Marine industry introduces teens to jobs on Treasure Coast
Intercepting smugglers at sea. Working a crane while on a barge two miles off the beach. Steering a client to the fishing catch of a lifetime. These are just some of the careers in the Treasure Coast marine industry.
Chart Your Course — an exposition organized by the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation in collaboration with St. Lucie County schools, the city of Fort Pierce and over 20 marine industry leaders — recently introduced 100 students to a variety of potential careers in the maritime trades. The Feb. 23 event encompassed the Fort Pierce Yacht Club, the Fort Pierce Riverwalk Center and the open space in between the two facilities.
The legacy of the Treasure Coast’s marine industry extends back more than 100 years. Nowadays, the local marine industry has an economic impact of $1.3 billion and accounts for 7,000 jobs in hundreds of businesses, 461 of which are in St. Lucie County, according to the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County.
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Chart Your Course was the brainchild of Diane Korbey of Fort Pierce. The longtime member and former commodore of the Yacht Club said she was inspired by a similar program she saw take shape in the Arundel School District of Annapolis, Maryland.
“I thought it was a great program showing the importance of teaching kids about job opportunities and careers they may not be considering. Working along the waterfront could help someone realize a lifelong dream,” said Korbey, 74.
I don’t know how many of you have had to deal with Korbey, but she doesn’t take “no” for an answer.
