Growing up on Grand Traverse Bay, Peter Norcross spent his childhood sailing the Great Lakes with family, friends, and neighbors. He spent his earlier years simply cruising around, but where ever there were two boats, there was a race, so he easily shifted gears. Over the years, he’s raced Optimists, Lasers, Lightnings, J/24s, J/29s, and Beach Cats, plus DN ice boats during the winter.

Not only is Peter comfortable on the water, he’s also an accomplished sailmaker. He learned to make sails with Quantum Sails owner Ed Reynolds. Peter started making and designing sails at the beginning of computer aided design/manufacturing, and has done just about everything in the business. He even spent ten years selling sail cloth with Bainbridge International. When he returned to Traverse City in 2008, he also returned to Quantum Sails.

When Peter works with a client, it’s an educational process. He takes the time to share his knowledge of the industry and trends to bring clients up to speed on the latest designs and technology so they can make the most informed decisions. Because of his extensive experience in the industry, Peter excels at helping his customers figure out exactly what they want, as well as what they need.

A car’s oil should be changed every three months or every 3,000 miles – most people know this because they understand the basics of car service and maintenance. The same hasn’t always been true for sail service and maintenance, but Quantum Sails is working to change that, and they’ve hired Travis Cole to help educate and serve local sailors.

A northern Michigan native, Travis is an outdoor enthusiast who spent 16 years working in the cycling industry. A mechanic and service manager, many of his customers were also sailors, which is how he met Quantum president Ed Reynolds. “There are so many overlapping customers,” said Travis. “Many of my cyclists were also sailors, including Ed. When Quantum decided to start growing their service department, they knew me, and they thought I’d be a good fit for the position.”

With more than a decade of service experience behind him, Travis said his main goal right now is to help sailors understand the importance of regular sail maintenance and service. He’s also introducing them to the high quality of care they’ll receive at Quantum Sails. “At Quantum, we have our own engineers and the ability to manufacture anything in terms of sails,” said Travis. “The scope of what this company has and what they can accomplish is amazing. Having Quantum service your sail in our 20,000 square foot Great Lakes loft – with our resources – is the difference between getting a 10-minute oil change and taking your car to the dealer.”

A self-proclaimed outdoorsy man, Travis and his wife enjoy being outside, including biking, sailing, and competitive snow skiing.

When Jason Massaroni was 17 years old, he was working at a marina when a boat owner invited him for a Wednesday night race. He was hooked from the first race. “When I sail, my stress and concerns ashore vanish,” said Jason. “It’s very good for the soul.” He’s sailed a variety of classes – including Melges, Scows, Interlake, F/24, F/31, Colgate 26, Tripp 26, Laser, Alberg 30, Shock 40, and various J-boats – and has sailed on Lake Michigan, countless inland lakes, Lake Erie, Key West, Monterey, and the San Francisco Bay.

The boat owner who originally invited Jason sailing turned out to be a sailmaker, and the rest was history. Through sailmaking, Jason discovered a love for working with his hands and was able to blend that passion with something he’s always enjoyed – working with people. He joined the Quantum team in 2007 when he was looking for more opportunities to grow as a sailmaker, and in 2012 he took over as Service Manager at Quantum Great Lakes.

For Jason, Quantum Sails provides the perfect blend of sailing expertise and customer service. “My favorite part of working with the Quantum team is the team itself,” he said. “The people I work with make it great. Customers working with me can expect honesty and to have their expectations met or exceeded.”