KING KAYE
8/29/2007 11:58:20 AM by Sandy Lindsey
Kaye Pearson is the man responsible for the global phenomenon known as the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. What you may not know is that he has just revitalized the venerable Chub Cay.
From waterskiing as a small child to taking a local boat show and nurturing it into the world’s largest marine event, to possessing an unceasing passion for the water that has led to the revitalization of Chub Cay, Kaye Pearson has lived most of his life on, in and around the water.
Pearson arrived with his family in Miami at age five. “I started waterskiing then,” he says. “I’ve always liked being near the water.” Later, in 1976, Pearson took over the helm of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. “The first professionally produced show was radically different,” Pearson recalls. “We expanded it, changed the atmosphere and style. We had about 100 boats in the water and another 100 on land, and nearly 12,000 people showed up.” Far from satisfied with these numbers, he researched boat shows throughout the world, contacted manufacturers and advertised heavily. The show, under Pearson’s guidance grew to draw, on average, 120,000 visitors a year and host 1,700 boats and almost 1,400 exhibitors, with an economic impact of $550 million in South Florida annually.
Perhaps the most adventurous year was after Hurricane Wilma blew through South Florida, tearing up show tents and leaving many residents and businesses without power. Nevertheless, one week later, through the ceaseless effort of Pearson and his team, the show did go on, bringing a welcome diversion to the hurricane’s gloomy aftermath.
Pearson told exhibitors, “This is not New Orleans or Mississippi, and we’re not standing in five feet of water. The city is recovering.’’ Only 60 of the show’s 1,400 exhibitors were unable to attend. “‘It was still a huge show,’’ says Pearson. “You could not notice any real difference.’’
Since selling Yachting Promotions, Inc., which produces the boat show, to Skip Zimbalist, III, and his Active Interest Media, Pearson has brought his significant real estate experience to the Bahamas with the Chub Cay renaissance. And like everything else he touches, it’s quickly morphing into a world-class success.
“The project is a 1,000-acre private island development with two- to five-bedroom villas and a 110-slip marina, with a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse,” he explains. “This is a very exciting project in re-development of an existing resort and has been a favorite destination for many people for over 40 years,” says Pearson, adding that the marina is truly the heart and soul of Chub Cay where sportfishermen and yachtsmen alike from around the world have gathered and socialized for decades. “We’ve taken great care in preserving the warm and welcoming atmosphere, while significantly upgrading the quality and capacity.”
Pearson is also involved in consulting, designing and managing marinas for other projects in the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Panama, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and the U.S.
So how exactly does this marine dynamo relax? By yachting, of course. “I relax spending time on my boat and in Chub with my family,” he says. “We do fish quite a bit. I currently own a 68 Hatteras sportfish, a 30-foot Intrepid and a 15-foot bonefish skiff custom-made in Bimini by Ansil Saunders.”