| In 1969 Bill Lefakinis a Greek born and United States | | | | Group), Ernest Gallo, Giovanni-Yanelli of Fiat, Henry |
| bred businessman envisioned a dream, which has | | | | Ford II of Ford Motor Corporation, Roger Smith, |
| since become a reality - Greece, The Yachting Capital | | | | ex-CEO of General Motors, ex-Chairman of the Board |
| of the World. | | | | of Intercontinental Hotels Corp. Mr. Hans Sternik, |
| Bill left Greece at the early age of 13 to pursue a | | | | ex-German President Richard Fon Weizsacker, |
| better life and future for himself and his family. Bill | | | | internationally acclaimed cellist Mr. Rostropovich, Bruce |
| attended the Hackley School and The University of | | | | Springsteen, Sting, John Denver, Kenny Rogers and |
| Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business on full | | | | Charlton Heston. He has been an advisor to the |
| scholarships and served in the US Army and the | | | | Greek National Tourist Organization, Greek Ministry of |
| Greek Air Force. Having worked and traveled | | | | the Merchant Marine and member of the Greek |
| extensively as Chief Executive Officer of Filtrine | | | | Government's Advisory Council for the Development |
| International Co., Bill finally returned to Greece in 1969 | | | | of Greece, yachting marinas, and the yachting |
| where he started his own company, Valef Yachts. | | | | infrastructure. |
| At that time there were no marinas in Greece and | | | | In 1978, with the increasingly heavy air pollution in |
| only about 30 yachts, 20 of which were for private | | | | Athens and water pollution in the Hellenic Seas, Bill |
| use. There was no national concept of the wealth | | | | co-founded "PAKOE" (The Panhellenic Ecological |
| Greece had to offer to the yachting world. Its unique | | | | Research Foundation) together with a group of |
| history, civilization, hospitality, 4,000 islands and 13,000 | | | | volunteer scientists and doctors. As the Secretary |
| miles of seashore (twice that of the USA where only | | | | General of the organization, he chartered airplanes |
| 18% was yacht friendly compared to Greece's 99%) | | | | and helicopters to take hundreds of air samples by |
| made it most ideal for the world of yacht chartering. | | | | University and Government scientists (including |
| Bill, after realizing the immense potential of Greek | | | | reporters abroad) to analyze the contents for air |
| yachting, went to work applying his know-how taken | | | | pollution around the Acropolis, Athens as well had |
| from his Greek and American business exposure. He | | | | several Valef Yachts with the same groups to test |
| convinced four of his friends to let him charter their | | | | for water pollution in the seas. All evidence was |
| yachts and after almost forty years of constant | | | | confirmed by Government scientific laboratories and |
| work, marketing, public relations, pressure to the | | | | independent research centers. The high extent of |
| various Greek Governments to promote this unique | | | | pollution was widely published with articles, photos to |
| tourist feature that is second to NONE, Bill's | | | | all the media as well as full reports to the Greek |
| dedication finally paid off. Today, Greece has over | | | | Authorities including the President, Prime Minister and |
| 20,000 yachts for charter and for private use, and | | | | all parliamentary members. As a matter of fact, |
| over 50 marinas. Valef Yachts became a successful | | | | pollution was the main subject for the next year's |
| and trusted company with offices in the states and | | | | election. Now the Greek Seas are the cleanest in |
| in Greece. Bill began his company and single-handedly | | | | Europe according to the findings of the European |
| created a vision and a revolution in the yachting | | | | Union and the air pollution has dropped dramatically, |
| world in Greece with his motto since 1969 being, | | | | the Parthenon is protected and many laws have |
| "Discover The Yachting World of Greece." | | | | been made to protect the environment. |
| To accomplish this, together with Panos Tsafos, Bill | | | | Bill and Kathy, his wife of 27 years; run the North |
| founded and presided over The Professional Yacht | | | | American Headquarters of Valef Yachts and Bill |
| Owners Association, became Secretary General of | | | | travels frequently to the Greek headquarters always |
| the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association and | | | | keeping his finger on the pulse of the market. Kathy |
| Consultants Association, and organized the | | | | and Bill met in 1978 while she was traveling in Greece. |
| Association of Greek Yacht Crews in order to | | | | Within months they were married and moved to |
| coordinate efforts to improve yacht chartering in | | | | Greece where they settled and began working |
| Greece. He also started a magazine called "Sea and | | | | together. Kathy and Bill realized in 1981 the need to |
| Yachting" to enlighten Greeks about the beauty of | | | | establish a USA North and South American |
| their islands, their potential as well as the importance | | | | Headquarters for more direct contact and more |
| of participating in seawater sports. He constantly | | | | efficient response and information for potential |
| wrote caustic articles addressed to the Greek | | | | clients. Running two offices half way around the |
| Government regarding their apathy about improving | | | | world from each other keep Kathy and Bill quite busy. |
| conditions and laws to govern properly professional | | | | In 1986 Bill, as President of Valef Yachts and |
| yachting in Greece. Bill also became co-publisher of | | | | President of the Yacht Owners Association, invited |
| the English Daily Newspaper "Athens Mirror," in 1971, | | | | 200 American yacht brokers on 20 yachts to |
| became a member of the Foreign Press Association, | | | | "Discover the Yachting World of Greece." They went |
| The Greek Travel Agents Association, Hellenic | | | | to many islands where mayors of the islands greeted |
| American Chamber of Commerce, Greek Ship | | | | all with parties and festivities and the famous Greek |
| owner's Club and many others. | | | | Easter was celebrated with the traditional roasted |
| In his efforts to promote Greece internationally, Bill | | | | lamb on the fire and great fun was had by all. |
| brought the Miss Universe Contest to Greece in 1973 | | | | Such hard work leads to an appreciation and |
| (it was the first time they held the competition | | | | understanding of a proper vacation. This has given |
| overseas); movies James Bond in 1980 & 1983 | | | | them further insight into the development of the |
| and The Greek Tycoon; TV series The Love Boat in | | | | ultimate holiday vacation that caters that caters to |
| 1980, Heart to Heart, The Life Styles of the Rich and | | | | the clients every desire. The personal touch and |
| Famous with Robin Leach, The Evening Magazine | | | | hands on approach offered by the yacht owners |
| (which featured Greece for one entire week), The | | | | make chartering a luxury yacht with Valef Yachts a |
| Arthur Frommer Show, Eyes on LA, Canadian and | | | | true pleasure. |
| Japanese Government television; magazines Playboy | | | | Bill and Kathy's two daughters, Alexandra and |
| and Penthouse, Conde Nast's "The Traveler" and | | | | Kassandra, have spent numerous summers working in |
| dozens of other international TV shows, movies and | | | | the yachting business, learning the ropes from the |
| magazines continuing to the present. Internationally | | | | ground up. Having been brought up in both countries |
| noted personalities were brought to Greece by Bill to | | | | spending quality time in Europe and cruising the |
| promote yachting. To name a few, Hugh Hefner and | | | | Aegean, they have a great head start in knowing |
| daughter Christina, Bob Cuccione, John and Bo Derek, | | | | Greece, what yachting is all about, and what the |
| John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, Christina Onassis, Baron | | | | client ultimately desires. Alexandra and Kassandra |
| Hans Heinrich von Thyssen, Patricia Gucci - fashion | | | | both passionately work where Valef Yachts has its |
| designer, | | | | roots; and continue to infuse fresh energy into their |
| Claude Arpels - Van Cleef and Arpels jewellers, | | | | family business and one of the first names in Greek |
| Garavani Valentino - fashion designer, Max Fisher, | | | | Yachting. |
| John Clinton (Chairman of Dunhill and Rothman | | | | |