FORTY UNDER FORTY
Ilmor Marine . In this role , I had the privilege of sharing my passion and expertise in the marine industry with dealers and OEMs alike . Collaborating with Great Lakes Boat Building School was a particularly rewarding opportunity . It enabled me to not only impart the Ilmor knowledge base to a diverse group of students with varying backgrounds but also to share my own experiences and enthusiasm for the industry . My hope is that this sharing resonates and inspires the next generation of marine professionals . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? My grandfather ' s wisdom rings true in my mind : " Just work ." That ' s the principle I strive to live by — simply work hard . I apply this ethos not only in my professional endeavors but also in all facets of life . It has taught me that even when faced with challenges , if you take the time to assess the situation , devise an improvement plan , and put in the hard work , success is always within reach . Who was your hero as a child ? Undoubtedly , Travis Pastrana has been a significant inspiration for me . From my childhood days watching the World Rally Championships to the excitement of the X Games , and now with Nitro Circus , I ' ve always been in awe of Travis ' s exceptional talent across various realms of motorsports . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? In one word : excitement ! Whether it ' s the thrill of coming into the office or the buzz of traveling , I thrive on the excitement of never quite repeating yesterday ' s tasks . I also revel in the excitement of the boating world , especially the joy of sharing that experience with customers for whom we provide thrilling propulsion solutions . One of the highlights of my role is being part of the delivery process for a customer ' s new Ilmorpowered boat . Witnessing their excitement as they set off on their maiden voyages is truly one of my favorite experiences .
J HURLESS
Co-owner , Reeder Trausch Marine
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I was drawn into the marine industry because I became a boater for the first time at 20 years old after purchasing a boat from a good friend of mine . Within a year I went to upgrade from a local dealer and after seeing the process of the boat buying experience , I realized very quickly there was a lot of untapped potential . I knew right then that there were a lot of missed opportunities . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ?
The biggest influencer and mentor that ’ s made an impact on me and the way I operate my business would be my previous employer , he showed me what can be accomplished by taking care of the people that take care of you . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? The biggest challenge we have faced is employee recruiting in our service department . Once we realized great people are not recruited , they are formed and created , we have had a lot more success , retention and loyalty . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I look forward to keeping the younger generation inspired within this industry by showing them that change is ok and encouraged . I want to elevate the marine industry to another level with our aggressive marketing approach and quite frankly , it ’ s already working . Who was your hero as a child ? Growing up I wanted to be just like cousin KJ and my uncle Todd . They had the cars , the boats , the lifestyle on the outside looking in that seemed to be lavish . They worked hard and played hard . Now that I ’ m older I can see that they made it look a lot easier than it was . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? I encourage any young person to get into this industry because of the recreational part of it in general . You ’ re literally talking to folks about their vacation . And their vacation is every weekend . On top of that , it ’ s an untapped market that needs more youth to drive it to the next level . So , who wouldn ’ t love making money while being on the water and make dreams come true in an untapped market with very little competition .
IAN KALINOWSKI
Customer Service Manager , Chaparral and Robalo Boats
What was your first job ? My first ever job was during high school working in fast food as a cook for Popeyes . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? The manager I had at my first full time job said something that has been a major influence on my career . Day one while waiting to be taken to our work area , the first thing he said was “ I just want you all to know , everyone is replaceable , even me ”. While some may take that in a negative light , I took as a positive and have always strived to work hard and make myself as irreplaceable as possible .
As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? The biggest challenge I ’ ve faced was not having any prior connection to the marine industry . Fortunately , I ’ ve had great mentors who saw potential in me and offered opportunities that I otherwise may not have had . The next challenge was my lack of boat knowledge . I made it my mission to learn all I can about our production process . I used our production lines as my school and educated myself through observation . I have learned so much from working with and around amazing people who have more experience in the industry and trying to prove and establish myself . Developing a good work ethic , learning from those who are and have been at Chaparral and being adaptable have allowed me to thrive and overcome challenges . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The Covid lockdown really opened the doors for a new generation of boaters into the market that will need our products and services for years to come . This helped thrust the marine industry into a more prominent light by limiting activities individuals and families could do with each other . Boating benefited from this which really expanded the marine industry and opened new opportunities . This is a great time for young professionals to get their foot in the door of an amazing industry .
LIZ KEENER
Director of Dealer Development , Marine Retailers Association of the Americas ( MRAA )
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I was hired as the associate editor of Powersports Business in 2010 , and the company that owned Powersports Business also owned Boating Industry magazine . Through BI , I was able to attend my first boating event in November 2010 . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? I ’ ve had the pleasure of knowing most of the MRAA Leadership Team for more than 13 years , and Matt Gruhn , Allison Gruhn , Liz Walz and Mike Davin have all had an influence on my career since I met them . I ’ m thrilled to be able to work and learn alongside them every day . There are also so many amazing women in this industry who are superb role models not only for myself but for others in the industry . I know I can ’ t name them all , but a few standouts include Sherri Cuvala , Susan Bonovich , Rallee Chupich , Stephanie Vatalaro , Rachel Auslander , Amy Mauzy , Kristen Frohnhoefer , Freya Olsen , Kim Sweers , Michele Goldsmith , Susan Duquette , Stacy
22 march 2024 www . boatingindustry . com