Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? My father, Carl Van Damme, was by far my biggest mentor in my career. He taught me everything I knew up to a certain point and then gave me the space to grow beyond that. There are some other industry veterans that I have learned a lot from and look up to that I have met by being part of the Marine Fabricators Association as well, but my dad is still my number one mentor. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? I would say the biggest challenge I faced, especially early on, was being confident about myself and my abilities when I started a larger role where I would meet with our customers and be their main point of contact. The old " act like you ' ve been there " was something I really took to heart early on until I got used to it and developed my knowledge over the years, which has led to me being confident in just about any situation with a customer or potential customer. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? The marine industry can sometimes struggle to attract younger people like myself, but the marine canvas and upholstery industry struggles on a stratospheric level with this... So, I hope that through my dedication and love of this industry, I will be able to inspire others to be open to a career in the marine industry. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? My goals regarding our company are to build the best team we can here through consistent learning and training, which in turn will help us to make the best customer products for our customers, and eventually lead to our company continuing to build the reputation that we have worked so hard to build over the years. What boat did you learn to boat on? I grew up boating with my parents on many different boats. One of the first boats I can remember of theirs was a 1989 Baja 290 Sport express cruiser. My first boats were a couple of smaller jet boats and then a 1988 Sea Ray Pachanga 22. Where is your favorite place to go boating? I do most of my boating on the Lake Winnebago chain here in Oshkosh, WI but Lake Michigan as well as the rest of the Great Lakes and the Upper Mississippi River are some of my favorite spots. More recently, I have had the opportunity to visit the Lake of The Ozarks and Southern Florida and go boating in those areas many times and they are fantastic places to get out on the water! Who was your hero as a child? I was a huge sports nut growing up, so I would say some sports figure would have been that person at the time. I ' m not sure I had one person I could point to, but I imagine it would have been a sports legend such as Michael Jordan. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? I ' ve been a HS and College sports coach almost all my adult life. I am also into golfing and traveling when I can find the time. Spending time with my wife and our not quite 2-year-old little guy has really become a top priority for me, and I am enjoying the heck out of being a newish dad! Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? My favorite things about the marine industry are that it is fast paced and exciting. You rarely see the exact same time repeatedly, and there are many things to challenge you and keep you always learning and advancing your skills and yourself.
MAX VERHAGEN
PRESIDENT / OWNER, AMHERST MARINE
What first drew you to the marine industry? My passion for the water and love for watersports. What was your first job? Drying and stacking wax paper serving baskets at the Clearwater Harbor. What accomplishments are you most proud of? My family. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? My dad. As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them? Earning the trust and respect of both customers and my team- many who have significantly more life and industry experience than I do. Early on, I realized respect isn ' t something you demand, it is earned. I focus on listening, learning as much as possible and making myself as prepared as possible. Whether it is understanding project details, following through on commitments or being transparent when I don ' t have an immediate answer, I make it a priority to communicate as thoroughly as possible. Building trust and credibility has allowed me to overcome this challenge. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I hope to inspire others by showing you can be both driven and grounded- focus on growth while still treating people the right way. This industry is built on relationships. Honesty and integrity with your customers, your team and your community matter most. I also think it is important to bring new energy and ideas to the industry while still respecting what has brought it to where it is today. If I can encourage others, especially younger people, to take pride in their work and see opportunities in this industry, that is something I ' d be proud of. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I keep my goals simple. I set a clear long-term vision of where I want to be both personally and professionally, then break that down into smaller, measurable goals I focus on day to day. I also believe setting yourself up for success means surrounding yourself with the right team and keeping an open mind. What boat did you learn to boat on? 1994 Harris Sunliner. Where is your favorite place to go boating? Waupaca Chain O Lakes.
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