Kim Carpenter has been the yacht sales manager for the Jacksonville Princess, which is docked behind the Hilton on the Southbank, since October 2001.
WHAT IS THE JACKSONVILLE PRINCESS?
Measuring 80 feet, the Princess is a skipper liner yacht that is rented for business, social and private functions. The luxury ship sails the St. Johns River, but has ventured to St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island.
WHAT IS HER ROLE AS YACHT SALES MANAGER?
“I solicit for corporate and private social events. We also do public cruises based around the private charters. We put out a calendar once a month of when the ship is available for dinner and brunch cruises. We do live jazz cruises, too.”
HER POTENTIAL CLIENTS?
“I get leads from the newspaper in the daily business reviews, from bridal fairs, trade shows, engagement announcements. We advertise in the Wedding and Reception Magazine and with the Times-Union. Once people see the yacht, I’m confident they’ll book.”
HER ROOTS
Carpenter grew up in Southern California, but was transplanted to Florida when her father accepted a job transfer. He eventually quit his job to move back to California. Later, he was asked to be director of the Kennedy Space Center launch pad. He and his daughter packed their bags and headed East once again.
SONG BIRD
For 20 years, Carpenter sang and strummed an acoustic guitar to easy listening tunes. She even made entertaining her full-time profession for a few years. She started at restaurants and clubs in Sacramento, Calif. and continued at the Breakers Hotel in West Palm Beach. Show business is a tough profession, so she took a day job at Breakers West Country Club. That was 12 years ago. “I haven’t sung since I moved up here in 1999. Catering takes up a lot of your evenings. I am looking to get back into singing a few times a month.”
WHAT WAS HER
BRIGHTEST MOMENT?
“I sang with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra as back-up in front of 3,600 people.”
WHAT BROUGHT HER TO THE FIRST COAST?
Cooler weather. She applied for a job with The Chart House and was hired. A little over a year later, she joined the Jacksonville Princess.
EDUCATION
Brevard Community College is where Carpenter was instructed in voice. She attended the University of California, Sacramento to learn about business communications but eventually completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida, another town where she performed behind the microphone.
WHAT IS REWARDING ABOUT HER JOB?
“Working with special events and putting together something memorable, you touch people.”
HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
“To create that experience. It’s challenging, but it can also be fun in a let’s-see-what-we-can-do kind of way.”
WHY STICK WITH SALES?
“I knew I always wanted to do sales because I enjoy working with people. Singing has a lot of sales in it: you’re selling yourself when you’re on stage, working with an agent or getting business. I enjoy the challenge of walking into a corporation and walking out with a contract. You hear a lot of no’s but you live for the yes.”
AFFILIATION?
Carpenter is a member of the Professional Women’s Network and the South Council of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.
HOW HAS THE ECONOMY AFFECTED BUSINESS?
“Business has been surprisingly good. Corporate events may be down a little due to cutbacks but people are still getting married and having social events.”
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Carpenter enjoys jogging, traveling to Colorado, dining on Mexican food and visiting with family. She lives on the Southside.
— by Monica Chamness