How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I have a Type A personality, so I love organization and crossing things off my list. Maybe it’ s optimism – or a little delusion – but I tend to go after what I want, even if it seems ambitious in the moment, because I keep my energy focused on moving forward, never back. My dad always says,“ jump in with both feet!” – and that’ s instilled a confidence in me that things will work out for the better. What boat did you learn to boat on? 1993 Four Winns 190 Horizon. Where is your favorite place to go boating? Long Lake in Traverse City, Michigan. Who was your hero as a child? When I was younger, my dad had me and my sister convinced he was Superman. Whenever we questioned him, he’ d say his suit was at the dry cleaners – and we believed him every time! I may be older and wiser now, but to me, he’ s still Superman. His strength, wisdom and unwavering support shaped who I am, and the way he approaches life with such boldness and humor continues to motivate me every day. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? When I’ m not working, you’ ll most likely find me on a golf course, enjoying a good book or catching up with my best girlfriends over happy hour! Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? There’ s a strong sense of camaraderie that you don’ t often find in other fields. Plus, it’ s genuinely fun! For anyone looking for a career that combines gratifying work with a love for the lifestyle, the marine industry is hard to beat.
KRISTA SCHIPNER
VP OF MARKETING, MASTERCRAFT BOAT HOLDINGS, INC.
What first drew you to the
marine industry? I grew up in the marine industry, first as a recreational boater and then a competitive water skier. That passion opened doors to work with equipment manufacturers, pro events, athletes and brands across the industry. Over time, I realized I was constantly trying to separate my love for being on the water from my career. Eventually I stopped trying. Being able to combine a personal passion with a professional mission to help create those experiences for others is what ultimately kept me here. What was your first job? Out of college I joined a PR agency in San Diego focused on biotech and legal clients. It was great training, but I missed being connected to the water. During that time, many of my relationships in watersports began reaching out for marketing and PR support. What started as helping friends quickly became an opportunity to return to the industry full-time. I eventually joined USA Water Ski & Wake Sports in a business development and marketing role, where I was able to combine my marketing background with the sport and community I grew up in. What accomplishments are you most proud of? Being a mom is the most important and rewarding role I have. Professionally, I’ m incredibly proud of the opportunity to help steward a brand like MasterCraft. Boats are woven into some of life’ s most meaningful moments ― time with family, lifelong friendships, competition and escape. Master- Craft has played a role in those memories for generations. To be entrusted with helping guide and protect a brand with that kind of legacy is both an honor and a responsibility I don’ t take lightly. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? My dad has been one of my biggest influences. Watching him lead a business with integrity, fairness and respect for people shaped how I think about leadership. I also learned a tremendous amount from Steve Bates, my former employer at Black Oak Creative. In 2013 we took a chance on each other. I was his first hire, and he was building an agency from his living room. Over the next decade we grew the company tenfold, and I learned firsthand the importance of great work, great people and doing the right thing even when it’ s difficult. And finally, my husband Bojan has always believed in me beyond my own expectations and keeps our life running so I can show up fully at work and at home. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? Early in my career, being a young woman in marketing sometimes came with the assumption that my role was limited to“ doing social media.” It pushed me to be sharper, more prepared and more deliberate about demonstrating strategic thinking and business impact. Over time I realized the best way to overcome assumptions is through consistency and results. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I hope people see that it’ s possible to truly love the work you do. Someone once told me you’ re successful when you look forward to Friday afternoon and Monday morning with the same enthusiasm. That’ s how I feel about this industry. We get to build products that create joy, connection and lifelong memories for families. I also hope women early in their careers feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles in marine. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? Big goals can feel overwhelming if you focus only on the end result. I’ ve learned to break them down into phases, then into actionable tasks, and ultimately into daily priorities. Consistency in the small steps is what drives meaningful progress. That approach keeps me focused and motivated because you can see progress happening in real time. It also helps prevent the feeling that a goal is too big to tackle. Whether in business or personal life, I try to focus on disciplined execution. What boat did you learn to boat on? My parents bought their first MasterCraft when I was seven years old. That boat is where I learned to drive, ski and spend entire days on the water with family and friends. Since then, I’ ve been fortunate to experience boating
32 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com