Q3 2025
From Dockmaster to Corporate Support linchpin, Elizabeth Rakowski demonstrates that you can achieve anything at IGY if you are passionate about what you do and willing to go the extra mile.
IGY is renowned for providing opportunities for employees to grow their careers in different directions. Your journey from Dockmaster to Corporate Support is a prime example. How did it come about?
I’ve always been a very adaptable person who seeks out different opportunities, and IGY has always supported me. I started my IGY career as Dockmaster at IGY North Cove Marina in Lower Manhattan, for one season from April to October. It was a cool experience – North Cove sits just outside of New York Harbor, which is one of the busiest ports in the US, and it was always exciting to welcome visitors who had never been to NYC.
I was looking for my next move when I found out about an opening in Corporate Support for an Operations Process Support Supervisor. In previous roles, I gained experience in cross-functional communication and collaboration across multifaceted organizations. I thought these skills could be transferable to this role, so I applied and got the job.
What persuaded you to make such a bold career change? How did IGY support you? 
I had a few years’ experience in this industry, but ultimately, I was ready for a new career challenge. I found out about the job opening through an IGY colleague who sent me the posting and encouraged me to apply. I brought up the interest with my manager at the time, who supported me throughout the interview process as well as during the transition period.
As an Operations Process Support Supervisor, you have a vital role to play in keeping IGY Marinas running smoothly. Can you explain what your role entails?
I help employees in each marina and across corporate functions do their jobs more effectively. My role is pretty unique in that I am fully remote. I am one of two Operations Process Support Supervisors specializing in operations, business development, and data analysis and enablement. I cover the U.S. and the Caribbean time zones, and my colleague Brigitta Osz covers Europe and the Middle East.
Working closely together, we provide support for marina employees who use the Havenstar marina management system. This support includes training, configuring information for pricing, setting up new sites, troubleshooting system issues, and working on business development projects to improve the management system, including testing and data analysis. We work with the finance department to pull information and investigate potential errors that may come up. We also work with the marketing team to help create and analyze tracking tools, to grow our business and our potential customer network.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I get to talk to people on all sides of the business – dockmasters, managers, front desk staff, finance, marketing and corporate – and I get to understand their projects. We support employees in marinas all over the world, and each site has its unique qualities and issues, such as local government and finance issues. We are the bridge between the marinas and corporate functions.
What is the biggest challenge?
The business is constantly evolving. Trying to see what will happen next and communicating that when everyone has a unique perspective, can be a challenge.
What trends are you seeing in the marina industry?
Business growth. Also, acquiring new technologies and shifting to new systems. IGY has been a huge proponent of this trend, especially with acquiring new marina locations and expanding our IGY network.
You epitomize IGY’s spirit of adventure and hardworking culture. Have you always had this curiosity and drive to succeed in whatever you set your heart on?
When I was younger, I was determined to see as many places as I could. I graduated a year early and became an exchange student in Taiwan, where I studied Mandarin. I then studied international relations at SUNY Buffalo State University, and during this time, I went on a sailing program in the Caribbean. It was my first experience on a boat, and I loved it. The experience made me want to work my way closer to a job in the marine industry. I started as a fuel attendant at a marina and worked my way up to assistant dockmaster.
You have also worked on environmental protection and human rights. Can you tell us about that?
One of my first roles out of university was working for the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations, where I was dealing with environmental protection. Before this, I was an intern on the human rights committee for the European Union Delegation to the United Nations. I learnt about a lot of awful human rights abuses, but also about some good work too. There are a lot of United Nations projects to bring about positive change.
On a personal level, what are you most proud of?
I had the opportunity to be a deckhand for two stages of the Oyster World Rally: French Polynesia to Fiji, and South Africa to Brazil, stopping in Namibia and Saint Helena. It was amazing. I think about it every day!
What do you enjoy doing in your downtime?
I play soccer every week, and I hope to get back on the water when I can.
If you had access to any yacht in the world for two weeks, where would you go and what would you do?
I would be happy to go anywhere if I had a yacht for two weeks! I have never been to the Mediterranean, so I would love to cruise some of the islands there, and I love Mediterranean food.
