Sixth Star Management Team

Doug Jones - President
Doug Jones has been a leader in the cruise industry for more than 20 years. He played a pivotal role in developing the entertainment for many lines - including more than a decade at Royal Viking Line as cruise director and consultant. In 1997, Doug joined Renaissance Cruises as Director of Entertainment, launching eight ships in three years. After leaving Renaissance, Jones drew from his experience to launch Sixth Star, an enter-tainment “one-stop” shop for cruise lines and resorts. Click here to e-mail Doug Jones.

Paul DiFilippi – Director of Enrichment Programs
Paul brings 22 years of cruise industry HR experience to the Sixth Star team. More than 13 of these years were spent with Royal Caribbean, during which time he managed HR functions in the headquarters and worked one contract aboard Song of Norway. Prior to joining Sixth Star, Paul managed HR for AMCV, where he directed a nationwide recruiting campaign in the company’s effort to revitalize the American cruise industry. Click here to e-mail Paul DiFilippi

Meredith Lasher - Producer
Meredith Lasher has an extensive background in producing theatrical productions, as well as marketing, public relations and recruiting. Meredith earned a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Florida International University. She worked for Zynyx Marketing Communications, servicing accounts including Burger King and the Miami Herald. Meredith served as the Vice President of Operations for Lasher Associates, a retained executive search firm, where she managed search assignments and research for Fortune 100 and entrepreneurial companies. She is the founder of several professional theatre companies and an award-winning costume designer. She serves on the Board of Directors of The Theatre League of South Florida and The Women’s Theatre Project. Click here to e-mail Meredith Lasher.

Callie Gloe - Entertainment Coordinator
Callie joins Sixth Star as an Entertainment Coordinator, working closely with Meredith to manage shoreside productions and events, as well as coordinating bookings for scenic props from the warehouse. Callie has spent the last decade working in the mortgage industry handling marketing, accounting and HR. Meanwhile, she has been very active in the theater industry, performing in musical theater and recently starting to stage manage shows. A “Navy Brat,” Callie moved around quite a bit during her youth, but spent most of her childhood in Chicago. She attended Barry University, graduated with a degree in recreation management and has lived in South Florida ever since. While in college, Callie had a very special internship as a diver working at the Living Seas exhibit at Epcot. Click here to e-mail Callie Gloe.

Catherine Gaines - Sixth Star Entertainment Programs
Catherine Gaines comes to Sixth Star with over 20 years of experience in entertainment, beginning as a performer both on Broadway and National Tours as well as onboard cruise vessels. In addition, Catherine has many years experience in the corporate office booking and overseeing entertainment programs for lines such as Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and Costa Cruise Line, among others. Click here to e-mail Catherine Gaines.

Mary Diddle - Staffing and Entertainment Programs
Mary brings five years of shipboard experience to Sixth Star, having worked for Norwegian Cruise Line as a Social Hostess. She has been a professional Raku artist for the past 11 years traveling the country to art festivals and shipping her sculpture to galleries nationwide. As Mary continues her work in the arts, she is also responsible for recruiting and qualifying caricature, face painter, and balloon artists for Sixth Star. She also taps her cruise experience while recruiting staff members to work at sea. Click here to e-mail Mary Diddle.

Accounting Department

Alicia Ether - Manager of Accounting
Specializing in Small Business Management, Alicia brings more than eighteen years of Accounting experience combined with another ten years of Office Management, Human Resources and Customer Service experience to the team. Born in Florida but having lived all over the United States, Alicia has always considered South Florida her home. She now enjoys fun in the sun with her two daughters and grand daughter. Click here to e-mail Alicia Ether.

Terri Gritter - Accounting Clerk & Administrative Coordinator
Featuring a high-energy personality and a great sense of humor, Terri Gritter has been with Sixth Star for three years and has been instrumental in the growth of the Distinguished Gents and Enrichment departments. One of Terri's strengths is her ability to foster strong relationships, both with our cruise line clients, as well as the wonderful speakers and directors who are part of our program. Terri was born in South Florida and she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and an Associate of Science Degree in Computer Applications. Prior to joining Sixth Star, she led a career in accounting and administration. Click here to e-mail Terri Gritter.

Shawna Nathman - IT Systems Manager
Shawna brings varied experience from the worlds of graphic design, video production and broadcasting to her role as Systems Manager at Sixth Star. She graduated from The Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale in 2000, where she studied Video Production and Broadcasting. She was awarded an internship at Clear Channel Communications, where she produced commercials and voice-overs for WZTA during the popular morning drive-time radio show. Shawna also holds a degree in Multimedia Graphic Web Design and is responsible for overseeing the new technologies being used every day at Sixth Star. Click here to e-mail Shawna Nathman.

Scenic and Decor Division

Janet "LuRu" Rudawsky - Scenic and Decor Designer
Prior to joining Sixth Star, LuRu was the Recreation and Cultural Activities Programmer for the City of Aventura, where she planned city-wide festivals, concerts and ceremonies. She has also been the Special Events Coordinator for a prestigious art gallery in Baton Rouge and is an artist herself with a focus on large scale sculpture and installation. LuRu received a Master’s Degree in Sculpture from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Fine Art from Ohio State. Click here to e-mail LuRu.

Maria Maxwell - Manager of Entertainment Programs
Born and raised in Sweden, Maria moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1996. She spent the next five years managing a stationary and invitation business, where she gained a great deal of experience with special event planning. Her introduction to the cruise industry came when she joined Marine Health Guard, a company specializing in benefits and insurance for the cruise industry. Maria brings to Sixth Star a strong customer service background, a love of travel and her positive attitude. Click here to e-mail Maria Maxwell.

Anne Kauffman - Manager of Entertainment Programs
Born and raised in California, Anne moved to Philadelphia where she graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. With a degree in fine art photography, Anne realized she had a passion for travel and wanted to build her travel portfolio. Intrigued by the possibility photographing her way around the world, she joined Starboard Cruise Services, a leading provider of gift shop services to the cruise industry, as a sales associate. Anne sailed aboard Carnival and Holland America Line vessels, visiting and photographing over 80 countries. Anne worked at sea for four years and has now settled in South Florida. Click here to e-mail Anne Kauffman

Miranda Cook - Administrative Coordinator of Entertainment & Enrichment
Miranda Cook is a Missouri native, but made her way to South Florida in 1997 to study travel and hospitality, where her love of cruising was born. She has eight years experience in the cruise industry, ranging from an on board internship to corporate office work. She has held positions at Imperial Majesty, Orient Lines/NCL and Silversea. She also holds a degree in Fashion Merchandising from Miami International University of Art & Design. She comes to us most recently from Saks Fifth Avenue as a Fashion Stylist where she was involved in assisting with the planning and execution of special events including Fashion Shows, Designer Luncheons and charity parties. Her strong background in both industries makes her a well-rounded member of the Sixth Star Team. Currently, Miranda is handling Enrichment staff for Azamara, Celebrity, Regent Seven Seas, ResidenSea and Seabourn.Click here to e-mail Miranda Cook.

Megan Corrigan - Administrative Coordinator
Megan has been with Sixth Star for over two years. She attended Florida State University and has been around the cruise industry and sailed on many voyages around the world her entire life. She started as an intern and worked her way up to an Administrative Coordinator for Maria and Anne. She is always willing to offer a helping hand.Click here to e-mail Megan Corrigan.

OUTREACH DIVISION

Dorine Nielsen - Sixth Star Enrichment Programs
Dorine started her dance career at age 17. She traveled Europe and the Middle East as part of the international tour of Takeuchi Keigo and his Imperial Japanese Dancers. For three years, Dorine was a singer and dancer with Princess Cruises. Dorine’s dream came true when she won the role of “Connie Wong” in A Chorus Line. In addition to dancing, Dorine was a social hostess for Princess Cruises and Royal Viking Line. Before moving to Florida, Dorine was HR Manager for KCET Public Broadcasting in Los Angeles. Click here to e-mail Dorine Nielsen.


DISTINGUISHED GENTS DIVISION

Carol Sussman- Entertainment Coordinator
Carol joins our team with over 20 years of customer service and office management experience, including several years as a travel agent. She has also been involved in the Acting profession for most of her life, appearing in numerous stage plays, films and commercials, comedy improv troupes and most recently , a founding member and Board Member of The Women's Theatre Project. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the State University College in Cortland, NY. Born and raised in the Northeast, she now calls Florida home. Click here to e-mail Carol Sussman.


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Created on 2004-01-18 10:14:24 by admin Updated on 2009-03-24 10:48:39 by ss_admin