Kaye Pearson Revolutionized the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and South Florida’s Marine Industry

Some people are carried behind a wave; others are overwhelmed by it. Friends, family and colleagues say Kaye Pearson did neither — he rode the wave with vision, determination and a rare ability to turn bold ideas into lasting achievement.

Pearson, the driving force behind the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, a founder of the Superyacht Society, the creator of Miami Beach’s Yacht and Brokerage Show, and a philanthropist who supported children’s and animal causes, died at his home on March 21 after a battle with cancer. He was 68.

He entered the marine industry in 1971 as a partner in Pearson Potter Yacht Basin on the New River, where his promotional talents quickly emerged. As a member of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF), Pearson took over management of the association’s boat show in 1976 when it was a modest event — roughly 20 boats in the water, about 20 land displays and 30 booths. Over the following three decades, his company, Show Management, built that event into one of the world’s largest boat shows: spread across six locations, occupying some 3 million square feet, with approximately 1,500 exhibitors, 1,600 boats and more than $2 billion in exhibited product.

“He dreamed big, but I think that kind of growth was beyond even his dreams,” said Cheri Pearson, his wife and partner of 27 years.

Thinking Big: Bringing Megayachts to South Florida

In the late 1980s and through the 1990s, Pearson and long-time associate Andrew Doole recognized the rising momentum of megayacht construction and deliberately created space within the show dedicated to larger vessels. Today, the Fort Lauderdale event is one of the leading yacht shows for vessels over 80 feet, with more than 200 such yachts on display. Pearson was a co-founder of the Superyacht Society and played a central role in establishing Fort Lauderdale as a global hub for superyacht repair, services and cruising.

“Kaye brought the megayacht market to our South Florida boating community with the growth of the boat show,” said Frank Herhold, MIASF executive director. “Today over 1,500 megayachts visit the ‘Yachting Capital of the World’ annually, bringing huge economic benefits and global recognition.”

Pearson also saw the opportunity for a major brokerage show in South Florida. He transformed the Florida Yacht Brokers annual event into the Yacht and Brokerage Boat Show in Miami Beach, drawing more than 500 in-water boats along a mile-long section of Indian Creek. Beyond Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach, he launched and managed shows in Palm Beach and St. Petersburg, oversaw the Suncoast show in Sarasota, and produced events across the country and region, including shows in Texas, New York, San Francisco and the Bahamas.

One of Pearson’s most notable achievements came in 2005, when Hurricane Wilma devastated South Florida. Show Management dismantled and rebuilt the Fort Lauderdale show in the aftermath, and despite the destruction, managed to open the event just six days later — an outcome many thought impossible. In 2006, Pearson sold Show Management to Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III’s Active Interest Media, concluding a major chapter in his career while leaving a lasting legacy.

Community Leader and Builder

After selling his company, Pearson pursued a lifelong dream to develop Chub Cay in the Bahamas into a family-oriented resort and marina. He served as chairman of International Marinas, the firm that built the Chub Cay marina and designed, built and managed marinas around the world. That development project remained a priority for him until his passing.

Colleagues remember Pearson as an industry icon, comparable to greats like Dick Bertram and Frank Denison. He was known for a hands-on management style that demanded high standards while inspiring deep loyalty from those who worked with him. “He was hard-charging, he was demanding,” Andrew Doole said. “He worked hard and expected everyone to do the same, but he was a hands-on guy. He was down there getting his hands dirty, too. He was on-site at the show. That was his style.”

Cheri Pearson describes him as honest, generous and committed to his word — qualities that extended into his philanthropic work. He supported numerous local charities and youth programs, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, the Florida Ocean Sciences Institute’s programs for troubled youth, the Museum of Science, the Broward County Library Foundation, and the Humane Society of Broward County. He was also involved with programs that teach children to fish and supported the International Game Fish Association and The Literary Feast reading program.

Firm Foundation and Personal Life

Born on July 22, 1940, in Terre Haute, Indiana, Pearson moved to Miami as a child and graduated from Miami High School. He attended the University of Florida briefly and earned a business degree from the University of Miami. His early ventures included a secretarial pool and work in mobile-home leasing, and he tried his hand at stock market investing before establishing himself in the marine industry with Pearson Potter Yacht Basin.

Pearson had a lifelong connection to boats and the water. As a teenager he owned a waterski boat named Utopia, and in the early 1970s he raced Miami-built SeaCraft outboards. Over the years he and Cheri owned a number of notable boats — including Rybovich sportfishers, an Intrepid, a Cigarette and Hatteras vessels — many affectionately named Showpiece, Show-off or Showtime. An avid big-game fisherman, he competed in and won tournaments and eventually purchased the classic Bertram Hatteras Shootout Bahamas billfish tournament.

Pearson is survived by his wife Cheri; his daughter, Jennifer Moore; granddaughter Alexandria Moore; his brother Jerry Pearson; sister Janet Powell; parents-in-law Earl and Ann Skeens; numerous nieces and nephews; and extended family. “He will be badly missed,” Cheri said. “Most of all by me.”

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) or the Humane Society of Broward County.

This article originally appeared in the Florida and the South Home Waters section of the June 2009 issue.