Meet the Board of Directors

Samantha Moore - Founder/Board Member

Born in Philadelphia, Samantha spent her summers on the water at the Jersey Shore. She learned at a very young age how to operate a 13’ Boston Whaler, taking it with her dad to pick up their Friday night pizza. At six years old, her family moved to South Florida, where she traded the Jersey seashore for the Bahamas. Her love of all things saltwater grew out of her family's passion for boating, which also led to her interest and respect for marine wildlife.

After taking a four-year coastal hiatus to attend college at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, she moved back to the ocean town of Jupiter, Florida, to start a marine insurance agency. Because of her love of boats, she obtained a yacht broker’s license and spent summers crewing large vessels. This led to an interest in the interior functionality aboard superyachts and furthered her urge to create a women’s organization in this male-dominated industry.

After experiencing so many female-related obstacles in the maritime industry, she felt that she was not alone. Samantha knew that creating an organization of passionate, professional marine industry women, with a focus on philanthropy would be perilous to the “boys club.”

Sam founded Professional Women in Yachting Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in March 2022, with the goals of empowering women in the marine industry and raising money for marine science and ocean conservation.

Samantha’s karmic life philosophy is “if you do good, you ‘get’ good”. She has implemented this mantra into PWY and all other business aspects of her life, and thus far, it has worked.

Samantha is passionate about safety on the water, scuba diving, interior design, fashion, and her community. She actively participates in philanthropic work such as beach cleanups, coral restoration, sea turtle conservation, disaster relief, preservation of the arts, and helping others.

Now residing in Fort Lauderdale, you will most likely find her on the water or at a local watering hole, probably waterfront.

Fun facts:

Samantha is a very accomplished professional equestrian.
Her favorite superyacht is SAVANNAH, the 83m Feadship.
She has two dogs, Jumper & Jammer, named after her love of show jumping and music.

Sharon Abramson - Board Member

Sharon Abramson is a skilled public relations, marketing, and events professional.

Sharon has held high-level marketing roles at the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Denison Yacht Sales, Merle Wood & Associates, and Robert Allen Law.

Prior to that, she worked in public relations, publishing, and newspapers including the Palm Beach Post.

She is active in the Public Relations Society of America, the International Yacht Brokers Association, Take Stock in Children of Broward and Good Karma Pet Rescue.

Sophia Jacoby - Board Member

Raised in North-Western New Jersey without the allure of a coastline, Sophia eagerly anticipated every Spring Break to visit her cherished grandparents in Jupiter, FL. It was during these visits that she cultivated a deep affection for the ocean and tropical climates. Recognizing her passion, Sophia made a firm decision to relocate to South Florida upon graduating from high school in New Jersey, aiming to embark on her college journey.

Having earned her Bachelor's in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Sophia delved into various industries. Her experiences spanned Wealth Management, Commercial Real Estate, and Business Aviation. Settling in Fort Lauderdale, renowned as the yachting capital of the world, Sophia found inspiration to explore the maritime industry. Despite only entering the yachting realm in 2022, she swiftly sensed a profound connection with this dynamic and thrilling industry.

Motivated by a passion for adventure, Sophia aims to discover new destinations annually, both within her home country and abroad.