JAKE JULIES
OEM SALES MANAGER, WET SOUNDS
What first drew you to the marine industry? I grew up boating from a very young age, spending summers on Douglas Lake in East Tennessee. My family instilled in me a love for the water and everything that comes with it, fishing at sunrise, tubing all afternoon and just being together on the boat. Some of my best childhood memories were made on the water, so being part of an industry that helps create those same memories for other families feels personal and meaningful to me.
What was your first job? Landscaping. It taught me the value of hard work early on. Long days in the hot sun showed me that results come from effort and consistency. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Without a doubt, I am most proud of the family I have built. My wife, Julissa, and our five beautiful kids, Jazmyn, Jaylin, Jeremias, Jaxen and John, mean everything to me, and we are excited to welcome our newest addition in May. No professional milestone compares to being a husband and father. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? I was fortunate to have several mentors early in my career. Matt Wood was the biggest mentor for me and is still someone I respect greatly in the industry. While Matt helped shape my professional growth, the foundation for who I am started much earlier at home. The greatest influence in my life has always been my father. He set the example for how a man should conduct himself, both professionally and personally. His integrity, work ethic and consistency shaped who I am. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? Early on, earning trust was the biggest challenge. The marine industry is relationship driven, and respect is earned over time. I overcame that by staying consistent, doing what I said I would do and focusing on long-term relationships instead of short-term wins. Showing up every day with humility and a willingness to learn made all the difference. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I hope to inspire others by showing that relationships are everything. This industry is built on trust and connection. We cannot do this life or this business on our own. When you genuinely care about people and serve them well, success follows. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I am big on routine and prioritizing my day. Big goals are always written down to hold myself accountable. Organization is key for me. Knowing what needs to be done and attacking it with focus keeps me moving forward. Consistency in the small daily habits creates long-term results. What boat did you learn to boat on? I originally learned on a 32-foot LeisureKraft pontoon, then spent plenty of time on PWCs. That is where I really gained confidence and fell in love with being on the water. Where is your favorite place to go boating? Flat Creek on Douglas Lake in Sevierville, Tennessee. It feels like home, it is peaceful and it is where so many memories were made. Who was your hero as a child? My father, John Julies. He still is. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? I love Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and shooting sports. I am drawn to activities that challenge discipline, focus and mental toughness. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? If you work every day doing something you truly enjoy, it does not feel like work. The marine industry offers so many paths, whether you are a supplier or working at the OEM level building boats themselves. You are part of creating something bigger than a product. You are helping families purchase memories. I cannot think of anything more rewarding in the professional world than being part of that.
JOHN KARAMITSANIS
ENGINEERING MANAGER, INTREPID POWERBOATS
What first drew you to the
marine industry? I grew up in Tampa, FL and was always on the water, fishing or boating. Combining that background with a mechanical engineering degree from FSU, I knew that I wanted to apply my engineering skills to the marine industry. The ability to apply engineering and design thinking in a creative way in this industry is another key aspect for choosing to begin my career in the marine industry. Designing, engineering and building boats for boating enthusiasts is something that is challenging, fun and rewarding and it’ s something that I can be proud of. What accomplishments are you most proud of? Aside from the concept ideation, design, development and production of several boat models I have been lucky enough to be a part of the last five years, I’ d say a couple of the biggest accomplishments I am most proud of are the most recent projects I have been involved in: the 35 Panacea and 35 Valor. The team I am part of was able to take these two projects from initial design phases and
22 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com