News

Newest Division Offers Yacht Agent Services, Marina Management, Crew Placement, Maritime Consulting and Vessel and Crew Management & Operations

SAN DIEGO (December 2, 2025) – Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a superyacht refit and commercial boatbuilding and repair company with facilities in San Diego and Los Cabos, has announced the promotion of Leah Yam Jones to Vice President of Marine Group Global Services (Global Services), the shipyard’s newest division focusing on maritime consulting, superyacht agent services, marina and vessel management and operations.

“In the 20 years of working with her, Leah has always taken on leadership positions with the mentality that no work was ever beneath her,” said Marine Group CEO and Co-Founder Todd Roberts.  “Her intuition, ability to connect with people, expertise and can-do attitude is what quickly launched her into an executive role with the company, and why I’m confident she’s the right fit for taking Global Services to the next level.”

Yam Jones grew up in San Diego working at several of her family’s businesses starting at the age of 7. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. In the last 20 years working for Marine Group, she has developed and maintained the shipyard’s brand, marketing and communications program including new business launches for Marine Group de Los Cabos, Fifth Avenue Landing marina and most recently, Marine Group Global Services. She is involved in every acquisition, expansion and pursuit of major new construction and refit contracts which have totaled more than $1 billion.

“I was pretty lucky to be part of the original team that built the San Diego superyacht industry to what it is today,” noted Yam Jones. “Before Marine Group, our region probably only saw two to four superyachts each year, and it’s crazy to think my role early on was to educate the public as to what defines a ‘superyacht.”

Now, San Diego sees anywhere from 65 to 125 new superyachts to the city per year benefiting from the time and investments that Marine Group has made to increase amenities, dockage space and crew services all tailored to the superyacht community.   The number is expected to increase by 50% with world events on the horizon including NASCAR Coronado, FIFA World Cup in LA and the LA Olympics.

When asked what she’s looking forward to most within this new role, she replied, “I’m most excited to give yacht owners, management companies and crew the peace of mind in passing the Panama Canal and exploring the Pacific knowing we have all the right shipyards, collective expertise and agent services to offer beyond boat repair and construction.”

To assist Yam Jones in her new role, Dawn Stofberg was promoted to Director of Superyacht Services to run the day-to-day of the division’s largest operations, yacht agent services and marina management.

Stofberg, a San Diego native, graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors degree in Comparative Literature.  Prior to working for MGBW, Stofberg spent 12 years as crew aboard private and charter yachts ranging from 30-70 meters (90-230 feet). Her first six years were spent working her way up to Chief Stewardess and the last six years of her yachting career at sea as Chef after completing a culinary program through the New England Culinary Institute. When the decision was made to settle down and move ashore six years ago, the dockmaster position at Marine Group serendipitously became available.

Like her career at sea, Stofberg quickly proved her value and moved her way up through the ranks.  While managing Fifth Avenue Landing superyacht marina, she helped develop and launch Global Services’ ship agent, provisioning and logistics services as well as its crew placement program.  She works closely with more than 95% of all the megayachts that cruise to San Diego.

“I’m excited to share my network of high-quality contacts that I’ve carefully curated in my career in yachting and as a dockmaster,” said Stofberg. “I want every yacht owner and crew member arriving in San Diego to feel immediately connected and supported.”

Her mission is to elevate the superyacht experience on the U.S. west coast by enhancing service standards, strengthening industry relationships, and further positioning San Diego as a premier superyacht destination.

With an extensive network of resources at its disposal, Global Services has become recognized as one of San Diego’s most qualified ship agent, premier maritime consultant, and crew operations specialist. This new growth triggered the necessity for seasoned leaders to provide guidance to the missions that lie ahead.

Yam Jones will manage further expansion into commercial and military applications, vessel operations, Navy crew training, marina development and management while working closely with Stofberg to cultivate the comforting experiences it provides to crew visiting San Diego. Stofberg currently serves as U.S. Superyacht Association Southwest Regional Board Chair and continues to manage marina operations for Global Services’ largest account, Fifth Ave Landing marina.

About Marine Group Boat Works

Marine Group Boat Works is a full-service maritime vessel construction and repair company with two waterfront facilities, on San Diego Bay and in Los Cabos, Mexico. Its largest shipyard in Chula Vista, Calif., encompasses one million square feet, with over 2,000 feet of dockage and a new 820-ton lift, rough terrain cranes, a machine shop, metal working equipment and a propeller shop. Its sister boatyard in San Jose del Cabo features over 300,000 square feet of land and water, with a 660-ton, 150-ton and 75-ton Travelift. Between the two facilities, MGBW employs over 210 ABS-certified welders, shipfitters, pipefitters, mechanics, electricians, painters and other boatbuilding and repair specialists. For more information, visit www.marinegroupboatworks.com.

About Marine Group Global Services

Marine Group Global Services is a San Diego-based ship agent and maritime consulting firm that provides specialized marine services to customers world-wide. It leverages extensive experience and technical support from its network of captains, yacht owners, management companies, yacht refitters and marine suppliers to offer customs clearance, shoreside support, crew services, fleet maintenance support, marina management and consultation. Specific to agent services, Marine Group Global Services utilizes a network of resources from Baja California to Alaska to support vessels crossing the Panama Canal and into the Pacific. For more information, visit: www.marinegroupglobalservices.com.