FORTY UNDER FORTY
I could to get on a boat and go fishing . After college , I went on a group sailing trip and as soon as I got back , I got my sailing license . A few months later , I was captaining a 41- foot sailboat in the BVIs with my new girlfriend and now my wife , Kelly . Since then , I ’ ve been obsessed with boating and it ’ s a dream to now be in the marine industry building boats that people respect and get to enjoy with their family and friends . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? Yes , my key mentor was Paul Skilowitz , the founder of Bluewater Sportfishing Boats . He taught me the ins and outs of the boat business , from running the shop to understanding the intricacies of boat design and engineering . His guidance and expertise were invaluable in shaping my career and helping me navigate the marine industry . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I hope to inspire others in the marine industry through leading by example and demonstrating a strong commitment to innovation , sustainability , and excellence . If you take a step back and think about it , we could be working on anything , but we get to work on boats which in itself is a privilege . We are all lucky to be a part of this industry , and nothing is as fulfilling to me than delivering a boat to a customer and knowing it will bring them and their family many years of enjoyment . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? I have always been a very data driven person so I like to set measurable goals for the company based on trends and past performance . It ’ s important to me that the Bluewater team is totally aligned in our objectives for the day , week , month , and year so that everyone knows what the role is within the production schedule and there is no ambiguity . I encourage the management team to be inspirational leaders and give the junior employees the opportunity to bring their ideas to the table if there is a process or procedure they think can be improved . I want to make sure that every employee feels valued and appreciated . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? Working in the marine industry offers a unique blend of adventure and innovation — and you get to be around boats all day . Most people work all their lives and dream about one day buying a boat , and once they become a boat owner they spend all week hoping to get some free time to spend on the water . For many people it ’ s their most prized possession , and it ’ s an honor and a privilege to be able to help fulfill that person ’ s dream and make owning a boat an enjoyable experience . We ’ re in the business of fun , how can you beat that ?
RAYMOND GONET JR .
Senior Industrial Designer , Bennington Marine
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I was first drawn to the boating industry at the age of five by my Aunt Chris ’ father , George Palko . George Palko is a Navy Veteran who owned a 1998 Godfrey Sweetwater Pontoon and a late 1970s Trojan F25 Express Cruiser . I was particularly fascinated by the rumble of the inboard V-8 on the F25 and looked forward to cruising in the “ back bay ”. The highlights from some of our adventures on these boats included seeing dolphins jumping in the wake and seeing sharks swimming in the Gulf . George , or as he is known , “ Captain ,” is the one I credit for passing down his many years of marine knowledge and paving the way for my career in the marine industry . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? There are countless mentors and influences that I have had throughout my life and career . My family members especially my parents , grandparents , aunts and uncles , and cousins handed down countless words of advice and have led by example . I would also like to name my High School Art Teacher , Laura Stroempl ; my College Industrial Design Professor , Tom Roney ; and leaders in the design and boating industry , Victor Garcia , Don Vogel , and Blair Donat . All these individuals have greatly contributed to my success , and I would not be in this position without them . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? The biggest challenges I have faced in the marine industry are balancing multiple projects at once and figuring out what the customer wants before the customer wants it . The way I have overcome balancing multiple projects is through discipline and learning to become more efficient at tasks . Another way I have overcome these challenges is by trusting in myself and my abilities . At Bennington , I am lucky to have a team around me that has years of marine industry experience that I look to for guidance and advice on the best path forward . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I hope to inspire others in the industry through futuristic designs that help push the industry forward as a whole . The pontoon boat is one of the most versatile ways to get out on the water . I strive to push boundaries through styling and functionality in this segment making it easier for beginning boaters to get out on the water and experienced boaters to continue their journey .
Who was your hero as a child ? My mother and father , Rita Gonet and Raymond Gonet Sr ., were my heroes as a child and still are to this day . My mother and father have handed down values to me throughout my life such as treating all people with kindness and respect as well as having a strong work ethic . They have always encouraged me to chase my dreams of pursuing a career in art and design . I cannot thank them enough for what they have done for myself , my sister , and my brother . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The marine industry is filled with hard working individuals who inspire me each day . Our team at Bennington along with our vendors and suppliers go to great lengths to put long-lasting , luxurious products out in the market . In less than three years working in the industry I have already learned so much about all aspects of the business that has helped me to become wellrounded outside of my primary focus of design . There is such a special passion around the industry that includes the joy of boating in general . Being able to contribute to happiness out on the water for our customers is a huge motivating factor for me and I believe many other young professionals will find equal success and happiness working in the industry .
JAMES HEINTZ
Director of Global Product Strategy : Sea-Doo / Manitou / Alumacraft / Telwater / Rotax Marine Engines , BRP Inc .
What first drew you to the marine industry ? My passion for boating started at a young age during summer vacations on the South Shore of Nova Scotia where I learned to sail and explore the islands of the Mahone Bay region . Later , as a young college student majoring in Entrepreneurship at the University of Vermont , I looked for ways to combine my love for the water with the skills I learned in the classroom and that is when I fell in love with the business of boating , and I never looked back . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? For me success in any career cannot be achieved without strong connections and mentorship and I am lucky to be supported by a strong network of friends and family . To start , my wife , by a large margin , has been the most influential person in my career . Her support , insight and intellectual guidance has pushed me to challenge myself and thus my team to use innovative ways to identify opportunities and capture them through strong strategy . Additionally , Pascal Vincent ( my first boss at BRP ) and Bernard Guy ( my current boss and SVP of
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