Salesman Stories
[bs_citem title=”Wayne Goldman” id=”citem_bf7c-4f70″ parent=”collapse_278b-8e27″ open=”true”]
Chief Ahi – Atomic Tuna Yachts
Wayne has been around water his whole life and has sailed most of the waters of the world. He started out on his dad’s “huge” 21’ Chris Craft woodie cabin cruiser when he was still in diapers. He cried when his mom made his dad sell the boat to spend more time with the family. Once he had boating on his mind, he spent every chance he could on the lakes and rivers of upstate New York. Once he found the ocean when he went to college in New Hampshire, there was no turning back, buying and sailing boats wherever he went. He eventually ended up in California in a corporate job, but that did not stop him from buying his first cruising sailboat, a brand new Tayana 42’. During the next thirty years, Wayne would work a real job for a few years, then escape and go cruising for a few years.
Wayne has spent the last 20+ years in the marine industry, selling boating equipment to boat builders all over the world and doing international and local boat shows on the east and west coast. He has extensive experience with catamarans and has visited most of the catamaran factories around the world. For the past 5+ years, Wayne has focused his passion on helping other, like-minded boaters find the boat of their dream. With his vast knowledge of boats, and understanding what boaters are looking for, Wayne has been successfully finding the right boats for hundreds of boaters.
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[bs_citem title=”Geli Burgin” id=”citem_ecc7-5a76″ parent=”collapse_278b-8e27″]
Accounting & Sales Ahi – Atomic Tuna Yachts
As a little kid, growing up in the land of 10,000 lakes, Geli always knew she would be happiest working outside. It’s been 25 years since she moved out to California where her Mom and Step Dad first introduced her to sailing. While sailing with her parents, she jumped at the chance to introduce co-workers and friends to sailing on San Francisco Bay, as well as the boating lifestyle.
After 18 years in corporate America, Geli pursued her dream to become a captain and delivered boats up and down the coast for a few years before going back to the steady “eddy” office life where she served as Vice President in billion dollar companies and CFO in a fast growing start up.
Geli met Wayne just before he and her Mom delivered a boat from Cape Town, South Africa to Florida. Geli would call that time frame in her life, “peak envy”, which re-ignited her passion to buy a boat of her own, master it and live-aboard it. For the past four years she has lived her dream, living aboard ‘Irene’, her Grand Banks 42′.
Geli thoroughly enjoyed the boat purchasing experience so much that she wants to share that experience with others, ensuring that their boat buying/selling experience is a positive one. Geli’s vast background in finance, operations and boating will ensure you will have a positive and memorable experience with Atomic Tuna Yachts.
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[bs_citem title=”John Longwell” id=”citem_94e0-eb8d” parent=”collapse_278b-8e27″]
Sales Ahi – Atomic Tuna Yachts
John has been involved in boating since his childhood, enjoying sailing and power boating on Cape Cod Bay with his father and sisters. After graduating from college with a Mechanical Engineering degree he resumed his boating passion by fixing up an old Tri-Hull outboard power boat and fishing and exploring the Louisiana Coastal area while he was working offshore on drilling rigs. His transfer to the Rocky Mountains enabled him to enjoy fresh water lake boating, owning several different power boats.
Most recently he has enjoyed buying, upgrading and selling several larger motor yachts and boating in the bays and offshore Southern California up to the San Francisco area. He has brought his passion for boating and his mechanical knowledge to use as a salesman for Atomic Tuna Yachts in the Bay area. John is always available to help you find the perfect boat.
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[bs_citem title=”Michelle Leonard” id=”citem_8e4d-4388″ parent=”collapse_278b-8e27″]
Sales Ahi – Atomic Tuna Yachts
Michelle learned to sail by taking Sailing 101 in college for a PE credit. After graduation the choice was: Buy a new car or buy a boat. She bought a used boat and a used car. Since then she has owned 3 different boats as a single-handed sailor and multiple boats with her husband, who she met when he was her ride to a regatta in Mexico. Michelle has competed in National and World Championship races but now prefers the camaraderie of “beer can” races.
Fast forward many years working in supply chain logistics to support her boating habit and Michelle was able to buy her own dream boat: a Tartan 3400. Her passion for sailing then led her to pursue a USCG Captain’s license. After helping several friends find the right boat she was encouraged to try yacht sales as a way to share her love of boating.
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[bs_citem title=”Peter Benziger” id=”citem_f2bb-f467″ parent=”collapse_278b-8e27″]
Sales Ahi – Atomic Tuna Yachts
Peter Benziger is the newest addition to our team of expert yachting professionals. He and his wife, Margie, recently completed an eight-year circumnavigation of the world aboard their Tayana 47, Peregrina, covering 42,000 miles and visiting 44 countries. The couple had dreamed of circumnavigating since they married 41 years ago.
Peter worked in boatyards and marinas on the East Coast growing up. He had a successful career with several Fortune 500 international corporations and owned his own marketing company for many years. His understanding of business and financial planning helped him prepare and fund their cruising lifestyle.
Peter was an avid J-24sailboat racer for many years. He holds a current 100-Ton US Coast Guard Captains license. He is fluent in Spanish. He can help you find the right boat whether your dream is to leisurely explore the local cruising grounds, race competitively or voyage to distant shores.
While Peter is the licensed salesman, Margie and Peter operate as a team. Margie will be able to provide insight into what helps women enjoy the boating life and what women look for in a motor vessel or sailing yacht. They both agree that the hardest part of going cruising is leaving the dock. They can help you understand how to cast off the dock lines and follow your dreams.
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[bs_citem title=”Margi Benziger” id=”citem_ca00-7efc” parent=”collapse_278b-8e27″]
Margie Benziger came late into sailing. A landlubber growing up, she met her future husband, Peter, an avid sailor, in Boston. By the second date, she realized there would never be a third date unless she expressed interest in learning how to sail. So, that’s just what she did! After they married, they moved to Puerto Rico, where they cruised and raced a Pearson 26. Returning to the States, they bought a J-24, which they raced competitively for 23 years – winning many championships with Margie handling the foredeck. In 2008, they purchased S/V Peregrina, a 1990, cutter-rigged, Tayana 47. In January 2010, they left Miami to begin their circumnavigation around the world – arriving in San Francisco in November 2018 after visits to 44 countries and 42,000 miles of sailing. Margie now helps Peter at Atomic Tuna Yachts providing a woman’s perspective in finding your dream boat.
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