you have in a business and industry that was a hobby and a dream up until that point . Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry ? Why or why not ? Running a business is hard no matter what industry you ' re in , But opening a Freedom Boat Club franchise introduced us to the industry and the proven processes to run the boat clubs . The networking and support between owners has really been amazing . You become part of a very large community . How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry ? I ’ m fortunate that I ’ m a Club owner , which allows me to create a great culture for women in boating at our club for both our staff and our members . With staff development , I ’ ve introduced many young women to their career options within the boating industry . To celebrate women on the water , we also have a women ' s boating group in our club that provides additional training and events for them to get out on the water behind the helm instead of in the passenger ' s seat .
What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry ? Go for it . There ’ s so many opportunities in this industry , so start somewhere and see where it takes you . Keep learning new skills and applying yourself .
Loredana Petrucci
Controls Development Engineer II , Seakeeper Ride
Education : B . S . Aerospace Engineering and B . S . Mechanical Engineering from University of Florida Years in the marine industry : 3 years What first drew you to the marine industry ? I grew up boating with my family and sailing in Venezuela , so I ’ ve always loved being out on the ocean . After college , I was drawn to Seakeeper because of their top-secret , innovative technology I ’ d have the opportunity to work on , while also spending time on the water during boat testing . I ’ ve remained in the marine industry because of the peopleeveryone is so welcoming , kind , and supportive . What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry ? Seakeeper is a company that is growing rapidly while also transforming the industry , and Seakeeper Ride is no different . To thrive in a start-up environment , you have to be adaptable . We move and change very quickly . With that comes obstacles , which you can either view as challenges or opportunities for growth . I choose the latter viewpoint , which has helped me be more open to untraditional opportunities , and ultimately led to success in my role .
Congratulations
to Debbie Kent !
Women Making Waves
Debbie Kent Chief Human Resources Officer , MBI
“ I hope to inspire other women in the marine industry by demonstrating the tremendous opportunities available in this field .”
Debbie ’ s outstanding talents and steadfast leadership have helped countless people working in the industry – along with boating customers – thrive in the pursuit of dream days on the water .
www . boatingindustry . com june 2024
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