PRO VALOR CHARTERS LTD.

JIM GULCZYNSKI, an owner of Pro Valor Charters, hails from West Allis, Wisconsin.  He grew up speed skating and bike racing and spent his summers at a family cottage which his father proudly built for his 12 kids.  After his position as the First Alternate on the US Olympic team in 1976, he decided to pursue other sports.  He decided to give bike racing some time and experienced quite a bit of success in that area as well.  He managed West Allis Bike Shop for 20 years b4 moving over to the Pettit National Ice Center in West Allis, Wisconsin.  The Pettit proved to be a comfortable "home" due to his lifetime of skating.  After 17 years in ice management and working for a non-profit facility, he chose to follow his true love in life - sailing!

Ice management taught him a great appreciation for refrigeration and he knows good ice too (though it melts too fast down here).  He is skilled at engine repairs and knows a bit about bit electricity as well. He seems to dabble successfully with all kinds of repairs (a great skill in the charter boat industry).  Jim runs most aspects of PVC and is found 90% of the time out on one of our two docks.  He defers to Egbert, his right hand man, on a regular basis.  They are a great team!

CECILIA DONEGAN, an owner of Pro Valor Charters, and wife of Jim, grew up in West Allis, Wisconsin as well.  She & Jim married in County Donegal, Ireland, in the wee bit of a town called Carrick/Teelin on the North Atlantic.  They said their "wee" vows in St. Columba's in Carrick, County Donegal, where Cecilia's great grandparents married and later baptized and raised their children in.

She worked 20 years at Foley & Lardner law firm, the 2nd oldest law firm in the United States, as a legal secretary for 20 years (the majority of her years spent assisting a patent litigator).  She returned to college at the age of 35 working full time at the law firm and attending college full time and finished college with honors in four years!  Just about then, it was time to move onward to the BVI ... and here we are today!

Her interests include volleyball (coaching and playing women's and co-ed), along with bike riding and spending time with her nieces and nephews.  Her love of the color green leads most to understand why they chose to marry in IRELAND.

Cecilia manages the administrative side of PVC and is found most often in the office (thus she doesn't have much of a tan to speak of) yet sports enough freckles for a "wee bit" of color.  While she loves to head out for a sail, she brings little mechanical knowledge to the business -- though she's learned a ton listening to the guys ... and charter guests too. 

Jim & Cecilia are both from large families -- Jim-12 kids and Cecilia-10 kids.  Thus, when vacation presents itself, they return home to connect with as many siblings as possible.

EGBERT CLARKE, from Guyana, joined PVC in December 2007.  We are thrilled to have him with us.  His skills are quite varied offering a strong electrical background.  He and Jim are "a match made in Paradise."  They certainly share maintenance ideas, repairs and "how tos" off of each other on a daily basis.  Egbert has gone to school continuously all his life and you'll know that when you speak with him.  Thus, his knowledge base is strong and vast.  We are pleased to have enticed Egbert to come to PVC from Sunsail where he worked for 13 years managing the parts department.  He is a true blessing to PVC whom we wouldn't want to be without.

At the present we're looking to add an assistant dock hand for Jim and Egbert.

JANA BARRY, from Dominica, assists Cecilia in the office in anything she's asked to do as charter guests come and go.  She fills in the gaps answering the phones, packing the linens for each charter prep, welcoming guests, putting the final touches on the boats prior to guest arrivals, cleaning off the yachts at charter end, keeping the office organized, tending to our merchandise and inventory, and on and on her tasks go.  We're pleased to have Jana with us.

Starting with eight charter boats in 2005 and expanding to 18 for the fall 2010-winter/spring/summer 2011 season, we have every reason to be proud owners of PVC.  We also aren't looking for something to keep us busy very often as there is never a dull moment welcome guests from around the world!

We promise to carry our Midwest Worth Ethic into the business for years to come -- all in hopes of meeting your every charter need.

Come down for a sail with us soon!