Family
There are some people whose influence shapes every decision you make, every dream you pursue, and every life you touch.
For me, that person was my mother, Annie Christine Edwards.
Long before there was a company called 1st Klass Enterprise, long before I became a United Airlines Captain, earned my U.S. Coast Guard Captain's License, or welcomed guests aboard MY ACE, there was simply a little boy with big dreams—and a mother who believed in him before the rest of the world ever did.
Every cruise I captain today carries a piece of her spirit.
Every guest who steps aboard MY ACE is welcomed with the same love, generosity, and care that my mother showed throughout her life.
This business is more than a charter company.
It's my way of honoring the woman who gave everything so I could become the man I am today.
Growing up wasn't always easy.
Like many families, we faced challenges, uncertainty, and moments when life tested our strength.
Through it all, my mother remained our foundation.
She worked tirelessly—not for recognition or applause—but because she believed her children deserved opportunities she may never have had herself.
She sacrificed her comfort so we could chase our dreams.
She carried burdens we didn't always see.
She made difficult decisions that only a mother understands.
Looking back now, I realize that many of the blessings I've experienced are rooted in sacrifices she quietly made decades ago.
Parents often plant trees whose shade they may never sit under.
My mother planted forests.
Every successful person has someone who saw greatness in them before they could see it themselves.
For me, that person was my mother.
When life became difficult...
She encouraged me.
When I doubted myself...
She reminded me who I was.
When I dreamed beyond what seemed possible...
She never laughed.
She believed.
That belief became fuel.
It carried me through school, through aviation training, through challenging moments in my airline career, and eventually into entrepreneurship.
Even today, I still hear her voice reminding me to keep going.
After celebrating my 50th birthday, I felt God calling me toward something bigger.
I had spent years flying airplanes and safely transporting thousands of passengers around the world.
But another passion had quietly been growing inside me.
The water.
Boating had become a place of peace.
A place of reflection.
A place where families connected, friendships grew stronger, and life's most meaningful moments unfolded.
That's when 1st Klass Enterprise LLC was born.
It wasn't simply about starting a business.
It was about creating a legacy.
A legacy built on service.
Excellence.
Integrity.
Love.
The same values my mother lived every single day.
Guests often ask about the name of my boat.
The answer always brings a smile to my face.
MY ACE isn't just a name.
It stands for My Annie Christine Edwards.
Every time I see those letters on the back of my boat, I'm reminded of the incredible woman who made so much possible.
She may no longer be physically present, but her influence sails with me every time I leave the dock.
The name is a daily reminder that this journey isn't just mine.
It's ours.
People often tell me,
"Captain Floyd, you made us feel like family."
That means more to me than they realize.
Because that's exactly what my mother taught me.
She welcomed people.
She served others.
She made people feel seen.
She believed everyone deserved kindness and dignity.
Those same principles guide every experience at 1st Klass Enterprise.
Whether you're celebrating:
Our goal isn't simply to operate a boat .
Our goal is to make you feel at home.
Losing my mother in December 2021 changed my life forever.
There are moments when I still wish I could call her and tell her about another successful charter, another smiling family, or another dream coming true.
I wish she could see what 1st Klass Enterprise has become.
I wish she could step aboard MY ACE, sit in the captain's chair, and watch families making memories.
But I've come to realize something beautiful.
While she may not be here physically...
Her fingerprints are everywhere.
They're in my work ethic.
They're in my compassion.
They're in my leadership.
They're in the way I greet every guest.
They're in every smile that leaves my boat.
As I've grown older, I've learned that true success isn't measured by bank accounts or business achievements.
It's measured by impact.
My mother understood that.
She taught me that character matters more than titles.
Service matters more than recognition.
People matter more than possessions.
That's the foundation of 1st Klass Enterprise.
We don't measure success by how many charters we complete.
We measure success by how many memories we help create.
How many families reconnect.
How many couples celebrate love.
How many children experience dolphins for the very first time.
Those moments are priceless.
Every time I untie the dock lines...
Every time I welcome new guests aboard...
Every time I watch a family laugh together while the sun sets over Tampa Bay...
I silently thank my mother.
Because none of this would exist without her.
She gave me life.
She gave me values.
She gave me courage.
She gave me faith.
She gave me love.
Now it's my responsibility to pass those gifts forward.
Some people see a boat.
Others see a charter company.
I see something much deeper.
I see a mother's dream continuing through her son.
I see a legacy of sacrifice becoming a legacy of service.
I see an opportunity to honor her life every single day by treating every guest with excellence, kindness, and genuine care.
That is the heart of 1st Klass Enterprise.
Mom...
Thank you for believing in me before I believed in myself.
Thank you for your sacrifices.
Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you for your unconditional love.
Thank you for teaching me that success means nothing if it isn't shared with others.
Every mile MY ACE travels across Tampa Bay carries your legacy with it.
And as long as I have the privilege of welcoming guests aboard, your love will continue to reach people you've never met.
That is a beautiful legacy.
One I will spend the rest of my life honoring.
When you book a charter with 1st Klass Enterprise LLC, you're not simply booking a day on the water.
You're becoming part of a story built on faith, sacrifice, perseverance, and love.
Every cruise is guided by a simple promise:
To treat every guest with the same care, respect, and hospitality that my mother taught me from childhood.
We invite you to experience Tampa Bay through the eyes of someone who understands that life's greatest treasures aren't found in destinations—they're found in the people we share the journey with.
Welcome aboard MY ACE.
Welcome to the 1st Klass Enterprise family.
Annie Christine Edwards
A devoted mother, a woman of unwavering faith, and the inspiration behind MY ACE and 1st Klass Enterprise LLC.
"Her legacy lives on in every sunrise, every sunset, every smile, and every memory created on the waters of Tampa Bay."
