and new perspectives more than ever to continue pushing the industry forward. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I work in a very sales-driven environment, which naturally means performance is measured through metrics. I focus on setting daily, weekly and monthly goals that keep me aligned with my larger yearly objectives. Consistently hitting small milestones ultimately leads to achieving the bigger ones. What boat did you learn to boat on? My family’ s boat – a 1998 Sun Tracker pontoon. I learned the ins and outs of boating at an early age and immediately fell in love with the lifestyle. Where is your favorite place to go boating? One of my favorite places I’ ve ever been boating is Lake Dora just outside of Orlando, Florida. Who was your hero as a child? Like many people, my father was my hero growing up. He was always the strongest person I knew – both mentally and physically – and that’ s something I’ ve always admired and tried to emulate. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? I love sports and anything outdoors. Hiking and exploring different recreational activities are always on my list whenever I travel somewhere new. And if it’ s a spring Saturday, you can almost always find me at an Oklahoma football game – Boomer Sooner! Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? Young professionals should consider a career in the marine industry because it’ s an exciting field that’ s constantly evolving. There’ s always something new to learn, and at the end of the day, you’ re working with products that bring people joy. It’ s hard to beat an industry that ultimately revolves around spending a great day out on the water.
TED JARMUZ
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING TECHNOLOGY, MARINEMAX
What first drew you to the marine industry? Boating is about making memories. I was interested in using technology to share that experience and help more people discover the joy of being on the water. What was your first job? I started my career in the Marketing department for the Buffalo Bills. Working for my hometown team in the sports and entertainment space was a dream first job after college. What accomplishments are
you most proud of? I’ m proud of leading our Marketing Technology team to elevate our digital experience across all channels. One recent focus has been on leveraging AI to scale our automation capabilities to create a more personalized journey for our customers.
Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? Amanda Ward, our VP of Business Solutions at Marine- Max, has been a big influence. She inspires me to create better digital experiences for boaters at every step of their journey. Her ability to translate business goals into solutions has shaped my leadership style to push the limits of what’ s standard in the industry today. 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 on the customer-facing technology side is modernizing experiences while staying connected to the needs of our core demographics. I’ ve overcome this by making sure our solutions bridge the gap between traditional boater / dealer relationships and the seamless, tech-forward journey the next generation of boaters now expects. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I want to show young professionals that the marine industry is a premier destination for tech talent. There’ s a massive opportunity for innovators to shape the future of how people discover life on the water. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I utilize a data-first approach, setting measurable KPIs for the products my team owns that align with our company goals. I set myself up for success by breaking large initiatives into actionable milestones to ensure consistent progress while maintaining the ability to pivot quickly when the business needs it. What boat did you learn to boat on? My friend Jon ' s family had a 1988 Sea Ray that we would take on the Niagara River back home in Buffalo. Where is your favorite place to go boating? Tie between Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, depending on the day. Living in the Charlotte area, it’ s great to have such a large and active boating community right in my backyard. Who was your hero as a child? My parents. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? Watching my favorite sports teams( Go Bills and Sabres!), skiing, and playing video games. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? It’ s a unique space where you sell fun and lifelong memories instead of just a product. The industry is ripe for digital transformation, offering young professionals the chance to make an impact early in their careers.
www. boatingindustry. com march 2026
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