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