Grasonville 410.827.0070
Fred Azar
fred@agyg.com
Wilfred (Fred) T. Azar, III, married to Melanie for 26 years, has two boys, Brian age 21 and Stephen age 19. Lives on the eastern shore of Maryland since 1986 where he enjoys the scenery and serenity of the Wye River. Fred was born in Grasonville in 1961 and grew up in Sarasota, Florida where he went to school and began his career in law enforcement, then moved into the firefighter/paramedic field. In 1986 Fred was recruited by his grandfather to return to Maryland to learn the family business (commercial real estate development) and eventually run it for him.
In 1994 Fred became President and CEO of Empire Corporation while his grandfather remained on as Chairman of the Board. The experience Fred gained over the years of the booming mid to late eighties followed by the credit crunch/recession of the early to mid nineties gave him a broad education in life and his business. In 1999 Fred successfully bought out his grandfather's interest in the company and remains the President and CEO of this twenty five million plus dollar company today.
During his late teen years Fred enjoyed the water and found much joy in boating, fishing and diving. In 1986 Fred bought his first large boat, a thirty three foot Egg Harbor, followed in 1989 by the purchase of a thirty six foot Hatteras and then a forty three foot Hatteras in 1994. Fred's grandfather has owned and operated large motor yachts most of his adult life and has been instrumental in helping Fred balance business with pleasure with his desire to enjoy boating.
In 2003 Fred became a member of Grasonville Boat Sales, LLC which was the exclusive dealer of Edgewater Power Boats, Sailfish and Everglades Boats. Fred was able to work in the sales and business promotion areas of the business. In the summer of 2004 it was determined that Grasonville Boat Sales was able to grow with the addition of Hakan Bolel who brought the exclusive import agreement of Elling Yachts from the Netherlands. Soon thereafter Fred and Hakan were able to obtain the exclusive dealer rights for Santa Cruz Yachts, a thirty year old internationally known sailboat builder that now has announced the introduction of their new 41 foot power boat. This new boat was designed to compete with the likes of the Hinckley Picnic Boat.
As a result of the differences in the sales and financing techniques of small power boats and large dollar yachts, it was determined to split the operations of the company in the third quarter of 2004. Subsequently , Yacht Sales of Grasonville, LLC was created, which purchased the yacht division assets of Grasonville Boat Sales, LLC and was owned by Hakena Bolel, Fred and his brother Shannon. In late 2005, it became evident that the Yacht Sales Company needed to expand its line(s) and geographical sales presence. After meeting several times with the principals of Outer Reef Yachts and Molokai Strait Yachts, who had offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, we collectively formed American Global Yacht Group (AGYG) in February of 2006. AGYG is now known as the Builder for Molokai Strait Expedition Yachts, Reef Runner Yachts, and the North American representative of Vripack designed Trawlers, Elling Yachts and Santa Cruz Yachts.
Today Fred remains active in the day to day operations of Empire Corporation and devotes a significant amount of time each day to the business and financial operations of AGYG. Fred has served on many community Boards, including 13 years on the Board of North Arundel Hospital, North Arundel Hospital Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital. Fred served on the Board of Directors of Grasonville National Bank from 1992 to 1997. In 1999 Fred was one of twelve founding Directors and continues today as a member of the Board of Directors of Commerce First Bank (NASDAQ -CMFB) as well as an active member of the Bank's Loan Committee.
In 1994 Fred became President and CEO of Empire Corporation while his grandfather remained on as Chairman of the Board. The experience Fred gained over the years of the booming mid to late eighties followed by the credit crunch/recession of the early to mid nineties gave him a broad education in life and his business. In 1999 Fred successfully bought out his grandfather's interest in the company and remains the President and CEO of this twenty five million plus dollar company today.
During his late teen years Fred enjoyed the water and found much joy in boating, fishing and diving. In 1986 Fred bought his first large boat, a thirty three foot Egg Harbor, followed in 1989 by the purchase of a thirty six foot Hatteras and then a forty three foot Hatteras in 1994. Fred's grandfather has owned and operated large motor yachts most of his adult life and has been instrumental in helping Fred balance business with pleasure with his desire to enjoy boating.
In 2003 Fred became a member of Grasonville Boat Sales, LLC which was the exclusive dealer of Edgewater Power Boats, Sailfish and Everglades Boats. Fred was able to work in the sales and business promotion areas of the business. In the summer of 2004 it was determined that Grasonville Boat Sales was able to grow with the addition of Hakan Bolel who brought the exclusive import agreement of Elling Yachts from the Netherlands. Soon thereafter Fred and Hakan were able to obtain the exclusive dealer rights for Santa Cruz Yachts, a thirty year old internationally known sailboat builder that now has announced the introduction of their new 41 foot power boat. This new boat was designed to compete with the likes of the Hinckley Picnic Boat.
As a result of the differences in the sales and financing techniques of small power boats and large dollar yachts, it was determined to split the operations of the company in the third quarter of 2004. Subsequently , Yacht Sales of Grasonville, LLC was created, which purchased the yacht division assets of Grasonville Boat Sales, LLC and was owned by Hakena Bolel, Fred and his brother Shannon. In late 2005, it became evident that the Yacht Sales Company needed to expand its line(s) and geographical sales presence. After meeting several times with the principals of Outer Reef Yachts and Molokai Strait Yachts, who had offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, we collectively formed American Global Yacht Group (AGYG) in February of 2006. AGYG is now known as the Builder for Molokai Strait Expedition Yachts, Reef Runner Yachts, and the North American representative of Vripack designed Trawlers, Elling Yachts and Santa Cruz Yachts.
Today Fred remains active in the day to day operations of Empire Corporation and devotes a significant amount of time each day to the business and financial operations of AGYG. Fred has served on many community Boards, including 13 years on the Board of North Arundel Hospital, North Arundel Hospital Foundation and Chairman of the Board of Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital. Fred served on the Board of Directors of Grasonville National Bank from 1992 to 1997. In 1999 Fred was one of twelve founding Directors and continues today as a member of the Board of Directors of Commerce First Bank (NASDAQ -CMFB) as well as an active member of the Bank's Loan Committee.