If you had to choose one memorable achievement in the marine industry , what would it be and why ? Since joining the marine industry during the pandemic , there have been a lot of curveballs , but what has been most rewarding is working with regional , national and international media to share our story and expanding boater participation through our brands at Brunswick . Since joining Brunswick , I ’ ve had the opportunity to secure stories with BBC , Bloomberg , CNN , CNBC , Sky News and hundreds of local media outlets across the United States , and seeing reporters have the “ lightbulb moment ” when they get on the water with us is something that never gets old . Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry ? Why or why not ? The most challenging hurdle for me was becoming more well-versed on the technical side of the industry . Working across so many brands , there was a learning curve , but thankfully I work in an organization with an incredibly talented team of product experts who are eager to share their knowledge and always answer questions .
From a professional development perspective , I ’ ve been fortunate enough to work alongside some incredible women in the industry who are leading our divisions , brands and functions across Brunswick . These leaders exemplify the qualities , skills and talent to be successful in the industry , and serve as wonderful role models as I continue to build my career in the marine industry . How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry ? My hope is that other women will see the many opportunities in the industry and reverse some of the age-old stereotypes that boating is a maledominated industry . The industry welcomes fresh perspectives and is evolving at a rapid pace . I hope that by continuing to serve as a mentor and speaking with those early in their career , I will be able to help support the continued movement of more women joining the industry . What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry ? Find an organization and role you ’ re passionate about . If you have a passion for what you ’ re doing , you will find success and opportunities to advance your career . Someone once told me that you should be proud to tell people what you do for a living , and I genuinely love sharing my career and the culture of Brunswick with others . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? As a mom , I love exploring the local Tampa community with my family . Thankfully , we all have a love for the water , so we spend a lot of time at the beach , in the pool , or of course , on the boat . Beyond that , my favorite way to start the day is going for a run or taking a spin class on the Peloton .
Heather Wiczek
Operations Manager , MarineMax
Education : 2-year Associate Degree Years in the marine industry : 24 years What first drew you to the marine industry ? I grew up boating with my family and when I started to date my husband , his family had just bought Nisswa Marine . I started cleaning , picking up storage boats , and working my way up to doing the accounting and operations side of the business . I have been involved in every aspect of this business- service , storage , parts , warranty , sales , business office , and accounting . What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry ? In my almost 25 years , I have learned that everything changes . You must adapt to what is before you . Every job is different . The marine industry can be challenging but the excitement on the new owners faces and the joy they have as a family on the water is rewarding . If you had to choose one memorable achievement in the marine industry , what would it be and why ? When I think about my career and the achievements along the way , it ’ s not one single achievement that sticks out but overcoming adversities and challenges and coming out better and stronger as a company . These challenges have helped me become a better business owner and employee and have shaped me personally more than the successes have . Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry ? Why or why not ? I don ’ t feel like it was difficult . I have had the great opportunity to work alongside my husband and family . We have a unique situation that has allowed all of us to grow and succeed in this
business . This is true even today , as we are part of the MarineMax family . The MarineMax family has given me the opportunity to grow and learn as a manager and personally . How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry ? Love what you do . Have a passion for helping customers . Be bold and learn as much as you can each day . Some of my favorite conversations are with our Techs . Learning from them how things work and how they fix it helps me relay it to the customer . The more you do that , the more knowledge you have in your toolbox . What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry ? Ask questions , try to understand everything about how business flows from the business office , sales , parts , service , yard and the techs . Knowing how each department connects to the other is key to exceeding our team members ’ and customers ’ expectations . Find that person or persons to ask how things work . All this takes time and perseverance . Don ’ t give up . What is your favorite place to go boating ? We have Gull Lake Chain and Whitefish Chain near us . My favorite boating experiences are when my girls are at the helm and my husband and I can enjoy the ride . In the winter , we love to boat in the Fort Myers , Florida , area – again , with my girls at the helm !
www . boatingindustry . com june 2023
41