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Harry Julian runs a small armada.
With 20 boats and 35 employees, Pure Naples is on track to be a $4 million-a-year company.
That’s a big jump from 2009, when Julian purchased a small tour-boat operator called Cruise Naples and notched $1.3 million in sales that year. “When we started, our plan was to keep it small and simple,” laughs Julian.
But the company has expanded, adding thrills like jet boats, establishing new cruises near the Edison Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers and creating a film-production company. Pure Naples is also building a dive boat that will take scuba divers to newly established artificial reefs off the Southwest Florida coast.
Julian, a New Zealander, settled in his wife’s hometown of Naples after they met on the set of a “Survivor” episode in the Amazon jungle in 2002. Julian and his father, Lance Julian, operate Marine Team, a company that provides water-borne logistics and coordinates special effects for big-budget movies such as “Titanic,” “Superman” and James Bond thriller “Quantum of Solace.”
While the elder Julian runs Marine Team, Harry Julian prefers to remain in Naples with his wife and children. Finding a balance between work and family has been a challenge as he grows Pure Naples.
“Admittedly, the last three months I’ve been tapped out,” he says. But, he adds: “I’ve surrounded myself with great people.”
— Jean Gruss
City of residence: Naples
Years on the Gulf Coast: 13
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Marital status/children: Married with two children, Madeline, 8, and Lance, 5.
Alma mater: California Maritime Academy
Best place to network: My work. Every customer we serve is a networking opportunity.
Coolest business experience: Meeting my wife 900 miles up the Amazon river working on the TV show “Survivor.”
The most important business lesson I’ve learned: Without good customer service you have nothing.
One website that makes your job easier: professionalmariner.com keeps me up to date with industry related news.
One community group you’re most involved with: Freedom Waters Foundation
Favorite off-hours activity: Family fun.
Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Abraham Lincoln, my grandfather
Best award you ever received: High school art award for glassblowing excellence
Most adventurous thing you’ve ever done: Standing on the edge of an active volcano in Vanuatu.
What new skill would you like to learn: Learn to fly a helicopter
What’s at the top of your bucket list: Exploration trip to Antarctica
Who would play you in a movie about your life: Jake Gyllenhaal
If I had a magic wand I’d: Disappear to the Space Station.
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