Neptune Group Yachting adds crew-placement division
Neptune Group Yachting, a full-service luxury yacht charter agency, is opening Neptune Crew, a division offering professional yacht crew placement services.
Julia Haines-LaPenta was named director of crew placement for Neptune Crew, according to the company.
"Over the years we have received dozens of requests from yacht owners and captains asking us to help them find top-notch crewmembers who not only have the requisite skills and certifications, but also excel at the all-important hospitality side of yachting," Neptune Group Yachting president DJ Parker said in a statement.
"With Julia Haines-LaPenta, a highly experienced superyacht chief stew, at the helm, Neptune Crew now lets us offer dedicated crew placement services — in addition to charter marketing, management, consulting and brokerage services — to the owners and captains of yachts in our NGY Charter Fleet, as well as other clients. Neptune Crew also serves as a natural bridge between Neptune Group Yachting's luxury yacht vacations agency and our Neptune Group crew accommodations business."
Haines-LaPenta began her career in the yachting industry in 2006 as third stewardess on the 151-foot Zaza (ex-Fortunate Sun). From there, she served as second stewardess on the 170-foot Feadship Battered Bull and as chief stewardess on the 164-foot Delta Happy Days. In 2011, Haines-LaPenta joined a 26-member crew as second stewardess on the 284-foot Cakewalk.
"Working as part of the crew on these large yachts has given me firsthand experience in what it takes to be a great yacht crew member and charter vacation host," Haines-LaPenta said in a statement. "With Neptune Crew I now have the opportunity to put that experience to work for our clients."
