Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/173871
FINALISTS LOU SANDOVAL, CO-FOUNDER KARMA YACHT SALES CHICAGO f Lou Sandoval hadn't bought a "junky" 1978 AMF Paceship with three partners in 1997, things might have turned out differently. In the middle of a very successful career in the medical industry, Sandoval and his friends were just looking for a way to get out on Lake Michigan when they bought the yellow boat with "Brady Bunch interior." "It was ugly, unsightly, but it got us out on the water," Sandoval said. "Perfect for four bachelors to go out on and smoke cigars and talk about life." They quickly realized, though, that the 20-year-old vessel was going to need constant repairs and maintenance and decided to look for a new boat. In a fateful decision, they settled on 20 | Boating Industry | October 2013 P14x20-BI13OCT-MoversRoch.indd 20 Photo by Michael Thoney Photography i a Beneteau 33.7 that they purchased from Darfin Yacht Sales in Chicago. From that, Sandoval and Jack Buoscio (one of the other boat owners) formed a friendship with the then-owners of Darfin, Joe and Elaine Darby and started working some boat shows with them. When the Darbys were ready to sell, Sandoval and Buoscio took the plunge in 2002, eventually changing the business name to Karma Yacht Sales, named after that first Beneteau. Since then, Karma has garnered attention throughout the industry for its business success, as well as Sandoval's involvement in American Boating Congress, the Recreational Boating www.BoatingIndustry.com 9/5/13 11:37 AM