Alex Schlegel
OWNER / GENERAL MANAGER
Alex’s namesake was his great grandfather and founder of the yard business in 1865, Emile Alexander Hartge. Alex’s Grandfather Oscar, Father Buck Schlegel, and Mother Elsie all worked at Hartge Yacht Yard.
Alex grew up playing on the West River and sailing mostly Hartge built boats. From a young age, he worked on his own boats, family boats, and charter boats at the yard. After receiving a degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia, he worked for architects in Annapolis and in San Francisco; but boats and boatyards were more attractive to him.
Alex worked for Anderson’s Boatyard in Sausalito, California before returning to West River in 1974 to oversee the construction of a 41-foot cruising boat built for Bennett Crain. Upon completion, the opportunity to help manage the yard overcame any desire to return to San Francisco. In 1978 his uncles and mother decided to retire and sold the operating business to Alex.
For fun, Alex enjoys racing his Melges 24 sailboat on Wednesday nights, taking long cruises around the Chesapeake and Maine with his wife, Donna, aboard their Whisper Jet 38, and skiing in the winter months with family and friends. He also enjoys working around his home on West River where there is always plenty to do in maintaining a good bit of land.
Alaina Wine
Operations Manager, 2016 - present
Alaina is the great, great granddaughter of the Hartge’s founder Emile A. Hartge. She joined the office staff in 2016 following a short hiatus after serving in the U.S. Navy.
Alaina brings many skills acquired during her years of 14 years of military duty along with decades working in the private and non-profit sectors.
Laura Gomba
Office, 2022 - present
Laura lives in Galesville and joined Hartge Yacht Yard in 2022.
After studying microbiology in college, she worked in the accounting and administrative department of her family’s business in Virginia and brings that experience to the office here at Hartge Yard. She also teaches yoga and meditation and splits her time between teaching and working in the office.
In her spare time, Laura can be found with her husband and 2 dogs, biking, camping and hiking throughout Maryland.