Marine Industry Technical Training for the World!
Richard A. Difede's Page
Profile Information
- Name:
- Richard A. Difede
- Employer:
- Gold Coast Yachts
- Professional Expertise:
- Education
1975 Graduate of Rutgers University
1986-91 – various Leadership Training programs including Board Leadership and Development for NGO’s training offered by Community Systems
Related Work Experience
Founder/President and Chairman of Gold Coast Yachts Inc. (Gold Coast Yachts designs and builds custom multi-hull yachts, resort day charter vessels and patented wave piercing power catamarans in the 45- 100' range. Employs 53 VI residents).
Partnered with Vocational and Technical Education to initiate an apprenticeship training program at Central High School in 1986.
Partnered with Vocational and Technical Education to initiate Marine Tech program at the Educational Complex. Project is ongoing.
In conjunction with the above programs developed core competencies and curriculums, trained DOE instructors, mentored students and provided after school work/study and summer employment programs.
Designed Gold Coast Yachts in house training program which offers training and employment for new employees, incumbent worker training and leadership training.
Presenter to various Vocational Educational forums and seminars.
Advisor to School to Work Program facilitators
Workforce Investment Board - 2006
Chairman – State Workforce Investment Board
Chairman – Strategic Planning Committee
Member – Governor’s Committee on Economic Development and Strategy
Presenter at IBEX (International Boat Building Exhibition) Conferences
- Bio:
- 32 yr resident of St. Croix
Founder/President and Chairman of Gold Coast Yachts Inc.
Chairman – State Workforce Investment Board
Chairman – Strategic Planning Committee - WIB
Member – Governor’s Committee on Economic Development and Strategy
Other work experience
Past Director of Carribbean Yacht Brokers Assoc.
Past Director of St. Croix Chamber of Commerce Chair- Education and Training
Past Director of V.I. Manufacturers Assoc.
Past Director and Chairman of USVI Economic Alliance
Co-author of numerous health and wellness articles in a variety of publications.
Co-author of "ENERGY BREAK" continuing education curriculum for nurses and doctors.
Past Director of several tourism related companies in VI and Puerto Rico.
Presenter at IBEX (International Boat Building Exhibition) Conferences
- Location:
- St. Croix, USVI
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It is nice to see your name and photo on here now. I remember I was going to share our composite apprenticeship info with you....I still will do that, but you probably have a more sophisticated and well designed in-house program. Your in-house career ladder is a fantastic approach. I am trying to work on a general industry wide career ladder, but in reality it does make sense for each company to customize to their situation.
Your bio is very cool; you don't sit still do you?
Stacey
Rich
I was in one of the workshops you helped lead at COMITT. I'm very interested in your comments about the career ladder that you employ at Gold Coast Yachts. It strikes me that it would provide great motivation for your co-workers to strive to attain better skills. They can look at a graphic example (in black and white I take it?) and see where they're going. I suspect that there are remuneration incentives as well. Brilliant!
Do you deliver/facilitate the training yourself (in-house) or do you bring in itinerant industry experts?
Cheers ~ Chip