Shortly after graduating from Western Michigan University, Darrell Hanson began his entrepreneurial career in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, by opening a bar and grill near the University of Wisconsin campus. Over the course of the next ten years, Hanson expanded his ownership to six bars and restaurants. In 1983, Hanson crossed over from retailer to wholesaler, purchasing the local Anheuser Busch distributorship. During the next seventeen years Hanson expanded the beer distributorship territory to encompass the greater south-central part of Wisconsin including three separate locations.

Over the years Hanson found other investment opportunities including property, a wireless cable business (1989), Capital Ice Arena in Middleton, Wisconsin (1998), Beechwood Investments - Hilton Gardens Hotels (1998), and as a founding member of Oak Bank in Madison, Wisconsin (1999).

In 1999 Hanson and his son started Salty Sam's Marina in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. The Marina was awarded Small Business of the Year in its first year by the local chamber of commerce and is a top dealer worldwide for several brands of motorboats sold at the marina. In 2002 Hanson and partners opened Parrot Key Caribbean Grill at the Marina and he also became an owner in the Key West Shuttle, a passenger ferry service provider between Ft. Myers Beach and Key West.

Hanson and his wife Bobbi live on Sanibel Island, Florida, and enjoy boating and other outdoor activities.

Darrell Hanson -saltysamsmarina@netscape.net
2500 Main St. - Ft.Myers Beach, Fl 33931
Tel:941 463-7333 | Fax: 941 463-3947