Meet Our Team

Newport Beach Yacht Sales, Inc. holds a Yacht and Ship Broker License issued by the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways. We are also members of the California Yacht Brokers Association.  Our sales professionals are licensed by the State of California and hold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.  Our team has a love and passion for boating, with decades of experience to help you.

Leadership

Chris Jester

Chris Jester

President and CEO
Email Chris

As Founder and President of Newport Beach Yacht Sales, Chris is a seasoned leader with a rich background of over 20 years working in the maritime industry. Further solidifying his position as a key player in the industry, Chris also serves as the President and CEO of sister companies Newport Beach Sailing Charters, Newport Beach Sailing School, and SailTime/PowerTime Orange County. Chris earned his MBA from UC Irvine and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego. Growing up in Orange County, he developed a passion for sailing during his teenage years, laying the foundation for a successful career in the marine world. Outside of his professional commitments, Chris is a devoted family man, married with two children, and finds joy in sharing his love for sailing, skiing, and exploring travel destinations with his family.

Tom Collins

Tom Collins

Vice President

Meet Tom, an accomplished professional holding pivotal roles as the Vice President for Newport Beach Yacht Sales, Newport Beach Sailing Charters, Newport Beach Sailing School, and SailTime/PowerTime Orange County. A proud graduate of Carroll College in Helena, MT, Tom holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.  With an impressive resume, Tom’s functional expertise is in sales, operations and executive level management.  Tom’s deep-seated love for sailing took root during his childhood in Orange County and continued through adulthood as a member of the Channel Cruising Club.  Having logged countless hours on the water, Tom’s seamanship and extensive boating knowledge are evident. Beyond the helm, Tom enjoys attending concerts and traveling with his wife and family.

Angele Jester

Angele Jester

Chief Operations Officer

As Chief Operations Officer for Newport Beach Yacht Sales, Angele has over 20 years of work experience in the maritime industry. Throughout her tenure, she has held key roles in Human Resources, Operations, Accounting, Marketing, and Public Relations. Angele earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of San Diego and her Master’s degree in Communication from San Diego State University. The eldest of an entrepreneurial  family, Angele was always taught to work hard and never give up her dreams. Her passion for her work stems from her desire to make the world a better place for her clients and employees. Angele’s hobbies include hiking, cooking, and traveling to the far corners of the world with her husband and two children.

Laura Vujnovich photo

Laura Vujnovich

Office Manager

Laura serves as Office Manager at Newport Beach Yacht Sales, overseeing day-to-day operations across the office. With over seven years of office management experience, Laura’s path took her from Registered Dental Assistant to dental office manager before she landed in the maritime world—a shift she couldn’t be happier about.
She brings a steady, organized hand to everything behind the scenes, keeping the team running smoothly so the rest of us can focus on our clients. Outside of work, you’ll find her tending to her chickens and spending time with her family.

Sales

Derek Peters photo

Derek Peters

Yacht Broker
EMAIL DEREK

Derek serves as a Yacht Broker at Newport Beach Yacht Sales, guiding clients from first-time dreamers to seasoned mariners through every stage of ownership. A former Orange County lifeguard and firefighter, Derek later turned his lifelong love of the ocean into a life at sea, cruising the world with his wife and nine children aboard a Lagoon 450F and later a Fountaine Pajot 60. As chief technician on both vessels, he personally designed, installed, and maintained every onboard system, from solar and electrical to desalination and rigging.
Greg Gorczcya

Greg Gorczcya

Yacht Broker
EMAIL GREG

Greg serves as a Yacht Broker at Newport Beach Yacht Sales, and brings a lifetime on the water to every client he works with. A US Coast Guard licensed captain and ASA instructor, Greg grew up in Poland, where he first learned to sail with the Sea Scouts after falling in love with stories of Caribbean pirates. He moved to Southern California in 2001 and has been sailing local waters ever since — with a particular love for taking clients and students out to Catalina and the Channel Islands.
Whether he’s helping a buyer find the right yacht or teaching a new sailor the ropes, Greg’s goal is the same: to pass along the skills, confidence, and joy of a life at sea. Off the water, he’s a USPTA-certified tennis professional and a devoted soccer fan.

Marketing & Support

Emily LeMaster

Emily LeMaster

Marketing Director
EMAIL EMILY

Emily leads our Marketing Department here at Newport Beach Yacht Sales… But it doesn’t stop there—she also manages all marketing efforts for our five sister companies. With over five years in the marine industry and three years managing the NBYS brand, she’s the founder of LeMaster & Co., a boutique digital marketing agency, and the person behind the listings, campaigns, and stories that connect buyers with the right boat.
You may already know her from her videos circulating the harbor—Emily produces most of the content you see across the family of brands. When she’s not on camera or behind it, she’s usually with her family, somewhere near the water.

Fleet Management

Mike Springer

Mike Springer

Fleet Management

Mike serves as Fleet Manager at Newport Beach Yacht Sales, where he oversees the sales fleet alongside the 25+ yachts in the SailTime | PowerTime Newport Beach fleet. Mike joined the team two years ago, bringing years of fleet management experience from Catalina Island — where he still calls home.
Having spent most of his life close to or on the water, he approaches every vessel with the eye of someone who knows a boat is only as good as the care behind it. When he’s not managing the fleet, he’s at home with his wife, their little one, and the family puppy.