Instructor Profiles
Click on a name for Instructor Bio

J.J. Janssen

Zenith Maritime Academy instructor, Captain J.J. Janssen, teaches U.S. Coast Guard approved OUPV and 100 Ton Master licensing courses, as well as Assistance Towing endorsements. He holds a U.S.C.G. 100 Ton Master License, Merchant Mariner Documentation and an Assistance Towing endorsement. His boating experience ranges from whitewater paddle, oar and motor vessels to fresh and saltwater towboats, high-speed craft and luxury yachts inland of and along the coast from the Pacific Northwest to the Desert Southwest and Mexico.

Wendell Brunk
206.915.1130
CaptainWendell@zenithmaritime.com
 
Capt Brunk has skippered everything from a 6’ sailing pram to a 48’ motor yacht.  At 40 years old, he has nearly 30 years of boating experience.  Wendell has has been a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for over 10 years as a boat crew member, PATON verifier, instructor, vessel examiner, marine dealer visitor, and incident command.  Capt Brunk is currently employed by Vessel Assist as a captain of one of their Seattle-based rescue boats.

Mark Garrison

Cody, Wyoming
mark@zenithmaritime.com
307.899.1401

Capt. Mark Garrison resides in Cody, Wyoming most of the year and is a partner in a charter company and dive shop in the British Virgin Islands.  He is also a certified PADI Dive Master.  His summer months are spent running a marina and boat tour business in the Big Horn National Recreation Area near his home in Wyoming.  While he is still a practicing attorney in Wyoming, he manages to break away and run charter trips in the British Virgin Islands on his 50' sailboat.  Taking the path of a Coast Guard license instructor is a natural compliment to his love of the water and helps keep him current on the skills and regulations related to T-Boat operation and maintenance. 

P.T. Lones
303.961.3377
PTLones@zenithmaritime.com
 
Capt Lones has been a member of the the US Coast Guard Auxiliary as a boat crew member, instructor, coxswain, and flotilla commander, and communication services.

Tim McGee
Spokane, Washington

Captain Mc Gee has extensive sailing experience on inland waters plus the San Juan Islansd, Gulf Islands, and in the Caribbean Basin

Capt. Piero Melchiorri
San Diego, CA
U.S. Merchant Marine Officer
United State Coast Guard (USCG) Master 50 Tons Inland Waters
License # 1118418

Qualifications and Experience:

·        USCG approved to teach:
°        63 hours OUVP
°        24 hours Upgrade OUVP to Master 100 tons
°        4 hours Assisted Towing
°        4 hours Auxiliary Sail
·        Live a board owner of a Jenneau 49 DS  October 2006- present.
·        Live a board owner of a Jenneau 43 DS  May 2003- October 2006.
·        Owned and sailed Island Packet 32          April 1990- May 2003 .
·        Owned and sailed a variety of boats        April 1978- April 2003.

Has extensive on water and educational experience having sailed for 30 years and owned/managed medical education companies for 23 years.

Capt. Chuck Nucci, USCG Licensed Master
609.442.6661

Capt. Chuck is a licensed and USCG approved instructor for Zenith Maritime, LLC. From start to finish, Capt. Chuck will guide you step by step through your captain's license process. He has been a licensed captain since 1992 and is a Licensed Master. He's been an avid boater and fisherman most of his life and takes pride in sharing his vast knowledge with others. Capt. Chuck has also taught the USCG Captain's License prep course for 5 years and has guided many students through the process of plotting, help in understanding "Rules" , navigation and deck general. Capt. Chuck is a USSA Marine Surveyor.

Captain Patrick Pierce
USCG Licensed Master
USCG Approved Licensed Trainer
#1510832

I have extensive experience captaining vessels from Alaska to Mexico and I have worked in the charter industry, fishing industry and private yacht industry. I have spent the last few years aboard my own boat living and captaining private yachts in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and the surrounding areas. I look forward to meeting future Licensed Mariners in my classroom. Land was created to provide boats a place to visit! So release the dock lines and get underway.

Robert Reeder

Windworks Maritime Academy
(new URL and email forthcoming!)
206-784-9386

Robert served as a quartermaster (enlisted navigator) aboard US Navy ballistic missile submarines from 1983 to 1993. As a civilian mariner he has served aboard tankers, container ships, research ships, ferries, tugboats, and just about anything that floats. He was a navigation instructor for the US Navy, and has taught navigation for various commercial schools since 2000. His specialties are celestial navigation, marine weather and radar. Robert holds a license as a 200 ton Master, 1600 ton Mate, and AB Unlimited Tankerman. When he is not teaching for Zenith/Windworks, Robert sails for Victoria Clipper, a high-speed jet catamaran ferry service between Seattle WA and Victoria BC. Robert has taught for Windworks since 2004.

CAPTAIN RICHARD RODRIGUEZ

Anacortes, Washington
(360) 531-0698
CaptRodriguez@ZenithMaritime.com

USCG Licensed Master #1138612

As a professional mariner, Capt. Rodriguez logs over 150 days of sea time each year.  An instructor for the last five years, he brings real world examples to the classroom.

Primary Vessel Assist Captain, San Juan Islands, Wa.
One of three Assistance Towing Industry Trainers, nationwide
Delivery Experience, West Coast of North America
Recognized maritime speaker and presenter
Former Affiliate Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Prior service US Coast Guard Aux.
FAA Licensed Pilot

You can find his award winning BitterEnd Blog HERE.

Richard Werner
(516) 216-4410
richard@safeboatingamerica.com

Captain Werner is an approved Instructor teaching various Coast Guard Licensing Courses such as the OUPV, Master, Towing, Sail, etc.

• U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Near Coastal Master
• Founder and Director, Safe Boating America www.safeboatingamerica.com
• Member National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
• Member National Safe Boating Council
• Member National Marine Manufacturers Association
• Member U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: Instructor, Coxswain, Vessel Examiner, Marine Safety & Administrative Management Specialist
• CPR and Basic Life Support Instructor American Heart Association
• FEMA Certified in various levels of National Incident Management Command and Radiological Response
• Official Worldwide Sponsor of the United States Coast Guard MWR
• Consultant, International Jet Boat Safety Association
• Volunteer and Commercial Boating Safety Instructor in multiple states