Who was your hero as a child ? I had many heroes growing up , including my parents and all my grandparents . My grandfather , Coach Bob Griffith , is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran , college football player turned Hall of Fame football coach . My stepfather , Tim Dasher , and my father , Robert Griffith Jr ., both raised me to be the man I am today . My stepfather introduced me to the outdoors and , most importantly , to fishing and boating . My mother , Jackie Dasher , has always been a source of strength , encouragement , and unwavering support in my life . Her work ethic , kindness , and ability to balance everything with grace have inspired me to be the best version of myself , both personally and professionally . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? I think of it like being a professional athlete — you get paid to do what you love . Whether I ' m talking about boats , selling electronics , or helping others enhance their fishing experience , I find this industry fun and fulfilling .
CARL GREINER MERCRUISER CATEGORY MANAGER , MERCURY MARINE
What first drew you to the marine industry ? Since childhood I have always been passionate about boating and fishing . Growing up in Long Island , New York , many of my best memories were spending time in the Long Island Sound , Great South Bay , etc . For me , there ’ s a real sense of adventure and freedom associated with being on the water . Following high school , I received an ROTC scholarship for my undergraduate degree and then spent nine years in the U . S . Navy , where I was able to boat in many different places around the U . S . and world . I also spent a significant amount of time at sea on two different Navy ships that I was stationed on . During my graduate coursework I gained a lot of experience in the hands-on marine industry : captaining , wiring boats , and repairing engines . Joining Brunswick and Mercury Marine in 2022 seemed like a great fit . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? My proudest accomplishment is the contribution I made to the commissioning of the USS Gerald R . Ford aircraft carrier . I was a watch team leader in the testing and certification of the new A1B nuclear propulsion plant , and also earned my Nuclear Engineer certification during this period . This was a challenging role and I felt that I was able to make a significant contribution to the Navy and make a difference for the people I worked with . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? In the last few years , the recreational marine industry has taken a bit of a turn — the Covid-19 boat boom days are now over , and we are in a bit of a reset . My current role in the gas and diesel sterndrive and inboard business at Mercury Marine has been a challenge due to the overall declining industry segment . I work to overcome this by being persistent and alert to all opportunities and keeping a positive attitude toward my job and those I work with . I feel positivity goes a long way , and I always try to bring that mindset to work with me ! How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? I am a firm believer in that growing and learning is something you should be doing every day , and that there are valuable things to learn from all kinds of people with different backgrounds . Additionally , being flexible and adaptive are important personality traits I work to embody . As far as setting goals , I really enjoy being challenged and consistently try to set very high standards for myself and the teams I am a part of . What boat did you learn to boat on ? A 1970 Boston Whaler Nauset powered by a 1980 two-stroke 70 horsepower Johnson . I ran that boat during my high school and college years in many different bodies of water . Recently , I had the opportunity to refurbish and repower it and now use it on the lakes in Wisconsin where I currently live . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? Outside of boating I enjoy reading , spending time with my wife and daughter , and going to new places . I am also a dedicated runner , which I have learned is more about my mental health than physical health and is something I do regularly .
MARK HAGIANIS TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER , SIREN MARINE
What was your first job ? My first job was as a “ Page ” at the local public library . I put the books back on the shelf when people returned them . My first marine job was as a fisheries observer in Alaska . From there , I began developing vessel monitoring systems and moved into the tech sector . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? Some of the work I ’ ve done has influenced federal regulations and has had a positive impact on the marine environment . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? I had a high school science teacher , Mr . Bartlett , who inspired me to pursue science and that eventually led me down my marine career path . My current supervisor , Marc Legault , has been a great mentor as well . He was instrumental in my early success at Siren Marine . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? Many of the projects I ’ ve worked on have been large multi-year endeavors , so it ’ s really important to break tasks down into things that can be done in a day , a week , or a month . When you can get all the small pieces done well , the big pieces will fall into place without being overwhelming . What boat did you learn to boat on ? A 14-foot Princecraft with a 25 horsepower outboard named Tin Lizzy . It was surprisingly seaworthy and really easy to handle . Where is your favorite place to go boating ? At this point , my primary hobby is tuna fishing , so my favorite place to go boating is the 60 fathom curve off southern New England . The amount of life on the tuna grounds is incredible and even if you don ’ t catch fish , the dolphins and whales put on a remarkable show . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? I like skiing , rock climbing , and restoring old BMWs . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? There ’ s a lot of opportunity in this industry and the skills you develop will be useful throughout your personal and professional life . Working in this industry has also given me the opportunity to travel all over the world and have some great experiences .
JOSEPH HIMMELSPACH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER , S . M . OSGOOD COMPANY
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I grew up boating on the waters of the St . Clair River in Algonac , Michigan , with my grandfather . The area is rich in boat building and racing history . Between boating as a child , refurbishing
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