Expertise:
Her expertise is in managing operations.
Major Product/SVS:
Fishing Adventures, Bed and Breakfast
Favorite Business Publication:
The Wall Street Journal
Hobbies/Sports:
Fishing, Photographing, Coin Collecting
Education Degrees:
Coursework, The University of Texas, El Paso; High School Education
Highlight of career?:
Receiving my USCG 1600 ton Masters License.
Number Of Years In Current Position:
34
How Did They Get Involved In Profession:
When I first came to Homer, the only job I could find was in the fisheries. It was either cannery work, or deckhanding on fishing boats. I got lucky and landed a job on a salmon gillnetter in Cook Inlet, some of the roughest waters around. In the fall I cooked on a king crab vessel out of Kodiak. I spent the whole summer and fall seasick, but I loved every minute of it. I saw right away that I wanted to be a skipper, not a deckhand, so that winter I studied for my six pack license. The next spring with license in hand I applied for a captain’s position, and because I was the only licensee around, I got the job. I ran a 32-foot charter fishing boat for halibut fishing carrying six passengers. The king crab boat was big, so the next year I was to sit for my 100 ton, and the following summer I ran a 54 foot vessel with 24 passengers and two deckhands. This position led to bigger and better jobs on a variety of ships -- the best being the NOAA ship Rainier, a 224-foot hydrographic survey ship. On this vessel, we surveyed Alaska and Hawaii, making charts for navigation in areas that needed new soundings, or that had never been charted at all. I spent four years on this vessel, beginning as an Able Bodied Seaman, to Seaman Surveyor, and finally to Quarter Master. When I quit, I had enough time to sit for my USCG 1600 ton. This was the highlight of my career, until I came home to Homer, Alaska and bought my own commercial fishing boat the Arch Cape.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Hays owns the Alaska Experience Bed and Breakfast Resort in Homer, AK and also the Memory Maker, a Charter Fishing Boat for Salmon and Halibut fishing daily and Eco Tours in the evenings. She formerly owned Alaska Natural Seafoods, a commercial fishing operation for 19 years and also involved with Abundance Life Pet Food, a holistic pet food corporation. She is also a realtor for over 25 years.
Education Certifications:
Certified Nursing Assistant, State of Alaska
Awards/Honors:
Horsemanship Award; Fishing Tournament Award