yacht young professionals

"I felt it was critical to focus on professional development since networking and socializing would happen automatically," Kiernan says. "Our first monthly meetings alternated between professional development seminars, such as a Dale Carnegie course, and having industry veterans as guest speakers...The early support from senior executives in the industry was overwhelming and ultimately critical to the development of the organization." 

Jarvie had grown up in San Diego, where his great-grandfather started Oversea Insurance. After university, he went back and started working for the family business, eventually moving to Fort Lauderdale in 2009 to open up a South Florida office.

His tenure marks the family’s fourth generation in the business, his great grandfather started the firm. Jarvie runs its East Coast operation from the Fort Lauderdale office. His father, Scott Jarvie runs its San Diego and Hawaii offices.

Working in the family business gives Jarvie many advantages such as a clear career path and mentoring and introductions within the business and industry, he says.

And that’s why Young Professionals in Yachting resonates with Jarvie who is the organization’s president.

YPY, based in Fort Lauderdale, is a non-profit organization formed to educate, promote ethical business practices, and facilitate success for young professionals within South Florida’s yachting business community.

Creating a community of individuals who deal in the same industry means there is a variety of instant resources, and contacts, says Jarvie.

Forging a thread of business contacts and sources is a part of Jarvie’s fabric. He attends events for Young Professionals in Yachting, Florida Yacht Brokers Association, The Triton, Superyacht Forum and other marine industry groups.

The drill down :

Why YPY? I enjoy the opportunity to positively affect this organization and the opportunity to grow something I believe in. I joined in 2009, and first served on the board as social chair and became vice president in 2011. When the former president (and founder) left to take a job in Monaco, I stepped in to give the organization new guidance, leadership and a new direction. We restructured the board, changed the meeting location and agenda, and more than doubled membership. We’re expanding with chapters in London and Monaco.

What is YPY’s purpose and mission? The group meets monthly to share industry news and take part in educational sessions led by established industry leaders; it hosts quarterly social events, boat show related events at The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, The Palm Beach International Boat Show and the Monaco Yacht Show, as well as an annual banquet in January. Some members are on the Board of Freedom Waters Foundation, and YPY participates in the Marine Industry Cares Spin-A-Thon, which benefits Kids in Distress.

In terms of Young Professionals in Yachting, what is a yachting professional? A yachting professional can be a captain or engineer, yacht broker, professional service provider such as an insurance provider, maritime attorney or one who provides marketing services to our industry. YPY however, is made up only of shore-based professionals.

What challenges does the yachting sector of the business have in terms of relating to the marine industry as a whole? The large yacht industry is comprised of a few thousand yachts worldwide, making it an extremely elite society. However, getting into boating at the entry level is very affordable and can be achieved by almost anyone. For example the Florida Yacht Brokers Association helped create the tax cap to keep large yachts in Florida. It was about keeping jobs in Florida, not about cutting taxes for the wealthy. The alternative is to take these yachts outside of Florida for registration, which means they take all of the corresponding business out of Florida.

How does YPY bridge generations? The marine industry is often viewed as being set in its ways. These days there are many new and exciting ways to build business and communicate with customers. Placing an ad in a magazine is not the only option to reach the consumer any longer. Through professional networking, social media strategies and strategic marketing plans, the options to build and support a brand seem endless. YPY hosts accomplished senior members of the industry as guest speakers at its monthly meetings. This helps form personal and business relationships between the older and younger generations that otherwise wouldn’t have been, and also gives us an opportunity to learn from their experiences.

Source: Sun Sentinel

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Recruiting Young Yachting Professionals With Future Talent

Marine Resources has recently launched an initiative called Future Talent to continue their strategy to nurture and support future talent within the sector. We spoke with Senior Marketing Manager, Preslava McCarthy, on Marine Resources’ plans for Future Talent…

About Future Plan

Future Talent is built on four main pillars: Attract, Train, Retain, and Thrive.

They use these goals as a comprehensive model to engage with both employers and employees at events like METSTRADE, the Boat Builder Awards, Southampton International Boat Show, and many more. It aims to give young professionals a voice by providing a platform to express their aspirations and expectations for the marine industry’s future. This initiative also seeks to collect insights and data while educating and influencing the industry on the unique needs of young people and professionals. Their main audience include millennials and Gen Z, as they are vital contributors to the industry’s future success.

The Goal For Future Talent

Future Talent aims to recruit young professionals (YP).

As McCarthy explains:

Our ‘primary goal is to heighten industry awareness about the potential in hiring YP. We aim to provide guidance to our clients and the broader industry on how to highlight aspects of their businesses that would be attractive to YP. Furthermore, we will work on educating employers about YP’s expectations, helping them present themselves as excellent companies to work for.’

Upcoming Events

In terms of upcoming initiatives, Future Talent has a range of events.

• They will continue to support the Superyacht Young Designer competition , which is sponsored by Marine Resources
• There is a full schedule of events at the METSTRADE Young Professionals’ Club & Career Zone . At this year’s METSTRADE event, students and up-and-coming professionals will be able to gain complimentary access to career coaching sessions, offered by Marine Resources’ experienced recruiters. Additionally, METSTRADE exhibitors are encouraged to take advantage of free job advertisement opportunities within the METSTRADE Career Zone
• Throughout the year, they plan to host various webinars for both employers and YP, providing opportunities for networking and continuing initiatives beyond METSTRADE, including the Marine Mentors program

However, this is only the beginning. As McCarthy states: “These are just the initial steps, and we are eager to develop and expand our efforts over time.”

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Verification.

The PYA is authorised by the MCA by MIN 543 and by Transport Malta, to verify yacht sea service and has been verifying yacht sea service for the MCA since 1994. 

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Certificate.

Some vessels require crew to have a Yacht Rating Certificate as part of their safe manning requirements. The PYA is authorized to issue Yacht Rating Certificates on behalf of the MCA.

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The PYA encourages and mentors new entrants into professional yachting,

as well as offers career advice to experienced crew.

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"Throughout my yachting career, I have found the services of the PYA to be a fantastic "go to" resource. The support I received whilst achieving different grades of qualification was second to none."

Robbie Murtagh

"It's such a happy bunch running the PYA - they're friendly and welcoming!"

Graham Tindall

"As a 30 year yacht veteran, I have relied mostly on the idea of 'it's a who you know' industry, but as the constantly changing certification & litigation requirements become more complex, there is no doubt that the excellent service & support the PYA offers to every level of crew member makes membership an absolute must have! When my crew need support & correct advice, I always refer them to the PYA."

David White

"I have had only ever had positive experiences with the PYA - always helpful!"

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"The PYA is indispensable in its representation of Superyacht crew, using feedback directly from the crew to initiate major changes in the industry. Having worked with various regulatory bodies the PYA has not only offered a career pathway for crew but raised awareness of the career as one to be recognised in the professional realm. The Crew Report continues to support the PYA in its proactive and professional approach."

The most important factor in my moving up the ranks has been accurately recording my sea time and courses, and being aware of changes to requirements. The PYA has been a great help to me over the years, helping me gather and compile my sea service testimonials and offering advice on crew issues/ seafarer legalities. With me from junior deckhand right through to Master 3000 - PYA thanks for your help and making my life a lot easier!

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Industry news

PYA CEO to Moderate “Environment and Sustainability” Panel at Superyacht Conference in Monaco on 27 June

Christophe Bourillon, the CEO of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) will be moderating a panel on “Environment and Sustainability” at the upcoming NextGen Owner: Managing Tomorrow's Superyacht conference, to be held in Monaco on 27th June 2024. The event will bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of superyacht ownership.

Kickstart Your Yachting Career: Next Generation in Yachting Forum on May 3rd, 2024

This is the first forum ever created for the next generation of yacht crew. Representatives from top recruitment agencies and other yacht professionals, will be joining to answer your questions and guide you on your yachting journey.

PYA to Address Crew Concerns at Palma Boat Show Panel

The PYA is excited to announce their participation in a panel discussion on “Crew Careers, Retention, Health and Wellbeing” at the upcoming Superyacht Breakfast Seminars by Estela Superyacht Agency during the Palma Boat Show.

Interested in more articles?

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Congratulations to our Award Winners!

Recognizing professionalism and the best in the superyacht industry has been an important part of the ussa’s annual meeting. we are once again excited to honor more of our hardworking ussa members in the industry who have gone above and beyond., golden compass award, the kelly family | bradford marine.

What inspires a father and son to move from Pittsburgh and take over one of Fort Lauderdale’s oldest marinas? In the case of the Kellys, it’s part the love of history and part the excitement for what’s yet to be built. When John Kelly lived in Pittsburgh and owned a yacht, his trips would always end up in Fort Lauderdale because he knew that this is where you went to get things done. Kelly and his family, including son Michael, began their love of boating when they lived in Rhode Island with a small runabout going lobstering, tubing or skiing off Chatham in Cape Cod. That love didn’t end when they moved to Pittsburgh…a city known for its three rivers and lots of boating.

“We have been a lifelong boating family,” Kelly says. Family trips to Fort Lauderdale for repair and winter boating introduced them to the excellence that the marinas and shipyards in the Venice of America provided. Their love of Fort Lauderdale, combined with a diverse background in business, real estate and passion for boating, steered John and Michael to eventually invest in Bradford Marine, a family-owned business since 1966. That commitment to the community led to the further acquisition of neighboring Billfish Marina and most recently, the purchase of Roscicoli Yachting Center—another family-built legacy shipyard.

There are many infrastructure updates, services and amenities already completed, or in final stages, that will make Bradford Marine and their new expanded facilities, a “home away from home” for captains and crew. These improvements include a resort-styled pool, fitness center, captain/crew lounges and more. It is the Kelly family’s steadfast engagement, long-view commitment to injecting new energy and investment, as well as their respect for the pioneer-history that has defined Bradford Marine and the yachting industry in Fort Lauderdale, this year’s Golden Compass recipients.

The Golden Compass Award

The Golden Compass Award was created to honor the company or individual whose contributions, impacts and contributions to the superyacht industry have provided a “true-North” model that inspires us all.

Past Winners:

2014: MY Freedom

2015: Julie Balzano, NMMA

2016: Michael Reardon, Reardon Yacht Consulting

2017: Phil Purcell, MIASF

2018: Christian Von Der Hyde

2019: Charlie Dana, Newport Shipyard

2020: Bob Roscioli, Roscioli Yachting Center

2021: Denison Family

2022: Paul Derektor, Derecktor Shipyards

Beacon Award

Engineered yacht solutions.

With a rich legacy dating back to 2015, Engineered Yacht Solutions (EYS) has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering large-scale marine projects with exceptional efficiency and uncompromising quality.

At EYS, their dedication to making a positive impact on the community is at the core of who they are. This commitment led them to establish the EYS Cares program, through which they have forged partnerships with numerous organizations over the years. These collaborations have taken various forms, from heartwarming toy drives to providing vital assistance in the wake of devastating events such as the West Coast of Florida hurricane last year. Their ongoing support of Covenant House is a testament to their dedication to addressing the issue of youth homelessness.

EYS regularly contributes to their cause and actively participates in their sleepout events, playing a crucial role in raising awareness about this pressing concern. Moreover, when their local community faced a dire flooding crisis near Safe Harbor – LMC earlier this year, EYS took a proactive stance. They rallied the community to collect essential items for those who had lost everything. The outpouring of support from other companies was heartwarming, allowing them to gather a significant quantity of children’s toys, basic necessities, food, and more to aid those affected by the flooding. EYS’s mission is steadfast: to always prioritize the well-being of those in need.

The Beacon Award

The Beacon Award was created to honor the company or individual that is shining a light and making a difference in our community (i.e. humanitarian, environmental, socially, etc.)

2014: Marc Drewelow, C2C

2015: Jennifer Saia, B&B Yacht Charters

2016: David Reed, The Triton

2017: Lisa Morely, MPT

2018: Aaron Leatherwood, RMK Merrill-Stevens

2019: Julie Berry, Marina Investment Group/Stiles Realty

2020: Jonathan Rothberg, M/Y Gene Machine

2021: Dan Wood, Crow’s Nest Yachting

2022: Michael T. Moore, Moore & Co.

Gertrude Denison “Woman of the Year in Yachting” Award

Alexandra anagnostis-irons, total marine solutions.

Alexandra Anagnostis-Irons is the founder and CEO of Total Marine Solutions (TMS), an environmental solutions company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale. TMS supplies innovative and forward-thinking MARPOL compliant solutions for the marine and logistics industries, along with the highest level of technical support and customer service. Alex is actively involved in several industry organizations; she serves as a Director for the Coast Guard Foundation, Chair of Broward Navy Days, Treasurer and Executive Board Member for Seafarers’ House Port Everglades, Board Member at SUNY Maritime College, as a member of InterManager’s Executive Committee, and as an Advisory Committee Member of the Advance Certificate in Maritime Business course through World Maritime Academy. Alex has previously served as an Executive Committee Member of WISTA International, and past president of WISTA USA. In 2023, Alex as honored as one of South Florida Business Journal’s Influential Business Women and was recognized in 2022 by History Fort Lauderdale as a Women Trailblazer.

“Woman of the Year in Yachting” Award

The USSA is proud to have such an iconic industry pioneer as the namesake of this award that honors and celebrates the incredible contributions and leadership of the women in the superyacht industry. Gertrude Denison bravely blazed a path for all women to become a powerful part of our industry and embodied an undeniable spirit of leadership, foresight and determination that continues to inspire us all.

Past Winner:

2022: Rose Damen, Damen Yachts

Young Professionals in Yachting Leadership Award

William smith, lafitte advisors.

Born and raised in Pass Christian, MS, William is no stranger to hard work. While helping his hometown rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, he also watched as his father, William S. Smith III (Billy) and founding partner of Trinity Yachts in New Orleans, LA, build the company from the ground up. Billy’s strong work ethic was passed down to William as he went on to earn his BA in Management and his MBA from Ole Miss (Hotty Toddy!), during which he was hired by Kaizen Capital, an energy investment partnership in Houston, TX. As the Director of Marketing and Client Services for Kaizen, he handled client-related needs and initiated the fund’s first concerted marketing efforts. After experiencing success at Kaizen, William’s heritage in the yachting world guided him to Yachts International Magazine where he held key positions, starting as National Accounts Manager and working his way up to Associate Publisher. Falling in love once again with the luxurious experience yachting can bring to owners and enthusiasts, William decided to follow his father’s footsteps and take the leap into entrepreneurship. And thus, Lafitte Advisors was born.

In 2020 we added an award to celebrate the leadership and accomplishments of our up and coming yachting professionals. The Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) has done a great job of uniting our next generation of industry professionals this award recognizes the best and brightest amongst their ranks.

2020: Katie Hagen, FHG Marine Engineering

2021: Chris Coleman, Oversea Yacht Insurance

2022: Sarrah Hearne, Bradford Marine

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FWC identifies boater in Key Biscayne hit-and-run that killed Florida teen ballerina

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has identified the person behind the wheel in the South Florida hit-and-run boating death of 15-year-old Ella Adler on Saturday.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 78, of Coral Gables was piloting a 42-foot Boston Whaler in Key Biscayne when officials say his boat struck Ella Riley Adler, 15, a ballerina with the Miami Ballet and granddaughter of U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Michael M. Adler. The teen had been wakeboarding behind another boat and was floating in the water, according to an FWC incident report released Wednesday.

The man piloting the boat that hit the girl sped off to the west without stopping, witnesses said. Adler was retrieved by the other boat but died of her injuries.

The vessel is in custody and Alonso is cooperating with the investigation, the FWC said in a release Tuesday .

Investigators said Tuesday it was unclear if Alonso knew Adler was there or was hit. It is unknown if alcohol was a factor. In a statement from Alonso's attorney Lauren Krasnoff, shared by Local10.com , Krasnoff said Alonso was unaware he hit anybody and does not drink.

"I will tell you that Bill, who has been boating for 50 years and is a very experienced boater who knows these waters, was out boating by himself on Saturday," Krasnoff said in the statement. "He has no knowledge whatsoever of having been involved in this accident. If he hit Ella that day, he certainly did not know it. Had Bill thought he hit anything, he absolutely would have stopped. But he did not at any point think that he had hit anything, let alone a person.

"He docked his boat in plain sight right behind his house," she said, "and did not even know there was an accident on the water that day until officers showed up at his door."

Witnesses or anyone with video footage or information should contact the FWC at 888-404-FWCC or 888-404-3922 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS or 305-471-8477.

A total reward of up to $20,000 — $10,000 from Adler's family and a combined $10,000 from FWC and Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers — is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and successful prosecution of the driver of the hit-and-run boat incident.

What happened in the boating death of Ella Adler?

At about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11 (the day before Mother's Day), Adler and several others had been enjoying some recreational boating near the Nixon Beach Sandbar in Biscayne Bay, according to the incident report. Adler was wakeboarding behind a 42-foot 2017 Hanse Fjord yacht at the same time as an unidentified female on a wake surfboard.

The two people being towed fell into the water at different times and locations, the incident report said. Adler was wearing a life jacket and had the wakeboard still attached to her feet, an FWC official told NBC6 in Miami , when she was struck by a 42-foot 2020 Boston Whaler.

A witness said the boat did not appear to swerve or slow down when it hit the girl. The yacht towing her immediately spun around back to where she was and began broadcasting distress calls, the witness told NBC6.

Where was Ella Adler killed? Where is Nixon Beach Sandbar in Florida?

The Nixon Beach Sandbar is located in Biscayne Bay, Florida, west of Hurricane Harbor near Miami.

It's a popular destination for recreational boaters and fishing for its white sands and clear shallow waters, and it "turns into a wild party spot every weekend" full of yachts and catamarans, according to the boating site sail.me .

The area was named for former president Richard M. Nixon, who owned a home overlooking the water nearby.

Who is Ella Riley Adler of Florida?

Ella Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove and a ballerina with the Miami City Ballet. She is the granddaughter of Michael M. Adler, the current U.S. Ambassador to Belgium , according to the Miami Herald .

"We are heartbroken," the school said in a Facebook post Monday morning. "Ella Adler '27 shined in our classrooms and on our stages, and she embodied the mission of Ransom Everglades School. We wish peace and comfort to her family."

Adler appeared in more than 100 performances with the Miami Ballet, including "The Nutcracker," according to her Legacy.com obituary . In school, she performed on the dance team, acted in the school play "Chicago" and was a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association.

"You were taken from us way too soon, and the world has been robbed of all the things you could have achieved," her father, Matthew, wrote in a letter read during a funeral service at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach on Monday, the Miami Herald reported . "But you will always be here with us and your friends and family will carry your energy and spirit forever.”

First Lady Jill Biden paid her condolences in person Tuesday, according to a statement from the family.

"We are honored that the First Lady paid a shiva call to our family during this time of immense pain. We are touched by their support and love and we are proud to call the President and First Lady our friends for over 40 years," they said.

The girl's great-aunt Karen Adler started working in President Joe Biden's D.C. office in 1973 when he was still a junior senator from Delaware, according to Jewish Insider , and served as his national finance chair in 2008. Her brother Michael was confirmed as Ambassador to Belgium in 2021 .

Adler is survived by her parents Amanda and Matthew, her brother Jaden, and her sister Adalynn, grandparents Judy and Michael, and Susan and Michael Klaiman, along with several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, contributed to this story.

Boat captains save young boy in distress off Pass-a-Grille Beach

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — Two boat captains with Ballyhoo Media rescued a young boy after he struggled in a strong current off Pass-a-Grille Beach.

Captain Patrick Foley was driving an advertisement vessel. He was with his colleague, Captain Craig Edwards.

The two noticed a beach ball floating in the water. A young boy, maybe 10 years old, was chasing the ball.

"As he tried to swim back with the ball, he let go of the ball, and we saw he started to panic," said Foley.

Edwards saw the young boy struggling in the current. He was once a lifeguard and decided to jump into the water.

"The current was going parallel to the sandbar, so Foley agreed keeping the boat back was the safest thing because of the wind and waves, putting us towards the jetty. I swam him to the sandbar. It was pretty close," said Edwards.

Another boat rescued the boy's mother and brought her to shore. Edwards said there was a language barrier between him and the child, but he was grateful.

"I was talking to him the whole time on the way in. I didn't realize he couldn't understand me," said Edwards.

Edwards said the young boy gave him a smile and a high-five.

"I didn't get to meet the family because the mom was rescued on a separate boat, but I did see an older gentleman that I'm assuming was a relative because he stayed exactly with us, and he had the biggest smile of joy that this boy was safe," said Edwards.

Helen Roldan with Ballyhoo Media said the company as a whole had five documented rescues.

The company is a waterway advertisement company, and boat captains frequent the waterways. The company works throughout the country, including Staten Island, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and along Tampa Bay beaches.

Edwards urges people not to jump into the water to save a person. The best practice is to call for help and toss a flotation device.

"I think people need to just become more familiar with rip currents and the conditions and really, probably not go past this depth of water because they have good control when they’re at waist deep. Once they go deeper than waist deep, that’s when Mother Nature has control over them," he said.

"Because of the proximity to the rocks, I felt that was a dangerous situation. I wanted to get the boat out of there and just jump in, handle it, swimming."

When debris from a tractor struck their vehicle on I-75, Denise and Mike Brennan were told by a state contractor that "they will take care of it." Now, more than six months later, the Brennans are still $7000 out-of-pocket for repairs and rentals.

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Boat that fatally struck a 15-year-old girl in Florida has been found, officials say

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MIAMI (AP) — Investigators believe they’ve found the boat that fatally struck a 15-year-old girl off a South Florida beach, officials said Tuesday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and other law enforcement agencies had been searching for the vessel since Saturday, when Ella Adler was killed and the boat operator fled without stopping.

“The boat is in our custody, and the owner is cooperating,” FWC officer George Reynaud said in a video on Facebook.

Officials didn’t immediately say where the boat was found or how it was located. It also wasn’t clear whether the owner of the boat was the person who was operating it when the girl was hit.

Adler was water-skiing near Key Biscayne, just south of Miami, on Saturday afternoon when she fell into the water and was hit by another boat, which immediately sped away, officials said. Witnesses described the hit-and-run craft as a center console boat with a light blue hull, multiple white outboard engines and blue bottom paint.

A funeral service for Adler was held Monday morning at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach. Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove and a ballerina with the Miami City Ballet.

A total reward of up to $20,000 was being offered for information that leads to an arrest.

LinkedIn says it intercepts the 'majority' of scams on its site — but job hunters say it's not enough

• LinkedIn rolled out verification tools last year to curb spam and fake job ads on the platform.
• Despite the new process, job hunters say fake ads from scammers are still rampant on the site.
• The scams often target recent graduates and young professionals, per the Federal Trade Commission. 

"I'm thrilled to extend to you an offer for the Personal Assistant role following a meticulous review of your qualifications. Your impressive skills and experience are precisely what I am seeking, and I am genuinely excited about the prospect of having you join our team."

The communications sound official enough, often coming from email domains nearly indistinguishable from actual companies job hunters believe they've applied to on LinkedIn .

They can be effusive and complementary, boosting the confidence of applicants searching for a new gig in a job market plagued by massive layoffs .

But all too often, it turns out, it's a scam: While it remains unclear exactly how many people fall victim to fake job scams on LinkedIn each year, the platform says it removed more than 63 million fake accounts from registering on the site between July and December 2023. Yet they're still getting through often enough that the Federal Trade Commission has recently warned the public about the prevalence of fake job scams.

The 'fake check' scam

Chris Conwell had initially applied to a job ad on LinkedIn in early March. The 25-year-old operations manager had been furloughed in October and was starting to get antsy about finding new prospects. He told Business Insider he was so eager to get to work that he very nearly fell for a fake check scam after being offered a personal assistant role — but it was to a fraudster posing as a potential employer.

Fake check scams generally involve a supposed employer mailing a fraudulent check to the would-be employee they're attempting to scam. The scammer encourages the victim to deposit the fake check to purchase work-related items like hardware or software — but the check bounces, leaving the victim with a negative balance and potentially having their account flagged for fraud.

"I have arranged for a check to be sent to you via my client, which you should expect to receive today or tomorrow via USPS," read an email Conwell received from a fake recruiter .

The email from one "Michael Hecht" continued, laying out instructions for Conwell to gather flight options and price information for an upcoming business trip. But, Conwell told Business Insider, something felt wrong.

"When he mentioned that, suddenly, he'd be sending a check, and it would come in the mail, and then he would want me to deposit it to use for, you know, quote-unquote, administrative duties, that really started setting off those spidey senses like, something doesn't seem quite right here," Conwell told BI. "So I kind of started calling out a lot of the things that seemed sketchy, but he would just dodge the questions and just kind of start to essentially expedite his process."

Conwell received a check the same day he received the email from Hecht telling him to be on the lookout for it. And when Conwell took the check to his bank, letting them know he was concerned it was fake, they immediately confirmed his fears.

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"They let me know it obviously was fraudulent, the funds wouldn't pass through," Conwell said.

The targets: recent graduates and young professionals

The Federal Trade Commission also recently released a warning about thriving job scams online , saying recent college graduates with limited work experience are at particular risk for being targeted.

Representatives for LinkedIn directed Business Insider to recent statements made by the company about their commitment to bolstering verification procedures on the website, but the company declined to comment specifically on the instances described in this article.

"In the last 12 months, we've expanded verification access thanks to our collaborations with CLEAR, Persona, and Microsoft Entra," Oscar Rodriguez, vice president of product management at LinkedIn, wrote in a post last month. "Globally, 800M members now have the option to verify at least one detail of their professional identity. Today, 50% of job views on LinkedIn are of jobs with verifications on them."

A representative for the company also pointed to internal statistics that indicate LinkedIn intercepts the majority of detected fake accounts and scams before fake recruiters can post. The numbers presented in LinkedIn's report could not be independently verified by BI.

Optional verification tools aren't enough

LinkedIn has rolled out new verification tools over the last year to curb fake ads and spam on the site. One such tool is a third-party service that verifies user identities by having them snap a selfie with their ID, granting users a "verified" badge on their profile.

However, Jordan Bittel, an IT support specialist targeted by a fake recruiter on LinkedIn, told BI that despite the platform's optional verification process, scammers seem to be getting smarter. They emulate the websites of legitimate companies, send recruiting documents through services like DocuSign, and write emails that sound like legitimate invitations to interview.

"I would expect there to be a bit more due diligence on LinkedIn's part," Bittel said. "I know that a lot of places you have to pay to play, so if you want your post to be up there, you've got to pay, whether that's buying the premium account or whatever it is — and I would expect that LinkedIn would do a bit more vetting."

Posting an initial job ad on LinkedIn is free, but it costs to promote the listing to a wider audience.

At the time of publication, the platform's verification tools remain optional for both recruiters and job seekers like Conwell.

"Obviously, I would love for every job board to be as meticulous as possible in trying to vet these things because I mean, realistically, if someone does get really adversely affected by something like this, it kind of begs the question of, can LinkedIn be liable for any kind of harm or damages that happen afterwards?" Conwell said. "Because these people are using their site as a tool to snag these desperate individuals and get them wrapped up in these scams and other possibly really illegal things ."

Watch: How scam call centers work, according to a 'scambaiter'

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What We Know About Ella Adler As Boat Seized In Crash That Killed Florida Teen

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A boat has been seized in connection with a weekend hit-and-run accident that killed Ella Adler in Biscayne Bay, officials confirmed to Forbes on Tuesday, the latest in an ongoing investigation into the death of the Florida teenager who has been remembered as a " bright young soul ” after she died Saturday.

Boats ply the waters of Biscayne Bay with the Miami skyline see in the distance.

Adler, who was wearing a life jacket, was water skiing with friends when she fell into the water close to a sandbar near Nixon Beach, about 7 miles from downtown Miami, and was then hit by a boat that didn't stop.

Officials immediately asked the public for help in finding the boat and offered $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the hit-and-run suspect, though it was unclear at the time whether the boater knew they had hit the teenager.

Witnesses described the boat to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, who identified its owner and seized it Tuesday, the agency said in a statement—the owner is cooperating with authorities and no arrest has been made.

The investigation is ongoing and representatives with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are still asking witnesses or anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward.

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Crucial Quote

"The world lost a star this weekend,” the Adler family said in a statement through their attorney Tuesday. “Ella was beautiful and shined brightly. In her 15 years she gave us more light than we could have ever dreamed. While we cope with this unspeakable tragedy, we ask the public to give us our privacy as we mourn."

Key Background

Adler was a young ballerina with the Miami City Ballet, a student in the class of 2027 at the Ransom Everglades School in Miami and the granddaughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Michael M. Adler. She appeared in more than 100 performances with the Miami City Ballet and her obituary remembered her as a performer who "belonged and thrived" on stage. The Miami City Ballet called Adler "a magnificent dancer" with "potential and promise whose kindness, warmth and infectious joy were known to all." She was a member of her school's dance team, performed in the school play and was "proud" to be a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association. Her obituary described her as a great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.

636. That's how many deaths were tied to recreational boating in 2022, according to the U.S. Coast Guard , representing a fatality rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels.

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Hit-and-run boat that killed Florida teen ballerina may have been found. What we know

UPDATE: FWC officers have identified a boat that matches the description. The owner is cooperating.

Authorities may have found the boat that struck and killed a teen girl waterskiing off the coast in South Florida on Saturday, May 11, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission .

Officials said Ella Riley Adler, 15, a ballerina with the Miami Ballet, was being towed behind a yacht near the Nixon Beach Sandbar in Biscayne Bay when she fell into the water and was struck by another boat. The boat sped off to the west.

"I am pleased to report that we have a vessel in custody that matches the description given by witnesses and the investigation is ongoing,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “As a father and grandfather, my heart is broken for the Adler family. Ella’s death is devastating for her family, friends and the community at large. The FWC and our partner law enforcement agencies will not stop until we have all the answers and the case is solved.”

The vessel is in custody and its owner is cooperating with the investigation, the FWC said in a release.

The boat was described in the initial FWC release as a center console boat with a light blue hull, three or four white outboard engines and possibly blue or dark blue bottom paint.

Investigators said it was unclear if the driver of the boat knew she was there or was hit.

Witnesses or anyone with video footage or information should contact the FWC at 888-404-FWCC or 888-404-3922 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS or 305-471-8477.

A total reward of up to $20,000 — $10,000 from Adler's family and a combined $10,000 from FWC and Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers — is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and successful prosecution of the driver of the hit-and-run boat incident.

Who is Ella Riley Adler of Florida?

Ella Adler was a freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove and a ballerina with the Miami City Ballet. She is the granddaughter of Michael M. Adler, the current U.S. Ambassador to Belgium , according to the Miami Herald .

"We are heartbroken," the school said in a Facebook post Monday morning. "Ella Adler '27 shined in our classrooms and on our stages, and she embodied the mission of Ransom Everglades School. We wish peace and comfort to her family."

Adler appeared in more than 100 performances with the Miami Ballet, including "The Nutcracker," according to her Legacy.com obituary . In school, she performed on the dance team, acted in the school play "Chicago" and was a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association.

Miami City Ballet praised Adler in a statement: “Ella Adler was not just a beloved student and a magnificent dancer who graced our stage in George Balanchine’s 'The Nutcracker,' she was an integral part of our family, radiating potential and promise whose kindness, warmth, and infectious joy were known to all.“

"You were taken from us way too soon, and the world has been robbed of all the things you could have achieved," her father, Matthew, wrote in a letter read during a funeral service at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach on Monday, the Miami Herald reported . "But you will always be here with us and your friends and family will carry your energy and spirit forever.”

Adler is survived by her parents Amanda and Matthew, her brother Jaden, and her sister Adalynn, grandparents Judy and Ambassador Michael M. Adler, and Susan and Michael Klaiman, along with several aunts, uncles and cousins.

What happened in the boating death of Ella Adler?

At about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11, (the day before Mother's Day) by the Nixon Beach Sandbar in Biscayne Bay near Miami, the 15-year-old dancer had been waterskiing behind a gray yacht and was being towed when she fell into the water. She was wearing a life jacket and had a board still attached to her feet, an FWC official told NBC6 in Miami .

A witness said the boat did not appear to swerve or slow down when it hit the girl. The yacht towing her immediately spun around back to where she was and began broadcasting distress calls, the witness told NBC6.

Where was Ella Adler killed? Where is Nixon Beach Sandbar in Florida?

The Nixon Beach Sandbar is located in Biscayne Bay, Florida, west of Hurricane Harbor near Miami.

It's a popular destination for recreational boaters and fishing for its white sands and clear shallow waters, and it "turns into a wild party spot every weekend" full of yachts and catamarans, according to the boating site sail.me .

The area was named for former president Richard M. Nixon, who owned a home overlooking the water nearby.

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hit-and-run boat that killed Florida teen ballerina may have been found. What we know

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2024 PGA Championship TV schedule, coverage, live stream, channel, where to watch online, golf tee times

How to watch every memorable moment of the 2024 pga championship on tv or streaming live online.

The second major of the 2024 golf season wraps play Sunday in Louisville with plenty of big-time players looking to capture the Wanamaker Trophy and set a tone for the remainder of their respective campaigns. This as the beautify of May surrounds Valhalla Golf Club with the PGA Championship concluding its return to town for the first time in a decade.

An unfortunate wrench was thrown into the tournament Friday morning as, in unrelated incidents, a pedestrian was killed outside the Valhalla grounds in a traffic incident and world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested for violating traffic rules . Though Scheffler looked like he was going to hang tough and compete, he played himself out of competition in the third round and opened the door to the rest of the field.

Xander Schauffele remains atop the leaderboard for the third straight day but was unable to fend off challengers as Collin Morikawa met him in pole position at 15 under. Shane Lowry, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose and Viktor Hovland surged up the leaderboard, while Sahith Theegala remained hot bouncing back from a rough start. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are among the other notable names lurking. You can catch each of their rounds by checking out the PGA Championship tee times and pairings for Round 4 .

While attending the PGA Championship can be a ton of fun, simply being able to watch golf on the game's grandest stages is an incredible treat each year. We here at CBS Sports are thrilled to bring you wall-to-wall live leaderboard coverage of the PGA Championship with action streaming live all weekend.

CBS Sports golf anchor Jim Nantz is calling the action for the 34th consecutive year while hosting coverage from the super tower alongside lead analyst Trevor Immelman. Also at Valhalla for CBS Sports are Ian Baker-Finch, Frank Nobilo, Dottie Pepper, Colt Knost and Mark Immelman with Amanda Renner reporting and conducting interviews.

The 106th PGA Championship is the 34rd consecutive (and 41th overall) being broadcast by CBS Sports, which is offering multi-platform coverage throughout the week. In partnership with the PGA of America, CBS Sports is leading overall production efforts deploying 125 cameras and nearly 150 microphones to capture all the sights and sounds. Additional technological enhancements include Fly Cams, Bunker Cameras, state-of-the-art drone coverage, panoramic Falcon 360 cameras, Toptracer and more.

Enough talking about it. Here's how you can watch as much PGA Championship as possible Sunday. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports for live coverage throughout and  download the CBS Sports App  to watch the PGA Championship live on your mobile device this weekend.

All times Eastern

Round 4 -- Sunday, May 19

Round 4 start time:  7:45 a.m. [ Tee times ]

PGA Championship live stream:  8-10 a.m. on ESPN+

• Featured Groups -- 8 a.m.
• Holes 16-18 -- 8 a.m.

Early TV coverage:  10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on ESPN,  fubo  (Try for free)

Prime TV coverage:  1-7 p.m. on CBS, Paramount+

TV simulcast live stream:  1-7 p.m. Desktop and mobile:  Free on  CBSSports.com ,  CBS Sports App Connected devices*:  Available on  Paramount+ ,  CBS Sports App *Paramount+ login required

Clubhouse Report:  8-9 p.m. on CBS Sports Network Round 4 encore:  9 p.m. to 3 a.m. on CBS Sports Network

PGA coverage on CBS Sports Network

• PGA Championship On the Range -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Thursday, Friday) Pre-round player interviews, analysis, daily previews
• PGA Championship Clubhouse Report -- 8-9 p.m. (Thursday-Sunday) Post-round highlights, analysis, player interviews
• PGA Championship encore presentations Round 3 -- Sunday -- 6-10 a.m. Round 4 -- Sunday -- 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

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How a Young Lawyer’s Mental Health Journey Fuels Her Advocacy Work

At the U.S. Department of Labor, we’re committed to fostering and promoting the welfare of all workers—including their mental well-being. As part of our effort, we seek to learn the lived experiences of the people we serve.

To acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month this May, DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy sat down with Marissa Ditkowsky, disability economic justice counsel at the nonprofit National Partnership for Women & Families and adjunct professor at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL). She works on everything from research to policy analysis to advocacy, focusing on advancing policies that support the economic health of disabled women, and particularly, disabled women of color.

Marissa, who lives in Maryland, says her personal and professional experiences propelled her to advocate for, and with, disabled people like herself. Here’s more of what she had to say. (This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)

Tell us how you decided to pursue law and disability advocacy.

My journey was driven by my personal experiences. I wanted to make things better for others going through similar things—to help folks who maybe don’t know their rights or need help navigating difficult situations. My lived experiences as a disabled woman frames and fuels my perspective and work at the National Partnership.

Would you share more about your disability and the barriers you’ve faced?

I am multiply disabled, meaning I have several types of disabilities. I have a chronic condition called myotonic dystrophy type 2, which affects multiple body systems and causes many different symptoms. The big ones are pain and fatigue.

I also have anxiety. My anxiety primarily impacts communication—both how I communicate and what I need from communication. Not everyone knows or realizes the types of accommodations that can be made for folks with mental health conditions, but expectations and needs from communication are just one example.

My anxiety can sometimes make it difficult to advocate for myself—when I have problems accessing needed accommodations, it exacerbates my anxiety. If we mean it when we say we care about mental health, we must consider people’s experiences requesting accommodations. Sometimes the process itself can impact a person’s mental health, even if the accommodation itself isn’t directly mental-health related.

It sounds like you are speaking from your own experience.

In law school, I needed accommodations to assist with the pain and fatigue in my arms and hands. Some of my requests were initially denied. Although I was ultimately able to record classes, I was initially offered a notetaker instead. And while I appreciated that, it would not have met my specific access needs.

The biggest struggle was with the MPRE [Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination], an exam many states require for admission to the bar. My requests for accommodations were denied, and I didn’t appeal because it was just too time consuming. I am fortunate that it ultimately worked out for me, but it doesn’t for everyone.

How do you feel mental health is perceived in the legal profession?

The culture needs to improve—not just for disabled people, but for everyone. Some clear examples of parts of the legal profession that may impact mental health are concerns about work-life balance or the culture of competition in law school. In legal services, it can be difficult to cope with the secondary trauma and avoid burnout. I’m involved in the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association (NDLPA), and earlier in my career, I was a leader of the National Disabled Law Students Association (NDLSA). Both groups are actively working toward making the legal profession more accessible and inclusive. But it will take a real commitment from law schools, employers, testing administrators, licensing bodies, the bench and others.

What changes would help foster a more inclusive culture in law?

To start, we need to make sure that folks know what resources are available. They can go to the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) , or connect with NDLPA to talk to other disabled lawyers with similar experiences. Additionally, we need to stamp out stigma. Ultimately, without marginalized folks in leadership roles or systemic change, we cannot achieve a more inclusive culture.

What changes do you think could be made in law school?

In the disability rights course I teach at AUWCL, I tried to apply the principles of universal design as much as I could. For example, I avoided “cold calling” students to answer questions, for instance. I also recorded my classes and had a flexible attendance policy. I still had high levels of participation and engagement. While accommodations are important, they infer an exception to the norm. I try to focus on having access be the norm. It is possible to make law school and the legal profession more inclusive—we just have to be willing to reimagine it.

Marissa Ditkowsky is a disability economic justice counsel at the nonprofit National Partnership for Women & Families and adjunct professor at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL)

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