Photo by Wyatt Kostygan

Aboard the Marina Jack II, floating peacefully on the Sarasota Bayfront, a diverse group of future community leaders gathered to listen, learn and lunch as part of a partnership between the R.L. Taylor Community Complex Summer Teen Camp and Marina Jack. Kicking off with a career day on Tuesday, Marina Jack presented a panel of speakers, including General Manager Greg Corvelle, Vessel Services Manager and retired US Coast Guard warrant officer Joe Catell, Marina Jack II vessel Captain Chuck Cooper, Executive Chef Shane Dabney, Marina General Manager Ira Smith and Suntex Marinas’ Vice President of Food & Beverage Tom DeLong. Discussing their extensive career paths and answering students’ questions, the panelists delved into topics such as education, evolving career paths and workplace challenges. Although all of the panelists came from varied backgrounds, embarked on unique journeys and arrived at their professional destinations in different ways, their messages were all clear and consistent: work every day towards the singular goal of doing what you love.

Ending the day with a tour of the property and a lunch cruise on the Marina Jack II yacht, this incredible partnership allows for campers to not just hear about possible careers, but truly see them in action. Back for day two today, the students are taking on a day of water sports led by the team at Marina Jack. This is the first local business partnership the R.L. Taylor Community Complex Summer Teen Camp has embarked upon, and they look forward to expanding with similar visits next year as part of the 2019 summer camp programming. In only its second year of operation, the camp filled all available spots and opened a waitlist by the second day of registration. The camp’s goal is to expose teens to new experiences that are not only engaging and fun, but will help them grow both personally and professionally. With community partners like Marina Jack in their corner, there is a wealth of rich opportunities just around the corner for these campers.

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan

Marina Jack