FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – JULY 23, 2010 – The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals (TSGYP) is pleased to announce that two of its valued team members have achieved major milestones. Charter Agent LeAnn Pliske recently celebrated her 10-year anniversary with the firm, and Allison Kauffman was promoted from Executive/Charter Assistant to TSGYP President and Charter Specialist Jennifer M. Saia to full-time Charter Agent. These two milestones demonstrate the 25-year-old luxury charter and brokerage firm’s depth of talent, loyalty and longevity.

“I am impressed on a daily basis by these two women’s diligence and drive, along with the excellent, personalized service they provide to our clients,” Jennifer said. “Their stellar contributions have played a large part in The Sacks Group’s continued success, especially during the recent economic downturn.”

LeAnn Morris Pliske joined The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals in May, 2000 as Charter Assistant and was promoted to Charter Agent/Independent Contractor in September, 2001. Originally from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, LeAnn grew up enjoying what many of her charter clients crave: the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. After graduating from The American University in Washington, D.C., she worked at the White House in the Press Advance Office and later, in New York City as an account executive with a large public relations firm. For five years prior to joining TSGYP, LeAnn served as Chief Stewardess on several motor yachts ranging in size from 109 to 167 feet, an experience that makes her well qualified to help her discerning clients select the perfect yacht for their luxury charter vacations. In her role as Charter Agent, LeAnn attends charter yacht shows around the world each year, and she frequents the docks in Fort Lauderdale, where TSGYP is headquartered, in order to stay current with the international charter fleet. Over the past decade, she has arranged hundreds of successful charters.

“I have assisted corporations, CEOs, heads of state, entertainers, business elite and wonderful families in creating unique and unforgettable yachting vacations” she said. “My favorite moment of a charter is when the client calls me afterwards to tell me it was the vacation of a lifetime!”

“The ten years that LeAnn has spent with us have really flown by,” Jennifer said. “She has a great following of loyal clients who reserve large yachts worldwide. We are looking forward to our next ten years together – and beyond!"

Allison Kaufmann, known as “Ali”, joined The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals in December, 2006 as Executive/Charter Assistant. She was promoted to Charter Agent/Independent Contractor in July, 2010. Having started her career in the yachting industry as a stewardess on both private and charter yachts, she knows firsthand what it takes to ensure the best possible yachting vacation experience After a few years on the water, she combined her onboard experience with her degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale to become a design consultant for yacht refits, eventually starting her own yacht interiors company. Ali has created interior refit designs for vessels ranging from 48-foot sportfishermen to 150-foot motor yachts. After transitioning to the retail aspect of chartering, she found that background to be very useful when traveling the world inspecting charter vessels for clients. Living in Fort Lauderdale, the “Yachting Capital of the World”, for the past 12 years, Ali has immersed herself in all facets of the industry.

Ali has found that the key to planning a successful luxury yacht vacation is simply putting her heart into each and every trip. “I truly care,” she says. “Dealing with customer service on a personal level, it is very apparent when someone is just doing their job versus when they actually are emotionally invested in your happiness; it makes all the difference.”

“Ali and I really ‘rocked and rolled’ together for over three-and-a-half years as a team booking charters worldwide,” Jennifer said. “As The Sacks Group’s newest Charter Agent, she’s got the skills, as well as a few repeat charter clients on a list that will continue to grow as she does with our firm, making us proud to have her in the Luxury Yacht Vacation Division. It was difficult to let her move on as she really was an invaluable assistant, but her next phase will be even more ‘profitable’ to Ali, The Sacks Group, and our collective clients.”

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