// INDUSTRY NEWS
fashioned Ship ’ s Chandlery in 1909 to serving their commercial fishing community as well as many types of recreational boaters . Their varied product offerings have included Pilothouse and Trailerable Trawlers , Down East style boats , and Catamarans .
“ We are genuinely excited to join the Nautical Ventures team and become a part of their family . My employees and I recognize all the advantages that come along with the acquisition , and we are looking forward to being rebranded under the Nautical Ventures moniker ,” Marc Grove , owner of Wefings Marine said .
“ We ’ ve had plans to expand into Florida ’ s panhandle since before the pandemic . Now that the marketplace has reached some normalization , the timing for this move is perfect ,” Nautical Ventures CEO , Roger Moore said . “ Marc and his team have done an outstanding job growing their dealership over the years . But now , with an infusion of our DNA into their location , we can grow their business exponentially , benefitting both their marine community and their employees alike .”
IBEX names new hires
The International BoatBuilders ’ Exhibition and Conference ( IBEX ) announced the addition of two new members to its management team : Samantha Batson as Marketing Manager and Megan Davisson as Sales and Projects Manager .
The expanded IBEX team will add more horsepower to take on new initiatives and focus on furthering quality growth . With the show ’ s expansion in 2023 and the continued pace of the industry , adding two team members helps position IBEX to move in a positive direction for years to come .
From the custom yacht industry in Maine to the wakeboat industry in Tennessee , Batson has eight years of experience with different facets of the marine and outdoor sectors . Her skillset includes digital marketing , graphic design , photography , and event planning . She has previously worked with WoodenBoat Magazine , Professional BoatBuilder magazine , and Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding . She most recently held the position of Assistant Marketing Manager for Malibu Boats .
“ I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to be a part of the IBEX team ,” said Batson . “ I look forward to helping create an inspiring yearround digital experience and a phenomenal inperson event for our exhibitors and attendees .”
Davisson made her transition into the marine industry in 2021 after 12 years in beverage management . She has an extensive background in sales , as well as event planning and customer relations . As an independent contractor , she managed several special projects for IBEX in 2022 and 2023 , including enhancements of the VIP experience and coordination of special events . Most recently , Davisson has been assisting the National Marine Manufacturers Association ( NMMA ) with the Innovation Awards at IBEX , the Minneapolis Boat Show , and the Miami International Boat Show .
“ I am thrilled to be joining IBEX on a permanent basis ,” said Davisson . “ In this new position , I look forward to returning to a sales role and working with exhibitors to build lasting relationships in the industry . I ’ m also very excited to work on expanding the special projects that I ’ ve been developing for the last two years .”
“ As IBEX grows and our plans and initiatives expand , we made the decision to grow the IBEX team ,” said Anne Dunbar , IBEX Show Director . “ I ’ m delighted to be able to add these two competent and experienced women to our group . Both Sam and Megan bring diverse careers and skills to the table , and we are excited to see them dive into their new roles and develop as industry professionals .”
TowBoatUS Lake Norman named Tower of the Year
TowBoatUS Lake Norman , a local on-water towing and assistance company for recreational boaters , was awarded Tower of the Year at the annual gathering of the TowBoatUS fleet owners , family and crew in Savannah , Georgia .
Owned by captain Derek Debord , TowBoatUS Lake Norman was chosen from more than 130 independently owned TowBoatUS towing companies across the nation . The company provides 24 / 7 towing , soft ungrounding , battery jumps and fuel drop-offs to Lake Norman boaters and is one of 300 TowBoatUS locations in the
U . S . and British Columbia , Canada . A former Hickory Water Rescue Squad member and current Catawba County Sheriff ’ s Office Reserve Patrol Deputy Sheriff , the U . S . Coast Guardlicensed Debord purchased the small company with his wife , Cheryl , in 2012 , and has grown his Lake Norman fleet of red response vessels from two to six . It was singled out at the TowBoatUS Annual Towing Conference for its smooth-running operations and community relations .
“ Outside of being a top-notch operation , Tow- BoatUS Lake Norman regularly engages with its community through education and boating safety advocacy ,” said TowBoatUS operations manager Chris Dolan . “ For well over a decade , this company has been a shining example of what a towing company can accomplish through hard work , relentless passion and unyielding professionalism .” Additional factors cited included the company ’ s BoatUS Unlimited Towing Membership sales , on-water digital dispatch response rate and company towing captain ratings .
MarineMax opens Fisher Island location
MarineMax Yachts announced the opening of their new limited-access location on Fisher Island in response to the expanding Miami market . The Yacht Center by MarineMax is designed to offer personalized service to the island ’ s esteemed community and to reinforce and enhance its growing culture of boating and yachting .
Often recognized for its luxurious resi-
10 february 2024 www . boatingindustry . com