Board of Directors

Captain Dan Peretz is a native Floridian, originally from Tampa, who relocated to St. Pete Beach in 1971. Dan truly loved the unspoiled beauty of St Pete Beach, and in 1972 he began chartering sailboats off the beach near the Don Cesar Resort. As the area grew so did Dan’s sailing charters. In 1986, he opened Dolphin Landings Charter Boat Center, centrally located on St. Pete Beach, providing over 50 charter vessels in the Tampa Bay Area. Dan has sailed extensively throughout his life. One of Dan’s most memorable highlights was when he skippered his yacht in the 1992 America 500, a seven-month cruise with ports of call in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Azores islands, Gibraltar, Africa, and Spain. Dan is actively involved with multiple community, state, and national associations. He is a past president of the Tall Ship Society and of Skal International Tampa Bay, where he currently serves on the board of directors. In 2017 he created the 501 (c) (3) non-profit S.O.S., catering to seriously health-challenged individuals and their families, taking them sailing on the calm waters of our bays.

Nina is a retired Pinellas County educator and a 40-year resident of St. Pete Beach. Nina travels the world, immersing herself in other cultures. She is also an avid native plant gardener. Nina’s husband Art was a lifelong sailor who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2010. Captain Dan and Nina began taking Art and his family and friends sailing after Art’s surgery. They discovered, when Art was at the helm, that he relished this chance to feel like himself again, enjoying sailing and life as he had before. Nina and Art had enjoyed a 40-year friendship with Captain Dan. That friendship and these initial trips are what led to the idea of S.O.S., inspiring Captain Dan to offer this opportunity to others and inspiring Nina to serve on the board.

From western Pennsylvania, Terry earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Cleveland State University. After graduation, he worked for General Motors. When the Army drafted him, he was stationed at Arlington National Cemetery. Terry moved to St. Pete Beach in early 1970 where he learned how to sail and become a “transplant with sand in his flip-flops.” He has owned and refurbished commercial properties and several businesses since 1978. Terry’s expertise and resourcefulness in business development make him a key asset to the S.O.S. Board of Directors.

Rick enjoyed growing up in different areas of the country, but it was his move to Florida in 1989 that presented him with unforgettable surroundings he had not yet experienced–the gulf waters and subtropical environment. Life took Rick in many directions and eventually drew him back to the Tampa Bay area, where a friend invited him to be a guest of S.O.S. Rick was hooked on sailing. He signed up for classes and learned to sail small boats on the coastal waters. Sailing led him back to Dolphin Landings Charter, where he began volunteer crewing with S.O.S. Rick’s passion for sailing and his caring personality make working with S.O.S. an obvious choice. Serving as a board member presents a welcome challenge and a worthy cause that allows Rick to continue to help more people and fulfill his newfound passion for sailing. Rick brings a lengthy and versatile technical and mechanical background, which is a welcome addition to S.O.S.

Helen may be a new resident of St. Pete Beach, but she’s no stranger, as her family moved here over 40 years ago. A native New Yorker, Helen recently retired from a 40-year career in sales management in the media and communications industry, where she focused on network, cable television, and digital advertising sales. Helen began her career at Benton & Bowles in advertising media and quickly moved on to developing and positioning cable networks, such as Lifetime Television and the Food Network. She was on the forefront of the digital sales industry, paving the way with 247 Real Media and Xaxis Communication. Helen is an avid reader and loves to cook. She has made St. Pete Beach her home and is looking forward to planting new roots in Florida.
Helen’s sister Teddi was one of the first friends taken sailing as a reprieve from her illness. These special trips are what inspired Helen to serve on the board years later when S.O.S. was formed.

A resident of Gulfport, Bill was born and raised on a New England farm in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts. Bill attended Boston University & Siena College. He lived and worked in the Rocky Mountains of Vail, Colorado for over 35 years. Bill has enjoyed an active career built around the snow sports industry, where he began as a ski school director in New England. Later, he directed the Colorado Rocky Mountain Resort’s marketing and sales efforts, both domestically and internationally. Bill then formed a company, Mountain Hospitality, which offered inbound international travelers lodging and activities at Colorado’s finest resorts. Over the years, St. Pete Beach became Bill’s offseason escape to the tropics. During those early times a dear and much cherished sailing relationship developed with Capt. Dan, the Nicholson family, and others, which led him to the board of directors for S.O.S.