major in entrepreneurship . He encouraged me to surround myself with people that had a different skill set than myself and to learn from them and work as a team to move forward . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? We have built a great team by motivating our employees and offering a path that rewards our team members as they grow . Our team members represent our most valuable asset and we will continue to grow our company through the addition of excellent team members . As an industry , we need to continue to focus on growing and developing our teams and ensuring we are helping our team members find fulfilment in their careers . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? I set goals by finding the line of what may or may not be possible and then pushing myself to make it happen . The feeling of success is greater when I set a very aggressive goal and then crush it ! Who was your hero as a child ? My parents . Both my mom and dad worked very hard , prioritized family time and building memories together . As I grew , they pushed me to continue my education and not settle . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The marine industry offers a great path for those that are passionate about boating , fishing , and spending time on the water . As an industry , I feel we do a great job keeping our work fun and creating new opportunities for people who want to get involved in boating .
Matt Edmondson
Lead Instructor , Great Lakes Boat Building School
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I don ’ t ever remember being attracted to anything else . I grew up on Lake Ontario near Fair Haven , N . Y . Fishing and boating are the culture there , and my dad and I built a boat together when I was 13 . I ’ ve always been a gearhead , and boats are a great outlet for that . The marine industry was a no-brainer . What was your first job ? My brother helped me get a job at the machine shop he works at as a CNC operator . It was great experience for a high school kid to participate in the manufacturing process . And it taught me to read micrometers ! What accomplishment are you most proud of ? Leading a team of 22 students to build a 20-foot custom speedboat for a customer . That project won first place at the local boat show that year , and it was an awesome way to watch that group to kick off their careers . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? Many ! My former boss , Reuben Smith at Tumblehome Boatshop . I ’ ve learned a ton from my time with him and still rely on his advice : “ The tradition of boatbuilding is innovation .” Steve Van Dam has helped guide the school for many years and has been so inspiring to me and the other staff : “ I ’ ve learned so much from my mistakes , I think I might make some more .”
How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I think by shining a light on the immeasurable opportunities that exist . Boats are the oldest form of transportation , and the maritime trades were the cutting edge of technology for centuries . For the last 70 years or so , we ’ ve been content to lag aerospace and automotive . Let ’ s get back on top where we belong . Who was your hero as a child ? That would have to be my dad . He taught me how to think through problems and can engineer a fix for just about anything . My family has always been supportive of my career choice , but he was the one to push me along and make the jump . He ’ s still the first call when I can ’ t figure something out . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? You ’ re choosing a lifestyle , not just a career . I ’ ve met more interesting and fantastic people in this business than I think I ever would have otherwise . Also , the variety . What other trade requires its people to know such a broad range of subject matter other than a boatbuilder or technician ? It rewards creativity , and problem solving , and it ’ s almost always fun .
Katy Fairman
Director of Business Development , Boatyard
What first drew you to the marine industry ? In my early 20s I was applying for run-of-themill jobs in big cities , and I knew I would be in a sea of other workers just like me . Then I saw a listing for a marketing role at Boat Trader , and it felt different than all the others . I could tell this was an industry where I could make an impact and be remembered for who I am , rather than just a number . Plus , I was always surrounded by water growing up in Virginia Beach , so it felt like a natural fit . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? This year , Boatyard was named one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Marine Companies . Our team is tiny but mighty , and seeing our name next to some of the industry greats like Yamaha and Brunswick was a humbling moment . Working with my team on that project was one of the proudest times of my career .
www . boatingindustry . com march 2023
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