my favorite boating destinations include the Thimble Islands in Connecticut, the Lowcountry around Savannah, and just about anywhere in the Tampa and Southwest Florida area. Each offers a completely different experience, which is part of what makes boating so special – and being a member of Freedom Boat Club so valuable with our reciprocity benefits. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? My family is big into golf, so during the warmer months in Wisconsin, you can usually find us either on the course or on the water in Eagle River. When it ' s not boating or golfing season, I ' m often dragging my family somewhere to check out another state off my bucket list of visiting all 50 states or traveling to support our kids ' college sports teams at their rival Big Ten schools. Go Big Red and On, Wisconsin!
JENNY WESTFALL
DIRECTOR, ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS, BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
Education: BA in Journalism, The Ohio State University Years in the marine industry: 4.5 years What first drew you to the marine industry? Brunswick gave me my first real exposure to the marine industry, aside from casual boating here and there. From day one, the passion for creating unforgettable moments on the water was infectious. I was hooked immediately! It’ s rewarding to work for an industry that brings so much joy and is the reason behind so many lasting memories.
What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry? Every day brings something new. I’ ve learned to adapt quickly, pivot when needed and stay open to continuous learning. Success in this industry requires a forward-looking mindset, always anticipating what’ s next and staying attuned to the evolving challenges our employees face. In communications, that means listening closely, identifying emerging needs and translating them into clear, relevant messaging. It also means finding new and innovative ways to connect with people, through storytelling, new channels or more engaging experiences, so employees feel informed, supported and inspired. If you had to choose one memorable achievement in the marine industry, what would it be and why? Building the Internal Communications team at Brunswick to be a strategic ecosystem that informs, inspires and connects employees to our overall business objectives has been a defining moment and highlight of my career. It’ s incredible to truly create something from the ground up, while also having the opportunity to develop and inspire the next generation of communications leaders. Our team launched new communication channels to effectively disseminate messaging to employees; developed compelling storytelling initiatives to inspire employee action and increase engagement; and strengthened relationships around the organization to serve as strategic advisors and partners in major initiatives. It was especially rewarding to see this shine during our internal communications campaign centered around CES. Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry? Why or why not? Navigating any new industry comes with its own set of challenges. Coming from financial services, I was used to being in a male-dominated field and learning new, highly technical areas of expertise. I feel incredibly lucky to have started my journey in marine at Brunswick. From day one, everyone was supportive, welcoming and genuinely excited to hear from a new, fresh perspective. How do you hope to inspire other women in the marine industry? It’ s not as simple as the“ have your cake and eat it, too” cliché but it really is my goal to show my team and those around me that it is possible to balance personal life with professional ambition. I love taking on a challenge or strategizing a new and exciting initiative, but I also know the importance of being present in our personal lives. I hope I can be an example that it’ s possible to excel in your career without compromising the things that really matter – whether that’ s spending time with your kids, taking your dog to the vet or just having a moment to take a mental health reset. We’ re only able to bring our best to work when we’ re able to enjoy our lives outside of it. What advice do you have for women starting their careers in the marine industry? Find your people and support each other. Community is so important in all aspects of life, but especially as you are looking to grow in your career. I have so many incredible mentors and leaders to guide me on my journey, and I wouldn’ t be where I am today without these women in my corner. It’ s invaluable to have a support system to bounce ideas off of, commiserate with when it comes to barriers or challenges and, most importantly, to celebrate each other’ s successes. What is your favorite place to go boating? I lived in the St. Petersburg, Florida area for over seven years and that’ s where I made some of my favorite boating memories. We had so much fun being out on the water, particularly in Dunedin, spotting dolphins and soaking up sunsets with our friends. But also, boating in Amsterdam with my husband and son a few years ago is a top five core memory. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? With a three-year-old, a lot of my time is spent having dance parties, scheduling playdates, playing with monster trucks and making trips to our local library. I am also an avid reader with a goal to one day have my own personal library, complete with a rolling floor-to-ceiling ladder. My husband, son and I love to travel – and when we are home, we can usually be found exploring all that our city of Cleveland has to offer.
www. boatingindustry. com june 2026
35