// PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP
Additionally, a newer issue is operator inattention. Operators have their faces planted in one of two things: their electronic chart plotter, which is not a radar, and the screen brightness is far too bright, or they are texting and driving.
Prior to his recent appointment, Guess served as a USCG Regulatory Development Manager and coordinator / liaison to the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee, shown at an official gathering in Annapolis where the crew donned life jackets in honor of the annual“ Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day.”
BI: What do you wish the boating industry better understood about NASBLA? TG: NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U. S. territories, and we are a professional community leading recreational boating safety through innovation and collaboration for excellence in policy development, national standards, and best practices.
We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, we affect the lives of over 85 million American boaters.
NASBLA is an outstanding conduit to the boating agencies, the U. S. Coast Guard, other recreational boating safety nonprofits and boating partners. We also have broad reach through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies( AFWA) and other partners. We have been in the recreational boating safety community for 65 years and are ready and willing to help our industry partners in any way we can.
BI: How can the boating industry better champion boating safety? TG: I believe the boating industry already does a great job! It used to be that boating ads were all about the boat and the experience and now we see a family wearing life jackets or showing safety equipment.
Thankfully, we’ re at a point in time where life jackets come in fashionable colors and are made lightweight and comfortable, including inflatable models with belt packs, minimal collar or yoke styles available. The safety industry has made leaps and bounds and this is a win-win for all of us in the industry, regardless of where we sit.
BI: Any specific areas needing greater industry awareness? TG: Sadly, it is the same two areas we have wrestled with for almost a century now: boating under the influence( BUI), and people refusing to wear a life jacket. It’ s a cultural issue that is ingrained into recreational boating and until the culture shifts, it will not change.
BI: What advice would you offer someone pursuing a career in boating safety? TG: Get into the boating community whether via industry, recreational boating safety, nonprofit work, the Coast Guard, a state agency, etc., to follow your passion.
I’ ve worked here 38 years from four perspectives, and with all the same people, which has been awesome. I’ ve forged great relationships and made lifelong friendships. The partnerships I have built through those years are invaluable when it comes to a role like CEO of NASBLA.
So, don’ t think your first job at a dealership washing boats or enlisting in the Coast Guard won’ t lead somewhere. That salesperson you’ re working with, that maintenance tech, or that lieutenant or chief you’ re serving with might serve on a committee in NASBLA and they know people who know people, and that can eventually lead to something greater!
My advice: focus, work hard, stay committed, have integrity, never burn a bridge, and remember – it’ s not who you know, it’ s who knows you!
BI: What character traits have facilitated your long-term career growth? TG: Integrity. There is a quote …“ If you have integrity nothing else matters; if you don’ t have integrity, nothing else matters.”
Humility is crucial. Remember the Cheez-it commercial,“ It ain’ t about you, cheese!” We are all replaceable; we need to live with an attitude of gratitude for the roles we are in and the people we have the pleasure of working with and serving.
Lastly, I want people to know things will get done and be done correctly and diplomatically.
BI: You’ ve lived it and taught leadership classes. What best practices might you share? TG: Leadership isn’ t that hard. Most people are terrible at it, but it’ s just treating people how you want to be treated and remembering that people have the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations that you do. Give them some grace.
Don’ t manage people … lead people and manage stuff! Give them what they need to do their job; let them learn from their mistakes; and give them room
30 july / august 2025 www. boatingindustry. com