industry, building a positive work culture, cultivating business relationships and delivering outstanding customer experiences. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I start with the endpoint in mind and then make a plan for how to get there. As the old saying goes, " A dream written down becomes a goal. A goal broken into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action becomes a reality." What boat did you learn to boat on? I didn ' t start boating until I was 15. My dad bought an old Four Winns runabout and we used the heck out of it, breaking and fixing it more times than I can count. We were out on the lake multiple times a week waterskiing behind it. I finally sold it a few years ago to some friends who still use it regularly! Where is your favorite place to go boating? Living in the land of 10,000 lakes, it ' s hard to choose. But a top contender is the lake where my brother lives. He ' s about a mile down the road from us, so we spend many summer evenings and weekends cruising, swimming and waterskiing on that lake. The boating there is excellent, but the community on the lake and memories that I ' m making with my family are even better. Who was your hero as a child? My biggest hero, still to this day, is my grandpa. He was incredibly smart, hardworking and kind. He taught me many life lessons about working hard and helping others, showing me firsthand how to build a life and career rooted in those values. What are some of your favorite nonboating hobbies? I love riding motorcycles and downhill skiing. I ' m a big fan of outdoor activities that don ' t involve too much exercise. But I spend the bulk of my time making memories with my wonderful wife, Andi, and our two sons. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? There are so many opportunities in this industry. Many outsiders think this industry consists only of dealerships or manufacturers. As we in the industry know, it ' s so much more robust than that. We need individuals with all types of talents in this industry. The opportunities are diverse and there ' s always new ways to grow, all while having fun with boats.
ROBERT RAGO
PLANT MANAGER, REGAL MARINE INDUSTRIES
What first drew you to the marine industry? I was looking for a career opportunity at a family-owned business and heard about Regal from a friend. I’ ve enjoyed the boating lifestyle for most of my life, so I was intrigued to combine those two interests into a career. What was your first job? My first job was on a farm in Osceola County at 16 years old. I tended livestock and maintained equipment and facilities. It taught me the value of hard work and being a small business a sense of ownership over my work that would pay dividends later in my career.
What accomplishments are you most proud of? I am most proud of my marriage and my children. I wasn’ t always sure that I would have a big family one day, so I am extremely blessed and grateful for the family I’ ve created with my wife. They bring me joy and we have so much fun together. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? I’ ve been very fortunate to have some incredible mentors in my marine industry career. One is Bobby Myers, an engineer at Regal who influenced me to deeply value relationships within the work force. Another key mentor in my career is Jeff Warden. He instilled comprehensive skills like critical thinking and problem solving, as well as specialized skills with composites and infusion. 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 I’ ve faced in the marine industry is balancing work relationships with productivity and deliverables. It is a tricky balance but one that I think is substantial. I have learned that both are critical but investing in relationships first will always produce more solid outcomes. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I hope to inspire others in the industry by showing that this is a career where you can come in with little experience and create a livelihood if you’ re open to growing and learning new skills. How did you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I set myself up for success by surrounding myself with high performers. I live and work by the concept that anyone from any situation has something to teach me. I set and achieve goals by striving to be the best at what has been placed in front of me. If I’ m given a position or goal to accomplish, I will always give it my all. What boat did you learn to boat on? The boat I learned on was a Regal LX2. It is very maneuverable and has the perfect layout for a family. It’ s a great boat to learn on because of its size and ease to dock / trailer. Where is your favorite place to go boating? I like to boat in the Alligator Chain of Lakes in Osceola County. You can easily cover six lakes from one boat launch and see so much of old Florida. Who was our hero as a child? My dad was my hero for as long as I can remember. In his professional life, he was always known as the guy to call when you needed something fixed. I aspire to have a fraction of his reputation in my professional and personal life.
28 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com