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Maria Marsh
Director of Operations, Park West Florida
As Director of Operations for Park West® Florida, Maria Marsh serves as the main point of contact for the organization's fine art auctions aboard luxury cruise ships, ensuring that its cruise line partners and auctioneers receive the ultimate level of service and support. Marsh's responsibilities include providing key communications to senior staff on all matters regarding the cruise ship art auctions; building and maintaining relationships with cruise line management; reinforcing compliance policies and procedures; liaising with the logistics department to maintain the successful shipments of artwork to and from the ships; supervising the training, support and travel arrangements of onboard auctioneers; and overseeing the programming and promotions for the auctions.
Marsh began her career with Park West® as the company's first Fleet Manager in 2001. As Fleet Manager, Marsh was responsible for overseeing the operation of the art program onboard cruise ships, and served as the primary liaison between the cruise line executives and Park West®. Marsh was promoted to the role of Director of Operations in 2006.
Marsh became interested in joining the cruise industry at a very early age. Her grandfather was the first port agent for Holland America in Havana, Cuba, and the stories he shared with his granddaughter piqued her interest in the business. Marsh grew up with a love of the ocean, and after embarking on her first cruise at age 13, she knew her life's work would involve the sea.
She first began her career in the cruise industry while studying marketing and international business at Florida International University, as a part-time air and sea representative for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, greeting guests as they arrived at the air and seaports to board their ships. She then served as Personnel Manager for Norwegian Cruise Line, before joining Park West®.
Marsh thrives on the incredible dynamism and exciting pace of the cruise industry, the fastest growing segment of the rapidly expanding travel industry. Marsh also enjoys the unique dichotomy that comes with being part of a large, family-owned business where everyone is considered a member of the family; she enjoys the excitement and challenges that comes with working as part of a large company, as well as the nurturing, personal interest that comes with being a member of a tight-knit family business.
Outside of her work, Marsh enjoys traveling with her husband, who served as an officer on cruise ships for 26 years, and their three-year-old son. She has traveled aboard nearly 70 cruises to date. She also enjoys collecting art, a passion she acquired through her work with Park West®.
