WPBT would like to thank the following sponsors for their support:

THE FLORIDA HUMANITIES COUNCIL (visit the site)
Established in 1973 as a private non-profit organization, FHC is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. FHC uses the disciplines of the humanities to develop public programs and resources that explore history, literary and artistic traditions, cultural values and ethics.

FHC programs include: a grants program, a speakers bureau, the Florida Center for Teachers, and FORUM, a statewide magazine of Florida culture. FHC programs are designed to bring humanities scholars and scholarship to the public to provoke thoughtful discussion and critical thinking on a wide array of topics of interest to Floridians.

MERRILL-STEVENS (visit the site)
Merrill-Stevens is Florida’s oldest continuously operating yacht services company and has maintained a strong commitment to providing one of the finest and most complete yacht repair and renovation facilities in the world. Founded in Jacksonville by James Gilman Merrill in 1866, Merrill-Stevens evolved from a blacksmith shop to the largest Atlantic shipyard south of Norfolk, Va., during World War II.

Incorporated in 1885 by James Eugene Merrill, the family-owned business opened a yacht repair facility on the Miami River in 1923. Following their business success in World War II, Merrill-Stevens opened a yacht repair and brokerage office at Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove, Florida, in 1949. In 1990, the company consolidated its operation at the Miami River facility where it still operates today. In December 2004, Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Co. was acquired by Miami business and civic leaders Hugh A. Westbrook and Carole Shields Westbrook.

Significant plans are moving forward to upgrade and expand the Merrill-Stevens boat yard to a state-of-the-art facility with 2 acres of undercover facilities and a 2,000 ton lift (accommodating up to 250’) on the north side of the Miami River.

In June 2005, Merrill-Stevens added additional yacht services to its already impressive portfolio. These services include fleet management, charter, yacht sales and crew placement. For more details, contact our office 305.324.5211 or www.merrillstevens.com

In August 2005, Merrill-Stevens completed its acquisition of the assets of Ft. Lauderdale based Bradford Yacht Sales. Established in 1963, Bradford Yacht Sales, recognized as a major yacht broker in the industry, has represented thousands of buyers and sellers in brokerage, new boat and charter transactions.

In February 2006, Merrill-Stevens completed its acquisition of Koch Newton & Partners, a full service charter and sales brokerage company with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and Singapore. This addition to the Merrill-Stevens family adds depth to its sales and charter divisions. Koch Newton & Partners was established in 1990 and since that time has earned a superior reputation among the most prominent yacht brokerage companies worldwide as specialists in quality large motor and sailing yachts.

In 2007, Miami-Dade County Commission unanimously approved an agreement for adjacent land to expand and modernize the Miami River yacht repair facility.  Also, Merrill-Stevens opens the Latin American market by establishing an office in Mexico City, Mexico.  Plans for further expansion in the Caribbean are advancing with announcements expected later this year.