Captain: Mark Kurka

CAPTAIN | Mark Kurka | American
Captain Mark was born in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi but spent many years growing up in Alaska. Prior to yachting, Mark was a commercial fisherman in the cold and rugged state of Alaska. Mark's grit and determination to navigate this harsh yet beautiful environment is a testament to his keen ability to navigate. Captain Mark has worked on several luxury motor yachts including an 80' Hatteras, 108' Broward, and a 115' Crescent. Mark's extensive cruising experience has taken him from the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, through the Great Lakes, to the PNW. In his free time, Mark enjoys woodworking and of course, fishing!

CHIEF STEWARDESS | Michelle Kurka | American
Michelle was born in the Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Prior to yachting, Michelle worked in a dental office. Michelle previously worked on a 115' Crescent yacht before joining MISS STEPHANIE, 138' Richmond. When she's not yachting, Michelle enjoys reading and beach combing. Michelle has cruised the Bahamas and the eastern U.S. Her goal is to continue traveling to new places.

CHIEF OFFICER | Cole Helwig | American
Cole is originally from Williamsburg, Virginia. He has worked on a multitude of impressive vessels including a 145' Cheoy Lee, 125' Palmer Johnson, 116' Azumit, and 125' Northcoast. Cole has built two wooden boats from scratch, proving his knowledge and dedication to the industry. In his free time, Cole enjoys fishing and hunting. In the future, he plans on working toward becoming a yacht captain and eventually getting into the sales side of the business. Cole's dedication and enthusiasm for yachting is evident in the work he produces. Cole is thrilled to have you aboard MISS STEPHANIE.

CHIEF ENGINEER | James Carey | American
James Carey is the chief engineer aboard MISS STEPHANIE. His extensive background in yachting ranges from a 112' Westport to a 213' Codecasa. He is originally from Colombus, Ohio but eventually found his way into the world of yachting. Prior to working on yachts, James designed, installed, and maintained large-scale saltwater aquariums. With his understanding of the delicate nature of marine life, James is highly in tune with the sea and everything that comes with it. In his free time, James enjoys flyfishing, specifically for bonefish and tarpon.

STEWARDESS | Alexa Sankary | American
Alexa Sankary is originally from Fort Worth, Texas. Having worked on a 115' Crescent yacht, Alexa understands what it takes to provide guests with the ultimate yachting experience. In her free time, Alexa enjoys yoga, tae kwon do, paddle boarding, reading, and art. Her passion for art has longed to someday own her own art gallery or be an art dealer. A fun fact about Alexa is he is a black belt in tae kwon do. Her combined experience in martial arts and yachting makes her a well-rounded and eager member of the MISS STEPHANIE team.

DECKHAND | Bret Ferree | American
Brett is originally from the picturesque town of Castle Rock, Colorado. Prior to joining the MISS STEPHANIE (138' Richmond) team, Bret worked aboard a 115' Crescent yacht. Bret has cruising experience in the marbled blue Bahamian waters and Floridian waters alike. He currently holds his 100-ton USCG captain's license and is one step closer to becoming a yacht captain himself. In his free time, Bret enjoys skiing, ATVing, dirt biking, boating, and working out. His passion for the outdoors combined with his love for the ocean makes him a valuable asset to the MISS STEPHANIE team.

DECKHAND | Conner Kurka | American
Conner was born in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. He has worked on several yachts including an 80' Hatteras and a 115' Crescent. Conner has cruised the waters of the Bahamas and Florida Keys. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, and guiding. Prior to yachting, Conner was a first responder, working as a firefighter.

CHEF | Naomi Pawlik | American
Originally from the beautiful seaside town of Sag Harbor, NY, Chef Naomi Pawlik understands top-notch cuisine. Upon working in the yachting industry as a chef, Naomi worked as a culinary instructor at the Hayground school in the Hamptons. Her experience working aboard some of the most prestigious yachts in the charter circuit makes her well-equipped to divvy up any meal you so desire. Naomi has worked aboard BROADWATER 182' Feadship, LOON 182' Newcastle, and more. In her free time, Naomi enjoys yoga and spending time biking in the great outdoors. She speaks both English and French and dreams of writing her very own cookbook. Chef Naomi is more than ready to serve you and your guests aboard motor yacht MISS STEPHANIE.

3RD STEWARDESS | Freelance - Brought on for busy charters