Wakeboarding and wakesurfing were a passion at an early age . At age 17 , I worked for Gozzer Ranch ’ s private marina and lake club , and quickly worked my way up . By the end of my time there , I managed the marina , and was in a leadership role for the wakeboard / wakesurf program . What was your first job ? My first job was working at Papa Murphy ’ s Pizza . My first job in the boating industry was a dockhand at Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? My parents have been my number one support from the beginning . Pertaining to the marine industry , AJ Haynes was an initial mentor for me . Over the last eight years , I have worked for three different dealerships , and all of the owners have positively influenced me . This includes Robb and Amy Bloem at Stancraft Boats , Cole Wolfswinkel at Wolf Watersports , and Brent Christian at Tobler Marina . Big shout out to my team here at Tobler Marina ! Each department plays a crucial role in my success . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? I set goals for myself weekly , monthly and for the whole year . It is crucial to set smaller , more frequent goals , and when you accomplish those goals it ’ s a gratifying feeling knowing you ’ ve made progress . Those small wins help in the long run . I also never hesitate to ask for help from others within my dealership when needed . Who was your hero as a child ? I ’ d have to say my father , Jerry Moss , was my hero growing up . From teaching me to ride a motorcycle at 3 years old to always supporting me in my decisions , he ’ s been a pivotal person in my life .
Mikkee Olson
Business Manager , Wayzata Marine
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I have always loved being on the water and growing up in a family that had boats , it seemed like a natural fit to work in the marine industry . Some of my best memories are out on the water with family and friends . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? The accomplishment that I am most proud of is being dedicated to working at the same employer my entire life . I enjoy working for a small business and I believe our strong family values are very important and have led to the success of Wayzata Marine . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? My key mentor that influenced my career would have to be the founder of Wayzata Marine , Gary Briggs . Gary always taught me the value of a good work ethic and the rewarding feeling of a hard day ’ s work . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I hope to inspire others in the marine industry by expressing my passion for boating and the marine industry . I try my best to hold myself to a high standard and project the rewarding feeling of going to work every day . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? I try to set many small goals that will turn into a big goal . Taking things one step at a time and being determined to meet those goals . Who was your hero as a child ? Michael Jordan has always been a childhood hero of mine . I always admired his dedication to the game of basketball and the impact he still has on the game today .
Yvonne Pentz
Communications Director , National Safe Boating Council
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I grew up near Lake Erie and have always enjoyed the outdoors . Growing up , as soon as the weather warmed up , my siblings and I were outside playing until the streetlights turned on . The love for the outdoors inspired me to look for career opportunities in the marine industry where I could use my marketing communication skills . Now , working with the National Safe Boating Council , our team promotes the boating lifestyle while influencing behavior change to make boating even safer . Observing a new boater enjoy the water for the first time is really rewarding . That is what makes my work so meaningful . Who was your hero as a child ? My hero as a child was my older brother . There ’ s a 10-year age gap between us , and thankfully he kindly put up with his younger sister following him around when he was in middle school and high school . He inspired me then , and I still look up to him today . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? There are so many different career paths and journeys in the marine industry . Whether you have a skill set in web development , marketing , product design , training , sales , or you want to be instructor , there is a place for you . The marine industry has so many different opportunities . If you love boating and the outdoors , look at your skillset and see how you can contribute to the marine industry . It ' s amazing to be able to work daily in something that you love and enjoy .
34 march 2023 www . boatingindustry . com