Meet the Board of Directors

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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 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.

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. 

Sakeena Hazuri Mathis has been busy making her hometown of Miami, Florida a better place. Her dedication to the city is honorable. Being raised in Miami gave Sakeena instant access to the best beaches in the country. The nautical lifestyle is the lifestyle of the city. Before she could fully enjoy the water, she had some work to do.

After attending Florida International University (FIU political science major) she went on

to intern at the State Attorney’s Office. Sakeena became a coordinator at Guardian Ad Litem for Miami-Dade County Courts and became the law firm executive over Audiovisual for Reginald Mathis and Associates | Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Sakeena stands on her own as the Publisher of UPMagazine, host of India’s Movies (a movie reviewing, television and radio segment) broadcast on Island TV, media consultant for Urban Professional Lifestyle & Media, LLC and the founder of the Bollywood Film Festival.

Sakeena became an independent film director and producer. Her sales experience in the media world sharpened her blade, as has her lengthy career in the legal field. The balance of her life are her three wonderful daughters and loving husband. Together they are an unstoppable force.

Years ago Sakeena chartered her first yacht and her true love for the sea was ignited. She first filled in the gaps with extensive accomplishments in public service and professional ventures and now has dedicated her efforts helping people experience their true love of the sea. As one of Yacht Habit’s highest performing yacht brokers Sakeena became the first Indian/African American woman to list a 50 meter Sailing Superyacht.

Promoting, empowering and training more women to become professionals in the Yachting industry is her passion.

Chloe is a seasoned negotiator with 20+ years of experience connecting people, businesses, and causes. She’s worked with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and UHNW families—bringing a rare blend of strategic insight and heart. She now hosts a podcast called ProblemSolvHer, where she helps women find their voice, build confidence, and trust in their power to lead.

Jessica has been making waves as a sales and marketing consultant in the marine industry since 2016. She's dedicated to helping dealers and brokers increase boat sales by first understanding their business goals and then utilizing product expertise, solution selling, and ongoing data-driven analysis. Jessica is an active member of the International Yacht Brokers Association and Professional Women in Yachting. 

Originally from Merrimack, New Hampshire, she found her happy place living on the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she enjoys the beach and boat life year-round. Her favorite mantra? “Manifest the best” in all aspects of life.

With over seven years of experience in the luxury yacht and refit market, I bring a strategic and cross-functional perspective to the marine industry. I hold an MBA with a specialization in Leadership and High-Performance Teams, which supports my commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation.

As Sales Manager for Latin America at Quick Group—a global leader in marine equipment—I lead commercial strategy across the region, focusing on OEMs, distributors, and shipyards. I support market expansion for Quick and its brands, including those serving the superyacht sector, and work to introduce integrated technologies that respond to evolving industry needs.

Earlier in my career, I managed the service and after-sales operations at OKEAN Yachts, where I gained valuable experience in customer support, logistics, and international service networks.

I’m honored to be considered for a board role with the Professional Women in Yachting Association. I’m deeply committed to advancing women’s leadership in our sector and would bring regional insight, commercial expertise, and a collaborative spirit to support the association’s mission.