Captain Jim Faughn
(100 Ton Masters Near Coastal, Sail, Towing) Captain Faughn grew up in the Midwest boating for almost all his life. Formally, Jim started his career as a chief engineer at KXEO/KWWR then moved on to a technical college for 26 years where he taught and was promoted to vice president. His responsibilities ranged from instructing teaching methodology, evaluating faculty and he was responsible for all long-range planning for the institution. He has owned his own boat since he was 17 years old.
Owning both power boats and sailboats, Jim has spent 5 years cruising full-time with his wife on a Gemini 105 catamaran. He has since decided to settle down again in southwestern Florida and cruises part-time. His trips have taken him over 19,000 miles from Kentucky Lake through the Tenn-Tom waterway, the west coast of Florida to Key West and cruised the Bahamas 7 different times, ranging from the Jumento’s, Exumas, and Abacos. Captain Faughn has traveled the east coast several times cruising the Chesapeake, passing through New York Harbor into Long Island Sound. Jim has ASA certifications in four areas and holds a Coast Guard masters near coastal license for both power and sail and a commercial towing endorsement. Captain Faughn teaches classes online for TrueCourse.
Captain Randy Davis
Randall J. (Randy) Davis recently retired as the Education Coordinator for the St. Francois County (Missouri) Ambulance District though still working part-time there as an EMS educator. He has been a gubernatorial appointee to the Missouri State Advisory Council on EMS from 1998 to 2013 and is a Nationally-Registered Paramedic. Mr. Davis is a licensed Paramedic in Missouri and Kentucky. He has also been a contract subject matter expert instructor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency teaching Integrated Emergency Management Courses at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Randy holds an Associate’s Degree in Emergency Medical Technology from Jefferson College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Fontbonne University. Mr. Davis completed his Paramedic training at St. Louis University in 1981. He has completed both the State of Missouri 40 hour EMS instructor course and the National Association of EMS Instructors 40 hour instructor course. He is an EMS Instructor and Regional and Training Center Faculty for the American Heart Association for CPR, First Aid, Pediatric Advanced Life support, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Mr. Davis is an instructor or affiliate faculty in multiple nationally-accredited emergency medical and life support classes.
Captain Randy is a United States Coast Guard-Licensed Captain with Masters and Auxiliary Sail Endorsements. He has been sailing for 3 decades.
Randy and his wife, Kathy, a registered nurse, enjoy sailing their 41 sailboat at Kentucky Lake and chartering sailboats in the Caribbean. They also delight in cruising and RVing.
Captain Ron Harr
Ron Harr is a native Tennessean. He was born in Memphis and raised in Bristol. He is a graduate of McCallie School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (B.S. – Communications, 1976).
He had a long career with AT&T in Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville. He was the District Director for East Tennessee in 1995, when he came to Chattanooga to join BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
For 16 years he led the statewide communications and government relations activities of the BlueCross. In 2002 he was named CEO of BlueCare, the company’s largest subsidiary serving Tennessee’s Medicaid population.
He retired from BlueCross in 2011 and was named President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce in 2012. For 3 years, he led the Chamber to record membership growth and job creation before retiring late in 2014.
He is enjoying retirement by using his Coast Guard Captain’s license to pilot the River Gorge Explorer and is also teaching new boat owners to drive their boats. He and his wife Linda have 4 grown children and are learning the joys of grandchildren.
Captain Tom Trovato
USCG Master 50 Ton – Near Coastal – #000591258
Auxiliary Sail, Commercial Assistance Towing, Train the Trainer
Since retiring as President and CEO of Trovato Mfg., Inc., Capt. Tom has moved from the world of organic semiconductor research into his true love of sailing. Tom now fills his days teaching sailing and consulting on refits of sailing vessels. Having owned many boats throughout his 40 years of sailing, Capt. Tom’s main ride is a 40’ Freedom which he sails out of the Port of Rochester on Lake Ontario. Tom has been an instructor with TrueCourse since 2021.
Captain Graham England
Captain Graham England has been boating most of his life. At age 14 he would take out his Uncles homemade dory in the Atlantic ocean around Port Aux Basques Newfoundland Canada. Then at high school and college he sailed in and around New York City and Staten Island. Once moving to Ohio 36 years ago he continued to sail in Lake Erie. As a project engineer he has taught many training classes all around the world and has used this skill to teach the Captains Training Class.
His favorite saying is “If you do not give up on yourself, he will not give up on you.”
Being a Canadian Citizen he is only allowed to get the OUPV (six pack license) Near Coastal, Sail and Towing endorsements.
Captain Stephen Banashak
I have an extensive background in recreational boating, spanning several decades. During my youth in Michigan, I developed my boating skills on inland lakes, specifically learning to waterski. In my early twenties, I made my first notable purchase, an 18-foot bow rider, which provided me with the opportunity to explore boating on Lake St. Clair.
As time passed, I ventured into boat ownership, acquiring various vessels and spending my summers traveling throughout the Great Lakes region. I would visit different ports along Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Huron. Each year, I eagerly researched new destinations that I could enjoy with my boat for a week or even longer durations.
In terms of my professional background, I possess valuable experience in operations management within the corrugated packaging and industrial gas industries. Throughout my career, I held positions that involved ensuring safety compliance and providing training in accordance with OSHA regulations.
Boating has always been a lifelong passion for me. Currently, I hold a U.S. Coast Guard Master's license for vessels up to 50 tons, which permits me to operate commercially on the Great Lakes and the connecting waters. Whenever I have the chance, I take joy in sharing my extensive knowledge of boating and my expertise in safety with others.
Captain Darryll Mills
Darryll Mills, born in Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa, and traveled the world extensively as an adventurer who loves life.
Working as an Airline Pilot flying the Boeing 767, he still is able to find time running his own Fishing Charter Company out of Destin, FL.
Owner of a Bertram Sport Fishing boat, holding Federal Fishing permits, he enjoys heading over the horizon into the vast open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Any of the large reef fish along with all the Pelagic fish are targeted and brought back to the docks for dinner.
Added to his own vessel, Darryll helps run a Bareboat charter on a 73 foot private yacht and a 98 foot Skipper Liner that hold a COI (Certificate of Inspection).
Both boats keep him busy and along with entertaining the guests he enjoys the slow easy pace of driving them.
His education includes Studying at Liberty University, BS Aviation, along with completing all the FAA ratings up to the highest level of an ATP (Airline Transport Pilot).
Darryll’s aviation career has given him the opportunity to obtain 7 FAA Captain Type Ratings to include Lear Jets, Citation Jets, Embraer Jets along with the heavy jet experience on the B767.
His passion for all things in the Marine industry shows and he loves to share the knowledge he has gained from around the world with his students.