MCKAY RICHARDS
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, TAYLOR’ S BOATS
What first drew you to the marine industry? I have had a passion for boating all my life. I have had the blessing of growing up in this industry both on the recreational and business side. My parents had a love for waterskiing my whole life, and that became a passion of mine as well. Mom and Dad decided to start a boat dealership, and the rest is history for me.
What was your first job? My first job was coming to work with my dad. My mom and dad taught me how to work from a young age and helped me grow. I would ride along with dad on lake demos, boat transports and on the tractor moving boats around as dad was getting the company going. I started at the bottom cleaning the toilets and taking out the garbage at Taylor’ s Boats. What accomplishments are you most proud of? The accomplishment I am most proud of is talking my beautiful wife into marrying me. If you ever get the chance to meet her, you’ ll understand why it is an accomplishment to get her to marry me! We now get to raise a beautiful little family, and I love helping them accomplish big things in their lives. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? My biggest mentors in my career though would be my mom and dad. They have been pushing me to dream big and set big goals for myself for as long as I can remember. They have helped support me in any dream I ever cooked up. As time went on, my wife has become a great influence in my life as well. She is my rock and my support. I couldn’ t do what I do each day without her at my side. And a shout out to our 20 Group members. These guys are all mentors to me. They are the real deal. You know who you are! 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 growing up in this industry being young has been coming up as the“ owner’ s son.” The stigma is real out there about second generations. I will always be grateful for my dad making me work for it all. I found quickly to overcome the stigma, I had to work harder than anyone else to be equal to anyone else, so I had to work harder than that to be able to excel. I never wanted anyone to feel like I matched the stereotype of owners ' kids in the business. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I don’ t know how much I will ever inspire others, but if I ever can I hope I can live up to the example of a leader that loves his people, puts his people first and that we can help them achieve all of their goals and dreams for their lives. I hope to help people change their stars and their family’ s stars in this life. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? My mom and dad taught me from a young age, DREAM BIG. I love setting BHAGs,“ Big Hairy Audacious Goals.” I always like to look at what could be possible one day. Then I break the goals down from there into steppingstones. I review them daily, I think about them constantly, and then you must put your head down and go to work. Great grandma always taught,“ When wishy washy wishing won’ t work, work will!” I’ ve learned that big dreams take sacrifice, hard work and good people along the way to help you achieve them. What boat did you learn to boat on? I learned to boat on dad’ s 1986 Cruisers Inc Rogue. This boat means more to our family than the family pets over the years. We grew up on this boat and dad still owns this boat to this day. If you ask him, he’ ll never say it, but we are all pretty sure it ' s the extra sibling in the family at this point. Dad jokes he’ ll be buried in that boat. We’ re not so sure it ' s a joke. This boat feels more like a childhood home than most of the houses we lived in. We have had so many fun family vacations to Lake Powell on that boat. That boat taught us about knots, anchors, independence, adventure and so much more. We love going out on this boat to this day. Where is your favorite place to go boating? I love Lake Powell. It is the wild west of boating. You get to go out into the middle of nowhere which feels like a different planet and live on a boat for days at a time with the greatest boating adventures at your fingertips. You’ ll get some trips where the water is butter from sun-up to sun-down! There are amazing hikes to places like rock arches, slot canyons and Indian ruins from ancient times. It is one big adventure from start to finish. Who was your hero as a child? My answer still remains: my mom and dad. I am their oldest guinea pig … I mean child.( Love you mom!) I watched my parents start a business from nothing with nothing. I watched them work early morning and late nights to provide for us kids. I watched them sacrifice the things they wanted so us kids could have what we wanted. I now get to stand on their shoulders as I pursue my big dreams. I watched mom back up trailers and loaded boats better than the guys on the ramps and still love it that my parents go out skiing together every week all summer long. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? I love business. I love what I get to do with my family every day. I also love riding dirtbikes, snowboarding and anything my kids love to do. We love to be on the move and have big adventures! Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? It ' s good honest hard work, and it ' s so much fun! The greatest thing I love about working in the marine industry is the people I have found inside it. It seems to attract the greatest people with a passion for fun and life. The marine industry has figured out how to keep the balance of hard work and having fun while putting people first along the way. I am grateful for all the wonderful people that have helped me get to where I am today!
30 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com