Panel:

Chase Eshelman, Associate Attorney, Lochner Law Firm
Captain Davis Jones, Owner, Shardana Sailing Charters
Tony Pelura, Managing Partner, Nelson & Pelura Accounting - Tax - Advisory
April Balech, Account Executive, Gallagher – Charter Lakes

Are you thinking about using your captain’s license to generate income? Or perhaps you already do but want to confirm you are protecting yourself for services such as running charters, doing deliveries, or providing instruction. Whether running a full-time business or working occasional opportunities, there are important legal, financial, and practical considerations that you should be aware of to operate successfully.

Our panel of experts includes Chase Eshelman of the Lochner Law Firm, to talk about legal concerns; Captain Davis Jones, owner of Shardana Sailing Charters, to provide the business owner’s perspective; and a maritime insurance agent to address insurance protection. You’ll benefit from hearing their individual expertise and valuable lessons learned, good and bad, that they will relate from their many years in the business.

This presentation will be hybrid, with in-person attendance at the Elks Lodge in Edgewater MD as well as a Zoom link for virtual attendees. The Zoom link will be posted on the home page one week before the program.

The Elks Lodge is pleased to offer pay-as-you-go bar and dining services to individual attendees, before or during the presentation. Come join us for networking, as early as 5 PM.

Chase Eshelman graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he served for two years as a Staff Editor on the University of Baltimore Law Review. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Baltimore, which allowed him to jumpstart his legal career and enter law school one year early by taking advantage of the school’s early entry program. During the September 2020 through 2021 term, Mr. Eshelman served as a law clerk on the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, where he drafted opinions and conducted research on a wide array of legal topics. Mr. Eshelman joined the firm as a law clerk in January 2020, and he returned as an associate following his clerkship with the Court of Special Appeals. Mr. Eshelman is a member of the Maryland State Bar, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

Growing up near Galesville, Maryland, Mr. Eshelman has spent significant time on the water in a recreational capacity. After joining Lochner Law Firm, P.C., Mr. Eshelman was bitten by the sailing bug, and is now an ASA certified sailor, who loves his time on the water.

Captain Davis Jones has a 50-ton Master's Certificate with a sailing endorsement, and holds certificates as a US Sailing Keelboat Instructor and as an Instructor with the National Safe Boating Council. He is co-owner and Captain of Shardana Sailing Charters which offers customized trips out of Rock Hall, MD on a Catalina 425 sailboat.

He started sailing in 1991 when someone stood up at his church in Arlington, VA and announced that they were starting a Sea Scout Ship and needed leaders.  Being an Eagle Scout from landlocked Tennessee, he signed up to learn to sail, little knowing he was in for a life-long journey leading to professional credentials and boat ownership.  Along the way, he has served in all leadership positions in Sea Scout Ship 1942 (one of the 5 “Flagship” units in the U.S.), including 5 years as “Skipper.”

In addition to helping run Shardana, he is as instructor with the Carefree Boat Club, and captains deliveries up and down the East Coast.  When not sailing with Shardana or the Scouts, he bareboat charters with friends in the Caribbean on sloops and catamarans from 42’ – 55’. 

For several years, Tony Pelura has owned, operated and managed several successful small businesses. He holds a BS in Business/Marketing and Accounting and an MS in Finance. He is a Certified Valuation Analyst, a licensed tax preparer in the state of Maryland and Virginia, an IRS Enrolled Agent, a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, an AICPA certified member in fraud and forensics and a candidate for Certified Public Accountant. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Maryland Association of CPA’s (MACPA), the Maryland Society of Accountants, The National Associations of Certified Valuators and Analysts and the Salisbury University Alumni Mentor Network.

April Balech grew up in the Annapolis-Kent Island area. She acquired much of her marine knowledge and love for boating at the US Naval Academy, where she performed as the lead female vocalist for their Midshipmens’ Band. She is married with 3 children and enjoys boating, training parrots, traveling and spending time with her family. Utilizing her extensive marine insurance background, April opened the first satellite office for Charter Lakes in Chester Maryland in 1997.