friends through shared experiences on the water. I was drawn to its dynamic blend of ingenuity, craftsmanship and strong sense of community, as well as its ongoing evolution. What was your first job? My first role in the marine industry was in human resources, where I supported operations at the brand level within Cobalt Boats. That early exposure gave me a strong appreciation for the people behind the products and helped shape how I approach leadership today. What accomplishments are you most proud of? I’ m most proud of the growth I’ ve achieved through adaptability, forward thinking and continuous learning. This has provided me with opportunities for advancement quickly and being trusted with greater responsibility. Stepping into a Director level role, I have played a significant part in driving consistency and efficiency across multiple premium boat brands. By standardizing systems, policies and processes, I helped elevate people’ s practices, improved the employee experience and created scalable foundations that support sustainable growth. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? Throughout my professional career, I have benefited from the guidance of several influential individuals. I would be remiss not to acknowledge my earliest mentor, my mother, whose strong work ethic and resilience greatly shaped my values during my upbringing and continue to inspire me today.
In my professional journey, I have also been fortunate to work with leaders who challenged the status quo, placed trust in my judgment and upheld high standards of integrity and accountability. Their mentorship and confidence encouraged me to embrace new challenges and facilitated my accelerated growth. 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 has been navigating a fast paced, evolving industry while learning to balance tradition with innovation. I overcame this by staying adaptable, asking questions and focusing on building strong relationships. Being willing to learn and not being afraid to challenge existing processes made a huge difference. How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry? I hope to inspire others by showing that strong leadership is grounded in empathy, accountability, continuous learning and genuine relationships. You don’ t have to fit a single mold to succeed; being authentic, driven and open to change can take you far in this industry. By mentoring others, staying curious and leading with reliability, we can elevate our industry’ s greatest strength: its people. How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success? I set goals by focusing on scalability and long term impact in mind. I prioritize efficiency, continuous improvement and surrounding myself with people who challenge me. I focus on aligning people’ s strategy with business needs, continuously improving processes and ensuring decisions support both performance and the employee experience. Staying organized, being proactive and never becoming comfortable with“ good enough” are key to my success. What boat did you learn to boat on? When I was younger, my family would rent pontoons during our reunions at Lake Tenkiller, and I always cherished those moments on the water with them. My first solo boating experience started with a Cobalt, but I truly be- came proficient at the helm of a Malibu. Now that I have children of my own, I value the chance to create meaningful memories with my own family. All three of my kids absolutely love being on the water. I ' m grateful to have the opportunity to showcase what this industry is really about: having fun, building connections and creating lasting memories. Where is your favorite place to go boating? In my opinion, any day spent on the water is a great one. My favorite places to go boating are those that allow you to disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with the people you are with, whether that’ s a quiet lake or a waterfront with friends and family. Those moments are exactly what the boating industry exists to create. Who was your hero as a child? During my upbringing, the individual I most admired exemplified resilience, integrity and leadership. These qualities were consistently displayed by my mother, who raised five children. These attributes continue to shape my professional approach and personal values today. What are some of your favorite non boating hobbies? Beyond boating, I like to unwind with activities that help me relax and grow. Connecting with family and friends rejuvenates me, and I ' m especially interested in professional development, with a focus on supporting the next generation of leaders. Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry? The marine industry offers incredible opportunities. It’ s dynamic, relationship driven and full of growth potential. You get to be part of something that creates joy for others while building a meaningful, long term career. If you’ re adaptable, motivated and willing to grow, this industry can be incredibly rewarding.
BRANDON WRIGHT
CEO, BARNACLE SYSTEMS INC.( BRNKL)
What first drew you to the marine industry? I grew up boating in British Columbia, Canada, fishing for salmon and cruising through the islands with my family. Even when my career took me elsewhere, I always tried to get back on the water whenever I could.
Early in my career, I developed remote monitoring systems for the CIA and U. S. Air Force and spent seven years supporting projects in the Middle East.
40 march 2026 www. boatingindustry. com