What boat did you learn to boat on ? A Sea Ray 290 bowrider . Who was your hero as a child ? My dad . I was blessed with an incredible father , coach , mentor and friend . He has always been a fantastic role model and taught me the importance of having endless curiosity in life and that hard work and dedication go a long way to achieving your goals .
JESSE COLT MARINE DESIGN ENGINEER , COBALT BOATS
What first drew you to the marine industry ? The opportunity to do what I love in an industry that focuses on providing happiness and enjoyment for so many people . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? I am most proud of being part of multiple successful product launches throughout my career . I have been able to successfully coordinate and manage projects with teammates and vendors to ensure everyone is aligned with the product goals , timelines and budgets . I have had a major hand in designing and engineering a lot of innovative and practical components and features on the boats and ships I have worked on . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? I have had quite a few influential mentors through my career so far . The one who sticks out the most to me right now is the late George Johnson . He showed me what it means to be a leader in the workplace and how to come alongside people who report to him with integrity and purpose . He always led by example and made the team his top priority . 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 faced was changing from naval structure design to fiberglass boat design . Both fields have a lot of complexities and are also vastly different in their design intricacies and manufacturing , which made for a big learning curve . I devoted as much time as I could in and outside of work to reading and learning about the fiberglass industry . This included meetings with team members from each department that contributed to the boat building process . These meetings helped me not only learn the ins and outs , but also build relationships , which I think is another key to success in this industry . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I hope others are inspired by my passion for combining innovation and functionality in my work . I think it ’ s important that we keep mentoring younger professionals in the industry to work together and push the industry forward in sustainability , innovation and quality . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? Some of my favorite hobbies are spending time with my wife and kids , surfing , and any other outdoor activities like fishing , hiking and camping . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The marine industry is always changing and offers fulfilling challenges . Because it is a small yet diverse industry , you can get more experience and more exposure to various projects and types of work than you could in a lot of other industries .
JOSEPH CRISWELL PLANT 1 MANAGER , CHAPARRAL & ROBALO BOATS
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I have a passion for boating and fishing . When I heard there was an opening at Chaparral and Robalo Boats , I took the opportunity and have been here ever since . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? Finding a career that I enjoy . Becoming a plant manager at a young age . Continuing the company ’ s focus on quality . Becoming a husband and father is one of my proudest accomplishments . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? From becoming a lead person to now plant manager , Buck Pegg , founder of Chaparral Boats , and Chris Adams have been great influences and mentors . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? Starting out at 18 , I had no knowledge of building boats and the process , but I made it known I was ready to learn and cross train in other departments to increase my knowledge . What boat did you learn to boat on ? Growing up , we had an old aluminum boat that we would take out and go bass fishing . We would spend most of our weekends hanging out on it . Where is your favorite place to go boating ? I love saltwater fishing , so anywhere on the Gulf . We spend a lot of time at Keaton Beach catching trout , redfish , and snapper . My father-in-law has a home there so that is our place to go to enjoy family time and to make memories . Who was your hero as a child ? My Grandmother was and always will be my hero . She raised me and helped me overcome many obstacles throughout my life . She taught me the value of hard work and the importance of family . My greatest lesson from her was to always do your best in everything you do .
NANCY DEAN CO-OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS , FREEDOM BOAT CLUB OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
What accomplishment are you most proud of ? I built a trusted team within our operation to ensure the company ' s continued strong growth . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? Hitting the ground running in an industry I knew almost nothing about just four years ago , and building strong professional relationships with both colleagues and customers . I learned that when I set my mind to something , stay focused , and trust God , things eventually fall into place . I am grateful for the mentorship I received from friends , successful business leaders in the Freedom Boat Club 20 Group , and dealers in Virginia . The support from FBC corporate and Brunswick has also been instrumental in helping me navigate these challenges . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I aim to demonstrate that success in the marine industry is achievable for anyone with passion and dedication . By leading with integrity , innovation , and inclusivity , I hope to inspire others to pursue their own paths in this field .
14 march / april 2025 www . boatingindustry . com