ing that there are no limits on what women can accomplish on the water, in leadership or in operations. My career has never been about proving women belong ― it has been about proving that hard work, competence and passion speak louder than stereotypes. From becoming the first woman appointed by Congress to command an all-male bridge unit on the water in the United States Army to leading in the marine industry today, I’ ve always believed in stepping into roles that were not traditionally expected for women. What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry? My advice to women starting their careers in the marine industry is simple: do not be afraid to learn the hard tasks. Step toward the challenges, not away from them. Learn how the boats work, understand the systems, ask questions, spend time in the service department, ride on the water and never let intimidation stop you from gaining knowledge. This industry respects people who are willing to work hard and keep learning. Confidence comes from competence. The more you learn ― whether it is operations, rigging, engines, sales, logistics or leadership ― the stronger you become. What is your favorite place to go boating? My favorite place to go boating is Florida’ s Space Coast, especially around Merritt Island, the Indian River Lagoon and Cape Canaveral. I especially enjoy bringing the boating community together through on-water events and customer experiences. Boaters Exchange has become well known throughout the community for its annual Star-Spangled 4th of July Raft Up at the sandbar, featuring a live band on a barge, hundreds of boaters, and a celebration of the boating lifestyle that brings families, customers and the local marine community together on the water. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? Outside of boating, I enjoy an active lifestyle centered around fitness, running and staying challenged. I also have a passion for classic cars. I ' m proud to be the second owner of a 1965 Corvette Stingray and a 1982 Ferrari 308 GT. Whether I ' m on the water, on a run or behind the wheel of a classic car, I enjoy activities that combine performance and a sense of adventure.
SAVANNAH BIGGERT
BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER – FLORIDA, SUNTEX MARINAS
Education: Undergrad-University of Alabama-Psychology / business. Years in the marine industry: 7 years Other companies you have worked for in the marine industry and titles you held within those companies: I began my career by working for a family-owned boat rental and wakesurfing company. A big part of my job there was just introducing people to boating and really helping people have nothing but a positive experience out on the water. From there I moved over to working for a marina management company( Suntex Marinas) and I’ ve held various roles from Dockhand, marina administration, Dockmaster / Assistant General Manager, and now Business Operations Manager. What first drew you to the marine industry? I grew up in a family of Navy sailors, so being comfortable on the water was just a way of life. Some of my best memories were spent offshore fishing with
my dad and brothers, and I always knew that somehow, some way, my career would involve the water. Looking back, the signs were probably there early on. When your favorite childhood movies are Titanic and The Little Mermaid, it ' s hard to argue that you didn ' t love being around the water. While boating had always been a passion, COVID helped steer me toward marina operations specifically. What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry? I would say that the biggest lesson I have learned is that nothing in this industry is perfectly predicable, and the weather is usually at the top of that list. I have worked at marinas where we have been struck by back-to-back hurricanes and plans had been changed by the hour with hardly a moment to just catch your breath. I’ ve also worked at properties where the culture needed to be address and rebuilt, which required a whole different kind of resilience and leadership to create a better experience for the team and the customers alike. I couldn’ t be more grateful because those experiences taught me how important adaptability is in this industry. If you had to choose one memorable achievement in the marine industry, what would it be and why? One of my most memorable achievements was being given the opportunity to relocate from Texas to Florida to help expand a boat club operation and launch a new rental program in Destin. Up until that point, I had built much of my experience on a lake in Texas, and while I was proud of the work we were doing, there was something special about being asked to bring that experience to one of the most well-known boating destinations in the country. Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry? Why or why not? Like any career, there will always be people who doubt you or question whether you ' re ready for the next opportunity. But overall, I have been incredibly fortunate to have strong mentors, supportive leaders and teammates who have encouraged my growth throughout my career. I ' ve found that if you remain genuine, work hard and stay true to your values, people recognize that. How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry? I hope to inspire other women by showing them there’ s no one path to follow for success in this industry. Just like there’ s different boat types there are different methods to working in this field. From operations, sales, service and marketing, the possibilities are as open as the water we work on. The same mindset I’ ve had with new boaters I have about women joining the industry: don’ t ever feel overwhelmed, nothing is out of your reach from achieving so long as you keep an open mind, and genuinely enjoy what you’ re doing, you will naturally carve your own path.
12 june 2026 www. boatingindustry. com