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A Conversation with PSPG's New Executive Director

A Note from the PSPG Board of Directors Recently, we’ve worked hard to chart the future of the PSPG. While we’re excited about our new direction, it was clear that our ambitious goals require more than a volunteer-led effort.

This January, we welcomed Gina Pickton as our part-time Executive Director to help lead us forward. To introduce her and share her vision for the organization, our Communications Coordinator interviewed Gina for this issue

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Tell me a bit about yourself and how you ended up in Philadelphia.

I grew up on a sailboat in coastal British Columbia, Canada. My first boat job was as a schooner cook. After studying Fine Woodworking, I sought a job combining my skills with tall ships and found Gazela’s redecking project. That was 22 years ago.


The Guild’s community quickly became central to my life, and even as I’ve worked elsewhere, I’ve always been drawn back to these ships.

How have you been involved with the PSPG over the years?

I started as a shipwright apprentice intern and have done positions around the Guild as needs arose. Volunteer Coordinator, Office Manager, Events Coordinator, Shipwright, Deckhand, Mate, Board Member, some paid but always with a strong volunteer aspect. My time with the Guild has been a testing and then proving ground throughout my career.



Where else have you worked?

I worked for the Independence Seaport Museum for seven years, in the Marketing Department, then later as Boatshop Manager. I also worked as a Carpenter and Marine Technician with the National Science Foundation’s Antarctica Program. I’ve also sailed as crew on numerous other tall ships, and done a variety of projects as a Shipwright and Restoration Carpenter.

 

What skills and experience do you bring to this job?

I’m a logistics and hands-on person at heart. My diverse set of experiences and knack for organization make me well suited to managing an eclectic group like the PSPG.

The Guild's work is incredibly diverse, requiring significant coordination to keep everything running smoothly. Having held various roles over my 20+ years with the organization, I have a strong understanding of all the parts and people involved.


What are your long-term goals for the PSPG, and how do you envision its future? The Board developed a plan during the pandemic to make PSPG sustainable, with a greater impact on the wider community. Our goals include fully restoring Gazela and Jupiter, launching a maritime trades education program, and building a Preservation Shipyard and Education Center. It’s ambitious but exciting. With these goals, consistent leadership became essential, which led to my accepting the position as Executive Director in January. {Look for more on this in next month’s Newsletter.}

What do you hope to achieve in this first year? We're not starting from scratch, but in many ways, we're like a 50-year-old startup. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, we've kept things afloat, but to reach our goals, we need a stronger organizational structure. This year my focus is on building that foundation, enhancing existing programs, launching pilot educational projects, and strengthening our Development Department through partnerships, grants, and memberships. It's all about laying the groundwork to achieve our goals.

What will be your biggest challenges? 

The main challenge is maintaining momentum until our efforts start to show results. Our funding is just enough to move forward, but I’m hopeful we can move beyond that. Joanne Douglas, our new Education Development Director, is doing an excellent job of aligning her expertise with our Trades Education vision, and our grant writer, Alex McNeil, has begun sending out grant applications. While these things take time, I’m confident we’re on the right track to achieve our goals.

How do you plan to engage the local community and attract volunteers to the Guild?

Volunteers will always be a vital part of the PSPG. Without our members and the community they represent, we wouldn’t be here today. It’s important to give back to the people who give so much. We’re establishing a strong foreman structure for shipboard work, regular classes, training sails, and consistent communication. I’m also focusing on building strong connections with local community leaders.


How will the new trades education program impact the Guild and the broader maritime community? Maritime employers are facing a looming worker shortage, and yet these jobs pay well and don’t require higher education. We aim to make the PSPG an accessible on-ramp to introduce a diverse community to potential careers in the maritime and associated trades. Giving a young person the chance to try out welding, carpentry, or diesel mechanics can spark a passion - and better yet, a career.


Is there anything else that you’d like to add? The PSPG has given me so much over the years. When I arrived 22 years ago, I had a general direction, I liked boats and wanted to learn new skills. What I found was a community I never expected. As a young volunteer, the Guild pushed me to grow as both a tradesperson and a leader. It gave me the chance to try new things, make mistakes, and build a skill set that empowered me to pursue and land some of my dream jobs.

After a life-changing injury in 2019, the Guild became a place where I could rebuild my skills, and the friends and family I’ve made here in Philadelphia were there to support me when I needed it most.


It may sound cliché, but so much of who I am today is because of this organization and its community. I’m deeply committed to preserving that tradition and ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities to discover who they are, feel supported, and find their place.

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