VITTORIO CASTELLINI BICHUCHER
PRESIDENT OF VENTURE BOAT GROUP AND GENERAL MANAGER OF NAVAN, BRUNSWICK BOAT GROUP
What first drew you to the marine industry? Spending lots of hours sailing in Northeast Brasil! What was your first job? Naval Architect and Mechanical Engineer Intern at INACE Yachts Shipyard in Fortaleza, Brazil. What accomplishments are you most proud of? Honestly, winning the Harken 6m regatta at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron more than 20 years ago. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? So many to count. I have never tried to optimize my career, my next step, based on a vision I had. I went with the opportunities that life presented that interested me. And throughout that journey, I met incredible people that have bet on me and provided me with the room to succeed and fail.
As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? Not necessarily a challenge, but something I am always working towards is tailoring my ideas / thoughts with the amazing experience we have at Brunswick. How do we learn from our mistakes and successes to ensure that our changes can drive the entire industry forward? How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I think when you allow others to shine, by trusting and listening to them, respecting them by debating with them about those ideas, and giving them the space to try and succeed, or fail, people will walk through walls for anyone. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? As a team. It’ s critical that a team is aligned on the vision, path forward and goals. I will challenge them for more, always! What boat did you learn to boat on? I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time on boats growing up. For power boating, my grandfather had a Sea Ray and a Riva, and he lives in Lago Maggiore, in Italy. For sailboats, I spent a lot of time competitively sailing catamarans, and monohulls all over the world, Brazil, New Zealand, and the U. S. Where is your favorite place to go boating? North Manitou Islands in Lake Michigan. Hard to find an anchor spot, but very quiet and beautiful once you do it. Who was your hero as a child? Torben Grael, Lars Grael, and Robert Scheidt( Brazilian Sailors). What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? Building old Italian motorcycles, specially MV Agustas, and reading fiction. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? I get paid to sometimes test boats for a living. What else could you want?!
ALEXANDRA CLARK
SALES MANAGER, PRESTIGE YACHTS, PRESTIGE YACHTS / GROUPE BENETEAU
What first drew you to the marine industry? Growing up in East Hampton and getting woken up at 5 a. m. to go fishing in the Northeast Canyons on my family’ s 50 ' Hatteras instilled in me a deep appreciation for life on the water. What began as a personal passion quickly evolved into a professional calling, and I was fortunate to join the marine industry right out of college.
What was your first job? My first job was at 11 years old, bussing tables at Westlake Clam and Chowder House in Montauk, New York. That early experience in the service industry shaped my professional approach and still influences my customer service skills today. What accomplishments are you most proud of? I’ m most proud of building a life defined by resilience, hard work and purpose. After losing both of my parents at a young age, I learned early how to stand on my own while holding onto the values of kindness, determination and integrity. Those challenges became motivation. Today, I’ m proud to have built a career around the marine lifestyle I love while striving every day to support others and make the most of every opportunity. More than anything, the hardships I faced shaped me into someone who values perseverance, gratitude and honesty. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? Early in my sales career, I studied the work of Barbara Corcoran. The way she built trust as a young woman in a male-dominated industry is incredibly impressive. I’ ve taken note of many of her successful approaches and applied them in my everyday life. One example is her use of a monthly newsletter to build credibility and stay connected with clients. Barbara’ s grace, professionalism and charisma are attributes I strive to emulate. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? One of the biggest challenges has been navigating a traditionally relationship-driven industry while still early in my career. I overcame this by consistently exceeding expectations; being highly responsive, deeply organized and delivering on commitments. Over time, credibility follows performance, and I’ ve been intentional about earning trust through results and clear communication. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I hope to demonstrate that professionalism, preparation and genuine care for the customer experience can accelerate both personal and company
12 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com