Meet the Crew

Nourdine Jensen, President:

Born in 1914, Nourdine has been around the yard for all his life.  His father (Albert Jensen) started the shipyard in 1910.  After attending the University of Washington, he worked as a mechanic in Seattle for a few years.  He served on a shore base in the South Pacific during WWII and at the age of 32 settled back in his hometown with his wife Vera to run the family business.  Nourdine has designed and built over 150 wooden pleasure craft boats for customers between 1946 and 1983.  Since then he has been actively managing the yard and now past 90 years old is still coming to work each day.

Jeri Ahrenius, Legume Enumerator:

Nourdine’s daughter, Jeri also has early memories of the yard.  After school she moved to the mainland and worked as a bookkeeper for a Seattle law firm.  She started her family and decided to move back home in 1988 where she has been handling the finances for the yard ever since (when she isn’t playing tennis).

Mike Ahrenius, Vice-President:

Mike began managing at the Shipyard in 1989, he is Nourdine’s son-in-law.   Mike grew up in the Seattle area and spent several years in Eastern Washington working as a Surveyor as well as for the Forest Service.  Later, back in Seattle, he worked in the Commercial Property Management business before moving his family to the island. 

You’ll find Mike walking the docks, surveying the yard or in the store.  He has been the face of the yard since he arrived and handles all facets of the business.

Alisa Schoultz, Operations Manager:

Alisa is Nourdine’s Granddaughter and the newest member to the yard.  Alisa graduated from the University of Washington and pursued a career in Corporate Event Planning.  After moving to Denver and getting married, she and her husband moved back to Friday Harbor in 2006.

When you call, it will likely be Alisa who answers.  She is in the store most of the time and schedules the haul-outs and repair projects, manages the inventory, business operating systems and advertising efforts.

Duane Davis, Travel Lift Operator:

Duane moved to Friday Harbor from Oregon back in the 70’s.  He has held some interesting jobs in the brick manufacturing business where he drove the big rigs. After some commercial fishing time in Alaska, Duane settled down with property on San Juan Island.

He is probably the most familiar face to customers that have been coming to us regularly over the years. Since 1980, Duane has seen a lot of change in the yard.  He can do anything but he is known for his accuracy with the Travel Lift and his way with repairing props.  Fuzzy and Bear were a couple of his ‘shipyard dogs’ in the past.

Richard “Rocket” Mathews, Fiberglass Expert:

Richard grew up in Iowa but spent many years in the mountains of Colorado enjoying the ski slopes (his speed on the skis is where he got his nickname).  He has ran his own cross-country trail area in Leadville, CO and later worked with kayak production both in Steamboat Springs, CO and Virginia.  The kayak industry in Friday Harbor is what brought him here, but it wasn’t long before he found Jensen Shipyard and the fun of larger boats instead.

Like everyone else, he can do just about anything but usually you’ll find him under a boat doing fiberglass repair or fabricating tools.  He can repair things you never thought possible.

John Thomas, Yard Maintenance:

John grew up on San Juan Island and has spent time in the landscaping business before switching over to the boats.  He’ll be one of the first people you see when you arrive, as he is the Travel Lift spotter.  John also does a lot of bottom work to boats, some mechanical work and keeps the yard maintained- he’s everywhere!

Niko, Shipyard Dog:

Niko was born in Colorado and came to the shipyard with Alisa.  He is a two year old Newfie and loves all the activity at work each day.  He usually does a morning patrol of the yard and naps in the afternoon in the store.  Niko is soft and gentle but he does still have a lot of puppy in him and when he gets excited tends to drool –so watch out or you’ll be slimed!