Kashad McPherson, “Captain Kay,” owner of Vibe & Wave Charters, was born and raised in Baltimore City just 20 minutes from the Inner Harbor. But he rarely, if ever, spent time there.
“I had no idea about opportunities in the maritime industry,” McPherson says. “It just wasn’t accessible to me growing up.” Until he joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and served in the Persian Gulf. “The experience opened my eyes to how beautiful it is to be on the water. A feeling I’ve yet to be able to explain,” he says.
That feeling sparked entrepreneurship and led to procuring a boat named for his favorite wings flavor – Honey Ole BAE. He founded Vibe & Wave Charters, LLC, in 2021, and expanded his fleet in 2024 with Honey Lemon Pepper, a 30-passenger pontoon. McPherson and his wife, who runs Vibe & Wave alongside him, have also been expanding their family. With four small children, and one on the way, it will be all-hands on deck at Vibe &Wave for many years to come.
Receiving a $20,000 BGE Energizing Small Business Grant helps safeguard Vibe & Wave’s longevity, as well. The program helps minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses in diverse industries thrive. Since 2021, the program has supported 831 businesses with a total of $16.66 million in grants.
“I can definitely say receiving the grant has helped us extend our season,” says McPherson, who has put the funds to work outfitting Vibe & Wave’s pontoon with Eisen glass, seat vinyl protection, and fenders, as well as routine maintenance and boat slip fees. “Rain, sleet, snow, we can operate efficiently in all weather.” The capital also ensures Vibe & Wave can train and pay its workers—and continue to show Baltimore kids the “Beauty of Our Backyard,” as McPherson describes it.
