Brief

Garrett A. Smith (Captain)

Garrett was born in Northeastern Montana and spent his childhood working on the family ranch and farm. He was a state champion horse rider and played varsity high school sports until he moved to Mexico for his senior year of high school. In Mexico, Garrett's passion for the ocean grew and it was what eventually led him to pursue a career at sea. After graduating from the University of Montana (Go Griz!) Garrett moved to Fort Lauderdale and began washing boats as a deckhand and steadily climbed the ladder towards captaincy. Garrett has since navigated the waters from Skagway, Alaska to Newport, Rhode Island, has circumnavigated South America through the Straits of Magellan as well as the Western Mediterranean. His goal is to provide you with great memories and wonderful vacations.

Jose Pena (Engineer)

Born in Cali, Colombia, Jose moved to the U.S. at a young age. He has always been passionate about being out on the water and found himself drawn to hobbies such as fishing, diving, and snorkelling. Once he officially got his dive certifications, he began to travel to some of the most exotic dive locations around the world. These include The Bahamas, Turk and Caicos, St. Maarten, Saint Lucia, Guadalupe, Grenada, Panama, and various sites along the South coast of Florida. Jose’s other passion in life has been his lifelong career as an Engineer. Here, he tackles all projects, large and small with unparalleled enthusiasm and unwavering dedication. He ensures that SERENITY is kept safe at sea and encourages her guests to relax and unwind with great peace of mind.

Devin Close (Chief Officer)

Devin was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. Living near beaches and rivers, he spent his childhood surfing and sailing the coastlands. Through high school and college, he sailed competitively. After college, he swiftly moved into the yachting industry and continued racing sailboats as a hobby. Over the course of five years, he was blessed to work for some amazing families who encouraged him to enjoy every aspect of being out on the water. He was able to enjoy some of his most wonderful and memorable experiences in yachting and was grateful to share them with others. He has since traveled extensively through New England, Bermuda, Caribbean, Mexico, California, and the Mediterranean on charter programs with both motor and sailing yachts. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, free diving, kitesurfing, fishing, and horseback riding. Some call him a ‘Caribbean Cowboy’.

Vincent Franco (Deckhand)

Growing up in Westchester County NY, although yachting wasn’t the typical scene, Vincent has always had a passion for the water. Spending most summers out in Long Island allowed him to build skills and interests that would soon translate into yachting. Graduating in May of 2022 from Providence College with a degree in Business Management and Finance, Vincent decided to pursue his lifelong dream of joining the yachting industry. He’s well skilled in watersports and customer service and looks forward to embarking on new adventures. Vincent joins SERENITY to expand his yachting knowledge while bringing his enthusiastic and friendly demeanour to the team. During his free time Vincent enjoys playing sports, boxing, and learning more about the financial and real estate markets.

Molly Poorman (Chief Stewardess)

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Molly grew up spending her weekends out on the water. Some of her favorite memories were made whilst fishing, sailing, and enjoying the beautiful beaches of the East Coast. Knowing that she wanted to be in hospitality from a young age, Molly graduated from Florida International University having completed one of the top hospitality programs in the nation. With fifteen years of experience behind her, she felt a natural inclination to combine her passion for the industry with her love of the Ocean. Here, she found her course in yachting. She has since worked for prestigious programs and has travelled extensively. She has been to Alaska, New England, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean. She truly enjoys experiencing and learning the different cultures that come with every destination. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as skiing, wake surfing and doing yoga on the beach. Everywhere she goes, Serenity seems to accompany her, and she looks forward to extending the highest level of service to her guests.

Amanda Ulrich (Second Stewardess)

Amanda grew up in Michigan where she spent a lot of her time on the freshwater lakes, kayaking, wake surfing and paddle boarding. She attended Colorado State University and studied Business Management. Upon graduating, she moved back to Northern Michigan and worked as a General Manager of a kayak and canoe rental shop. Feeling like she wanted to pursue a career where she was able to further immerse herself in the maritime industry, Amanda joined yachts earlier this year. She is excited to learn the ropes from her team of seasoned professionals and aims to deliver a high level of performance in hospitality. In her free time, you’ll find her fishing for her next trophy fish and taking part in a variety of water sports. She looks forward to warmly welcoming guests onboard and is excited to experience unforgettable adventures on SERENITY.


Chef (TBD)