Cleveringa - Vice President Sales & Marketing
https://www.burgerboat.com/
Burger Boat Company
Bob Saxon - Vice President
www.hmy.com
HMY’s Yacht Management, Crew Placement, and Yacht Charter Division
Michael Reardon – President & Yacht Manager
www.reardonyacht.com
Reardon Yacht Management
Dr. Richard Dodge – Dean
www.cnso.nova.edu
Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography
Payments

Checks can be made out to Young Professionals in Yachting in the amount of $150 and mailed to:

Young Professionals in Yachting

PO Box 460304

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346

 

Membership dues may also be paid by using the link below.

Membership Quantity
Contact us

info@youngprofessionalsinyachting.org

 

Young Professionals in Yachting

PO Box 460304

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33346

 

Young Professionals in Yachting USA

Join the YPY USA Mentorship Program!

Mentorships are a proven way to drive rich learning and development for both mentees and mentors, which can lead to a more fulfilling career, better opportunities for growth, and greater compensation. If you are looking to achieve specific career goals, this is your chance to receive free, one-on-one coaching from someone in the marine industry willing to help. Please contact our YPY Mentorship Chair, Julia Russell for more information.

mentorship@youngprofessionalsinyachting.org

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