Cameron McDowell, Captain and Owner

Cameron was drawn to the sea as a young boy and enjoyed traveling the oceans of the world ever since. He started working weekends and summers on boats as a youth and qualified for his first Captains license at the ripe old age of 18. A full-time Captain for the past 22 years, he has had the privilege of sharing his experiences fishing and cruising, from the Mediterranean Sea to Alaska with a diverse group of guests. Having traveled to an array of remote locations, he believes that safety and self sufficiency are the most important things aboard a vessel. He is USCG certified master of vessels to 200 tons and is trained in first aid, CPR, and AED operation.

There’s no place else in world like Alaska, with her towering landscapes, colorful waters, glaciers and diversity of wildlife. Epic is the only word to describe it! Cameron loves to share his knowledge and passion for all things Alaska with guests aboard the M/Y Wild Dawn.

Caitlin Ferrell, Chef

Caitlin was born and raised on the East Coast of the U.S., growing up primarily on Long Island, NY. She is glad to be from there, and far from there. 

At 26, she left her 9-5 job to travel solo for the first time, across the world to southeast Asia. She spent several months exploring before coming back to the States and diving into the world of yachting, first as a stewardess and eventually as a chef. Caitlin has always loved food. 

In between yacht jobs, she spent time living in Colorado, worked in the Bahamas, and traveled more to western Canada, southern Utah, and Portugal. She is an avid backpacker, having hiked thousands of miles in the western United States. Caitlin loves to see the world from all angles, be it by foot, boat, car or plane.  

She has worked on boats in southern Florida, the Caribbean, and the northeast USA. She is ecstatic to be in Alaska for the first time on Wild Dawn. Caitlin lives by the idea, ‘Even if you fail, it’ll make a good story’. 

Keara Bixby, Stewardess

Keara grew up in the high deserts of New Mexico where she spent the last ten years in the service and hospitality industry. Combining her love of travel and service she found a place aboard Wild Dawn where she spends her time attending to the needs of her guests. She loves the remote wilderness and beautiful locations Alaska has to offer. In her spare time, you can find her in a yoga studio working on her handstands, outside exploring the ecology of the area or making lots of new friends over a beverage.

Michael Grauso, Mate

An East Coaster that has become fascinated by the vast wilderness of the Last Frontier, Michael’s life is focused on the oceans. It all began at a young age spending his summers along the Jersey Shore surfing, fishing, and boating. When he is not weighing anchor on the Wild Dawn he can be found casting for fish or paddling for waves. This past winter season he kept warm and busy on the East coast of Puerto Rico, running day charters to various smaller private islands. He also enjoys quality time with his family and dog named Woody. Recently in 2021, he received his 200 ton USCG Masters License and also holds a bachelor degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Arizona from 2011. Michael plans to continue his summer seasons in SE AK for as long as the Salmon keep running; with future goals in upgrading his license tonnage and sailing around the world. Michael says the best part about sailing is the well-rounded person it teaches you to become combined with the amazing people you meet.

Kimberly Kirch, Captain

Kimberly was raised in San Diego, California, where she made a name for herself as a wakeboarder and an artist. Her talents allowed her to travel and she hasn’t stopped exploring since. Kimberly has held a USCG Captain’s license since 2010, at age 18, and recently earned her 200-ton rating. She lives life at sea, traveling the globe working on expedition yachts, or exploring on her own sailboat. She has cruised in California, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Patagonia, and Mexico. This year, she was able to travel from Alaska to Mexico for work, following the humpback whale migration. 

Kimberly fell in love with Alaska in 2019, when she spent hours in the fields and waters around Kodiak observing and photographing bears, birds, and whales. For four seasons, she has returned to greet the stunning mountains, glaciers, and all of the creatures that call the wild area home.

She believes that experiencing nature for one's self is what inspires humans to protect and preserve these beautiful places. Kimberly hopes that her paintings, photographs, and stories can encourage people to venture into the outdoors themselves.