Jaime H. Assistant Manager...
I have been working for Springriver Annapolis since 1997. I simply stopped in one day to visit a friend, who promptly put me in a kayak for the first time, and sent me off paddling on Spa Creek. I came back and asked, "Are you guys hiring?"
I came to Springriver not knowing much about kayaking... I had some experience canoeing as a kid, but I had most of the same misconceptions about kayaking that the general public did. Fortunately I got into the sport at the time that it was really breaking into the mainstream, where I got to work in the retail side of the business with a lot of the individuals who started some of today's largest manufacturers. At first it was a bit intimidating coming to work with people at Springriver (and at the companies whose boats we sold) who had been around the industry long before it was such a popular sport. They all knew so much more about it than I could have ever imagined knowing. But the family atmosphere and laid back attitude sucked me in quickly! Having such knowledgeable mentors as David Young (now owner of Springriver Annapolis) and George Albrecht Jr, it wasn't long before I was talking to people about boats with confidence.
I consider myself very lucky to have stumbled so blindly into such a wonderful company to work with. Where "selling" products isn't so much the daily goal as it is working with customers to educate and guide them in a direction that suits their wants and needs... and let the boats sell themselves. I often say that kayaking is a very addictive sport. I'm proud to say that I've gotten a good number of friends and family members hooked, including my beautiful wife Julie, my brothers, sister, grandmother and nephew, and especially my parents, Don and Dorothy, two of the biggest kayaking addicts I know!
Paddling is unlike anything else I've ever done in my life. It's so exhilarating yet relaxing at the same time. There's truly no other way to experience being on (or in) the water that can compare.
If I'm not at the shop, chances are you'll find me working somewhere in the music business. I play the bass guitar in two bands that perform regularly around the Annapolis and surrounding areas: Bittersweet, a rhythm and groove rock band with my wife Julie; and Leda's Charm, a jazzy folk and blues band with Julie and parents Don and Dorothy. I also enjoy running live sound for local bands as well as filling in on bass with other bands whenever I can get the extra work. And if that doesn't keep me busy enough, I also work as the PR Guy for the Baltimore based audio production facility Studio Unknown.
Hello everyone; I am Ed “Sharky” Robinson, the “kayak & canoe extraordinaire”. My affiliation with Springriver Canoe and Kayak started about seven years ago when I first moved to the US from the Bahamas as a kayak nature guide and marine environmentalist. When I first met Dave, Jaime and Ray they were all laid back and I knew then that this is where I wanted to be. Springriver was and still is the best place in the Annapolis area to purchase a kayak or canoe and to find out about all the cool places to launch your boat in the area.
Having traveled widely, I can tell everyone of all the wonderful places in the US, Canada and the world to travel to immerse yourself in the waters around us. Being a former Navy Corpsman, (Marine Corps Medic) I teach safety first and I believe that any age can enjoy and explore kayaking or canoeing in the bay without taking too much risk. ?As the die hard environmentalist in the bunch, I am currently the coordinator for The Ocean Conservancy's International Costal Cleanup in the city of Annapolis, so please keep an eye on the "Upcoming Events" on our web site for more info..... but in the mean time; remember life is “Jus cool” being on the water in a kayak. Please feel free to give us a call to ask for anything, we will love to get ya started having a good time in the waters around us… Sharky’s links: www.spacreek.org www.Breef.org www.GOODMagazine.com www.SPLCenter.org
David Young 
