not the usual stepping stone , so I had to rely upon my ability to get out there and meet people . I ' m not shy , so I took every opportunity to walk the docks , attend industry events and foster relationships with others in various roles .
Through the years , I ' ve cultivated those relationships and made sure to support and grow them in a mutually beneficial way . There are a lot of fantastic professional organizations in our industry . My best advice , get out there and participate in them . Who was your hero as a child ? My Grandfather was the cornerstone of our family when I was growing up . After serving in the Navy during the Korean War , Grandpa Ben returned and raised a very close-knit and happy family with my grandmother . He lived simply , enjoying the outdoors , fishing on the lakes , hunting during the fall , and always keeping family first . He worked as a groundskeeper at the local Veterans hospital and was known by everyone as a humble and honest man who worked hard and valued his family . I ' ve kept those values central to who I am . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The most rewarding aspect of a career in the marine industry is that we are here to deliver the dreams and desires of those who share our passion . And when you ' re excited about what you do each day , and your customers can sense your enthusiasm , it makes everything much more rewarding . Walking into our waterfront office every morning and feeling the energy around the office , hearing the halyards on the mast through the marina , watching the boats coming and going , and seeing smiles all around reminds me that this " work " is a lot of fun . There are few careers where your passion can be your profession , as in the marine industry .
David Mills
Senior Engineering Manager , Invincible Boats
What first drew you to the marine industry ? As a child I spent almost all of my free time on the water , whether it was boating , fishing or diving . This sparked my passion into the marine industry . While in college , I made a promise to myself that I would move back to a coastal area once I graduated due to the importance it has in my life .
What was your first job ? As a young teenager I ran my 13-foot Boston Whaler aground on a hard bottom , and had to work to come up with the money to replace the lower unit . To do so , I sold live-bait to a local bait and tackle shop for $ 0.50 per fish . Needless to say , it took a pile of live baitfish to come up with the money needed to replace that part . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? During high school , a good friend of mine was injured while playing rugby – an injury that rendered him paralyzed . This incident inspired me to create a fundraising fishing tournament which quickly morphed into a fully functional 501c3 non-profit organization . Since inception , we have donated over $ 1 million to different organizations and hospitals specializing in spinal cord injured patients and research . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? Scott Wood , Spencer Matsumoto , Stephen Marshall , Dan Freer , John and Ben Dorton , Paul and Jake Kuck to name a few . Who was your hero as a child ? It is hard to identify one person as my childhood hero . I have always looked up to my father and his ability to run a ‘ tight ship ’ per say . He has always had the ability to quickly identify a situation , bring the team together and focus on a goal and then act- whether it be offshore during a fishing tournament or at home . Another person very important to my life is my mother . Her tender heart has always been an inspiration for me and has led to my success in the nonprofit world .
Allie Modica
Marketing Manager , Oasis Marinas
What first drew you to the marine industry ? My cousins , the Grovers , introduced me to the marine industry at a young age . They own and operate two awesome marinas in New York and boating is a huge part of their lifestyle . Once I was out of college and looking for a new opportunity , I immediately thought about them and wanted to be a part of that community and experience in the industry ! Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? One of my first bosses , Brian Clinton , continue to be a great mentor for me . He was the president at one of my former companies , and he really took me under his wing and showed me best practices in overall business and sparked my interest in marketing . More recently , Brian Arnold , VP of business development at Oasis Marinas , is an excellent mentor and leader . Our company culture is very important to us and he helped lead the charge in building that and teaching me why it is so critical to success . In addition , Brian was instrumental in having me lead the tradeshow activations for Oasis and really believed in me from my very first day at the company . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? I think the biggest challenge as a younger professional in the industry is trying to break down the stigma that younger people may not know
32 march 2023 www . boatingindustry . com