Our Staff

Carissa Dressel

President

Carissa started the Waves Boat & Social Club concept/business in October 2004. After acquiring her first boat, she opened the doors to Waves in January 2005.

Since then, the club has dramatically expanded to 5 locations, almost 50 vessels, over 500 members, 25 staff as well as state of the art management software.

She currently oversees the entire operation; working with all her team members to maintain the vision of Waves.

She facilitates the acquisitions of property, new locations, technology, vessels, vehicles, etc. She is in charge of IT, marketing plans, strategies, budgets, and implementation. She manages the sales team, creates sales plans, and goals. She works with existing as well as finding new business partners. She negotiates leases, contracts, etc. She works closely managing all the financial decisions as well as overseeing the day to day operations.

She is also available on site to happily meet with members regarding their membership, general inquiries about the club, or just for feedback. She attends a lot of the social events. Tel: 941-408-5171

Captain Zane Wagner

Dockmaster Stickney & Venice

Zane is in charge of the boats and docks for our Stickney location. He also does training and can help if you would like to join the club. He has extensive boating experience and knowledge of the local waterways. Tel: 970-371-0058

Jake Neubauer

Assistant Mechanic

Jake is Waves assistant boat mechanic. He keeps the fleet running and our members/staff happy. He is a major key to our ongoing success. When problems arise Jake does his best to get these issues resolved as quickly as possible.

Michael Stich

Dockmaster - Venice

Michael is one of the guys in charge of the boats and docks for our Venice location. He takes care of our valuable members by helping them and their gear on and off the boats. He helps to maintain the fleet, he cleans, troubleshoots, etc. He is extremely helpful, friendly and detail oriented with a strong knowledge of boats & the waterways.

Madisson Dressel

Maddi works for our Stickney Location. She looks after billing, reservations, social media and an assortment of other office items. She is born and raised in Sarasota. She has been on the water and involved in Waves her whole life.

Damien Lesner

Damien is in charge of the boats and docks for our Phillippi location. He takes care of our valuable members by helping them and their gear on and off the boats. He helps to maintain the fleet, he cleans, troubleshoots, etc. He is extremely helpful, friendly and detail oriented with a strong knowledge of boats & the waterways.

Aaron Dressel

Head of Operations

He is in charge of keeping the fleet up and running for our members. He and his mechanical staff organize the service, repairs, order and/or source parts, break in new boats and prepare them for the fleet, manage the service center as well as overseeing the the dockstaff and their needs. He is the guy that "gets things done"...he is fast, diligent, smart, and creative; since his inception into this role, the fleet is close to 100% up and running at all times.

Aaron was born in Wooster, Ohio. He moved to Florida in 1982. He was formerly in the PGA as a golf professional for 15 years, most recently as a head professional.

Tel: 941-685-8861

Captain Jacob Pohlman

Dockmaster - all locations

Captain Jacoc will train you and teach your the local waterways. Jacob is also in charge of the boats and docks iin Venice and Palm Harbor. He takes care of our valuable members by helping them and their gear on and off the boats. He helps to maintain the fleet, he cleans, troubleshoots, etc. He is extremely helpful, friendly and detail oriented with a strong knowledge of boats & the waterways.

Mike Fowler

Head Mechanic

Mike is Waves head boat mechanic. He keeps the fleet running and our members/staff happy. He is a major key to our ongoing success. When problems arise Mike does his best to get these issues resolved as quickly as possible.

Miriam Nachlas

Miriam is at our Stickney Point office. Miriam can help with reservations, questions about our club or any accounting questions you may have. Tel: 941-923-1616

John Barnes

Dockmaster - Venice

John is one of the guys in charge of the boats and docks for our Venice location. He takes care of our valuable members by helping them and their gear on and off the boats. He helps to maintain the fleet, he cleans, troubleshoots, etc. He is extremely helpful, friendly and detail oriented with a strong knowledge of boats & the waterways.

Luke Brickle

Luke is the assistant mechanic to Jake. He is very knowledgeable with boats, the area and fishing. He is a hard working ambitious young man.

Jake Lee

Jake is a dockmaster of the boats and docks at Phillippi, Boatyard and Palm Harbor. He takes care of our valuable members by helping them and their gear on and off the boats. He helps maintain the fleet, he cleans, troubleshoots, ect. He is extremely helpful, friendly and detail oriented with a strong knowledge of boats and the waterways.