High Quality Service.
Many companies offer passenger vessel service, but very few have the reputation for professionalism and quality service that is offered by the Padelford. Over the past 37 years the company has developed a high quality product with a broad variety of programs that appeals to people of all ages and economic status.
Padelford Riverboats has been named one of “Minnesota’s Top Four Attractions” by the American Bus Association for four consecutive years and as “Minnesota’s Best Boat Charter Company” by Minnesota Meetings & Events magazine three years in a row.
The Padelford has an outstanding staff of people who possess an incredible amount of experience on the river. There may not be another company in the country that can match the level of experience provided by this staff:
Capt. Steve Bowell, President 16 yearsCapt. Jim Kosmo, Sr. Vice President 19 years
Shelley Bowell Kosmo, Vice President, Charter Sales 19 years
Beth Bowell Myers, Vice President, Accounting 20 years
Capt. Gus Gaspardo, Director of Operations 23 years
Capt. Matt Spence, Boat Manager 7 years
Gabe Clendenen, Charter Consultant 11 years
Capt. Tracy Shimek, HR Director 6 years
Julie Neidt, reservations 2 years
Capt. Tom Mega Jr., pilot 7 years
Gary Meyer, Sr. Crew Chief 3 years
Shevek McKee, Sr. Crew Chief 2 years
Capt. William D. Bowell, Sr., retired 37 years
Capt. Doug Setley, seasonal pilot 24 years
Capt. John Ambrose, seasonal pilot 14 years
Capt. Ryan Hauenstein, seasonal pilot 7 years
Capt. Nick Halter, seasonal pilot 5 years
Founded in 1969 by Capt. William D. Bowell, Sr. the company was purchased in 2001 by Shelley Bowell Kosmo (27%), Beth Bowell Myers (28%) and Steve Bowell (28%). Minor shares of the firm also are owned by other family members.
Capt. Steve Bowell- President.
Capt. Bowell started working for his uncle Capt. William D. Bowell, Sr. in the family business in 1975 at the age of 15. His first job was under the supervisions of his great uncle Jim Padelford who taught him how to weld. Capt. William Bowell nicknamed him “greaser” because he would come home everyday with grease from head to toe. Capt. Bowell attended community college in Denver before being accepted at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He earned a degree in Banking through the American Institute of Banking in 1983.
He joined McDonald Automotive group in Denver where he set numerous sales records as Finance Manager and Sales Manager. In 1993 he joined the Padelford Packet Boat Co. as Vice President of Finance and was promoted to President in 1999.
As president Capt. Bowell has guided the company through the economic challenges facing the tourism industry following Sept. 11, three national Tall Stacks Festivals in Cincinnati, the 2004 Grand Excursion and the construction and introduction of the Minnesota Centennial Showboat Theater. In 2002 he negotiated the transfer of ownership of the Padelford Co. from his uncle to his cousins Shelley Bowell Kosmo, Beth Bowell Myers and himself. Capt. Bowell has been married to Cindy for 25 years and has two adult children.
Capt. Jim Kosmo - Sr. Vice President.
Capt. Kosmo began his career as editor of the Nellis Air Force Base newspaper (Las Vegas, NV) in 1960. In 1963 he was decorated by President Lyndon B. Johnson as "Air Force Editor of the Year." Later he was news reporter for the Las Vegas Sun, managing editor of the North Las Vegas Valley Times, and managing editor of Sun Newspapers (Minneapolis, MN).
In 1968 he was named National Suburban “Journalist of the Year” and received the MN Jaycees “Outstanding Young Man” Award for work in assisting to draft legislation creating the MN Pollution Control Agency and working with then-Sen. Walter F. Mondale to write the federal Wholesome Food Act of 1970. He also was co-founder and first chairman of the MN Valley YMCA.
He was the first director of information for the Twin Cities Area Metro Transit Commission (1970-72); editorial supervisor for Northstar Public Relations, Inc., subsiduary of Campbell-Mithun Advertising (1973-77); and director of information for the Minnesota Medical Association in 1977. He was promoted to the American Medical Association (Chicago, IL) in 1978. In 1980 he joined the Padelford Packet Boat Co., Inc. He holds a BA in Journalism and an MBA. He is former chairman of the Rivers Region of the National Passenger Vessel Association and was elected to the Bayport City Council (1996-2000) and as Mayor of Bayport (2001 - 2002). An active member of St. Paul Rotary he is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary International Benefactor.
Shelley Bowell Kosmo - Vice President,Charter Sales
Mrs. Kosmo supervises all charter sales and boat events. She supervises sales and reservations staff. Before joining the Padelford in 1990 she operated her own typesetting and graphic design firm from 1982 to 1989 with a staff of six. She was cruise coordinator at the Padelford in 1980-1981 before leaving to start her own company, Shelley Design. Previously, she was in the Marketing Departments of the American Dairy Association (Chicago) and the Minnesota Medical Association (St. Paul). She attended Gustavus Adolphus College from 1964 to 1967.
Beth Bowell Myers - Vice President, Accounting
Growing up in the business as daughter of the founder, Mrs. Myers worked in nearly every position in the company. Now a resident of Florida she rejoined the company in 1998 as bookkeeper using the internet, fax, and overnight mail services. She graduated from Hamline University in 1982 with a BA in Psychology and Sociology and completed six courses in Business Administration at St. Thomas University. In Florida, she was accounts payable supervisor at Holiday Isle Beach Resorts in the Florida Keys for five years and accounts receivable and billing specialist for Florida Psychiatric Consultants in Longwood, FL, for two years.
Capt. Gus Gaspardo - Director of Operations
Gaspardo joined the Padelford in 1984 as a crew member. He obtained his Masters License in 1986 and has operated all Padelford vessels, including the Viking Explorer. The Viking Explorer was an overnight mini-cruise ship with 34 staterooms that formerly was operated by the Padelford Co. between Minneapolis and New Orleans and in Florida. He also has operated the Hiawatha and the West Virginia Belle. A graduate of St. Thomas Academy he studied computer science at Mankato State University from 1982 to 1985.
Gabe Clendenen - Charter Consultant
Appointed to the new position of Group Sales Manager in 1999, Clendenen previously worked five seasons as a crew member, crew chief and senior crew chief for the Padelford Co.. Upon graduation from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a BA in Spanish and International Business Studies he accepted a sales position with Ucare Minnesota as a Spanish Bilingual Representative and continued part time with the Padelford Co.
Tammy Gaspardo - Wedding Consultant
Tammy Gaspardo joined the Padelford full-time as the Wedding Consultant in November of 2006. Previously, she had worked for the company seasonally for 18 years. Her duties included crew member, crew chief, office staff and maintenance. Her educational background begin in 1990 when she graduated from the Medical Institute of Minnesota as a certified Medical Assistant. She accepted a health aide position in the White Bear School district and maintained this position for six years until she made a career change and worked as a paraprofessional for children with autism. In May of 2006 she graduated from Concordia University of St. Paul with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Captain Tracy Shimek - HR Manager
Tracy Shimek started as a season crew member in 2001 and has worked in nearly every position including boat crew, crew chief, maintenance, reservations and captain. Tracy has worked fulltime with the company since graduating in 2003 and currently serves as the company’s HR Manager with duties that include hiring and supervising the seasonal staff. She obtained her master’s license in the spring of 2006. Tracy graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2003 with a degree in Political Science and Economics
Julie neidt - marketing support and individual sales
Julie Neidt joined the Padelford Boat Company in February of 2005 as the Marketing Support and Individual Sales Consultant. In 2004 she graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Travel and Tourism. Before joining the crew, Julie interned with the St. Paul RiverCentre Convention & Visitors Authority.