C A P T A I N | Sean Kampfer
C H E F | David Ogden
C H I E F S T E W | Michelle Horton
S T E W | Sara Schuerfeld
F I R S T M A T E | Pete Economou
E N G I N E E R | Garrett Ballew

Born and raised on Long Island NY, Captain Sean joined the boating scene at a young age. Beginning with his parent’s boats and restoring an old sailing boat of his own he eventually began running water taxis and mid-size passenger vessels to the city. Falling hard for yachting one summer after joining a busy charter yacht in New England he has not looked back. Sean is a hands-on captain who takes great pride in any vessel or program he runs. He is guest satisfaction oriented and aims to make your time aboard TAIL LIGHTS a fantastic and memorable one! Sean is a licensed pilot and in his spare time you might find him sailing, flying, paddle boarding, golfing, and spending plenty of time at the beach. Previous yachts: SEAFARER, JOPAJU, ENDEVOUR, SERENITY, FRISKY LADY

Chef – David Ogden – American

Dave is a versatile chef with over 20 years of upscale culinary experience and a passion for bringing happiness to others through his culinary creations.

As a Michigan native, Chef Dave spent many summer days of his childhood on the shores of Lake Michigan. At this young age he discovered his love of cooking. After attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, Dave went on to work in some of the top kitchens in New York City, Boston, and Cape Cod, including working under world famous chef Thomas Keller at the French Laundry in Yountville, California. After a successful career in restaurants, Dave decided to pursue a new direction as a private chef on yachts. Dave enjoys travel and is an avid scuba diver. He enjoys kayaking, camping, hiking, and mountain biking.

Chef Dave is easy going, positive, and friendly while also organized and professional. One of his biggest strengths is the ability to quickly adapt to a variety of preferences and dietary restrictions, while still creating beautiful and delicious menus. Chef Dave is excited to create memorable dining experiences for the guests on TAIL LIGHTS.

Chief Stewardess – Michelle Horton – American

Michelle was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She moved to Santa Barbara after high school where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from UC Santa Barbara in 2017. While in college, Michelle worked a full-time serving job at the Ritz Carlton, Bacara where she found her passion for exceeding guest expectations and enjoyed meeting people from all around the world.

After graduation, she moved to San Francisco to start her career at UBS as a Client Service Associate. After two years of employment at UBS, Michelle decided to leave her corporate job to pursue her dream of working in the yachting industry.

She packed her life in a 90 pound suitcase, booked a one-way flight to Florida and never looked back. Michelle enjoys traveling, hiking, exercising and anything water-related. She loves the beach, so that is where she can be found in her spare time.

Michelle’s bubbly and outgoing personality, combined with her passion for hospitality makes her a valuable crew member and she is thrilled to be a part of the TAIL LIGHTS crew!

2nd Stewardess – Sara Schuerfeld – American

Sara was raised in Paso Robles California and found her passion for hospitality at the age of 18. The past 10 years she has worked in high end restaurants and has been a part of the wine industry in the beautiful Napa Valley.

When Sara learned about the Yachting world, she knew this was the right path for her.

She has a strong love for food, wine, the ocean, and providing service with a smile.

Sara is excited to meet all the guests on TAIL LIGHTS and provide excellent service and a lifetime of memories.

1st Mate – Pete Economou – American

Pete grew up in Michigan spending lots of time doing outdoor activities like boating and fishing on the lakes.

He found his passion for the water and desire to travel at an early age while taking family vacations.

At 23 years old with 4 years of experience in the maritime industry, he is looking forward to progressing his career in yachting and making the most out of every moment on the water.

Pete’s nautical experience has prepared him to help create unforgettable experiences while aboard TAIL LIGHTS.

Engineer – Garrett Ballew – American

Garrett grew up in Atlanta Georgia on Lake Lanier. After graduating high school he worked for a small landscape company but knew that his true dream was to become a yacht captain. He is a great problem solver and is always available to help the guests on TAIL LIGHTS with whatever they need. Garrett enjoys exploring the world and getting to discover amazing and memorable places and meet great people. He is always working to expand his career to get towards his ultimate goal of obtaining his captains license. Garrett has been in the yachting industry for almost two years, and has held many positions on different size yachts including bosun.

When Garrett is not working with the guests on TAIL LIGHTS you can find him in the water exploring. He is an avid Photographer, Videographer, and enjoys flying his Drone. Garrett’s outgoing personality is sure to put a smile on every guests face.