OEMs of things can sometimes be intimidating . My generation has a different outlook and value base than generations before us . The ability to convey that difference , have management accept it , and then navigate successfully through these circumstances can be challenging , but with proven performance , a positive mindset and management openness , it can be done . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I want to inspire other young professionals to follow their goals and to understand that with the proper mindset , anything is possible ! You truly can achieve anything if you ’ re in the right headspace . If you accomplish one goal , it sets you up for the next . The same can be said for setbacks . When you encounter a setback — and we all do — understand this is an opportunity to discover a new path that will yield greater success . My motto : “ It doesn ’ t happen TO you … it happens FOR you .” What boat did you learn to boat on ? I grew up fishing and hunting ducks out of my dad ’ s War Eagle , but my favorite boat was my kayak which I owned before my first car . I floated rivers all over Arkansas . When I moved to Florida , I bought a Hells Bay – Glades skiff and ran it all over Mosquito Lagoon . Where is your favorite place to go boating ? My favorite is 10,000 Islands down to Flamingo ( off Florida ' s Southwest Coast ). I ran and covered so much of that waterway , and it continues to have a special place in my heart . Outrunning thunderstorms and blazing hot sunshine on flats is an amazing experience . A hard second must be Lake Ouachita in Arkansas , a huge , deep and clear lake that I grew up on , which brings to mind so many great memories . I ’ ll never forget getting into a spectacular chartreuse and white spinner bait bite and catching fish in the trees when the water was up . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The marine industry is made up of some of the best people I have ever worked with , and there is so much opportunity to go and find the role that best fits you and allows you to be a rock star . There is the perfect role for anyone that wants to be a part of it and a huge potential to make a difference , big or small . It ’ s a great place to drop anchor !
JEFFREY REIFSNYDER DIRECTOR , ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY , BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
What first drew you to the marine industry ? I ’ ve always had a passion for the water . When I was young , I was always out swimming in the pool or wading in creeks and rivers . I became obsessed with the idea of attending Webb Institute , a school for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering , when I was in middle school . After graduating from Webb , I ’ ve been a part of the maritime community ever since . What was your first job ? I worked the kitchen at my local hospital when I was younger . My first professional position was as Naval Architect for Alan C . McClure Associates in Houston Texas . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? I ’ ve been fortunate to have many people that I consider mentors . The two that stand out in my mind the most are Roger Compton , who was the Dean at Webb while I attended and my thesis advisor , and Randy Poirier , the director who hired me into the Brunswick family . Both men were a fascinating duality of kind giving and driving execution that have left lasting effects on me and my family . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I ’ m fortunate to be the site director for Brunswick ’ s Boating Intelligence Design Lab . It ’ s an innovation space that ’ s on the Research Park at the University of Illinois in Champaign . At the Lab , we have anywhere from 10 to 30 interns that work with us throughout the year , executing advanced engineering projects and proof of concepts . It ’ s an opportunity for me to give to the future by investing in the interns . My hope is that I can inspire the next generation while I ’ m at this position to not just join the industry but bring their passion and innovation to it . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? A very good friend once said to me , “ What right thing should I be doing right now ?” There ’ s a million “ right ” things that you could be doing , but what ’ s the one that has the most value ? Whenever I find myself swimming in the sea of tasks , unable to focus , or unsure what to do next , I stop and ask myself that question . Focus on the most immediate thing you can do to create value . It always puts me into a surprisingly nimble mind set , and once I ’ m there I ’ m unstoppable . If you can train yourself to always be asking that question or something like it , you ’ ll always be setting yourself up for success naturally . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? With three kids under six , I don ’ t have hobbies anymore . Kidding aside , my other great passion in life is music . I ’ ve been a singer since before I could remember , and I ’ ve played hundreds of instruments . I ’ m also a board game lover . From Chess to some of the crazy new games that you can get , I love them all . Finally , I have a love-hate relationship with endurance sports . Running , swimming , cycling , mountain biking , rowing , etc . I use that as my thinking time .
JOSH ROSELLA OWNER , FREEDOM BOAT CLUBS OF DE , MD , DC , SOUTHERN NJ , HUDSON RIVER NY
What first drew you to the marine industry ? In 2017 , my aunt , uncle , and I were considering various business opportunities in Southern Delaware , including opening a Freedom Boat Club franchise . One summer Saturday , they invited my wife and I for a tour of the local waterways on their boat . After an incredible day filled with boating , live music , breathtaking scenery , fun people , delicious food and drinks , and a stunning sunset , I was sold on the boating lifestyle . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? I am most proud of receiving the FBC Franchise of the Year award for our performance in 2021 . During that season , we achieved remarkable growth and successfully navigated numerous challenges , including the establishment of a new territory in New York and the acquisition of an existing territory in Maryland and Washington , DC . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? My uncle and business partner , Tom Rosella , continues to generously and patiently pass along his extensive business , financial , and leadership experience . It would have taken me a lifetime or more to figure it all out on my own and I am grateful for his mentorship . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I prefer to lead from the front and , in doing so , have been incorrect and experienced failure , criticism , and doubt on many occasions . These experiences are valuable lessons in business , leadership , and character . To quote Theodore Roosevelt ’ s famous passage The Man in the Arena , “… who , at the best , knows , in the end , the triumph of high achievement , and who , at the worst , if he fails , at least he fails while daring greatly , so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat .” Don ’ t choose the status quo for fear of being wrong . Recognize failure quickly when it occurs , learn from it , embrace the discomfort , and improve . Comfort is the enemy of progress . This industry is dynamic , think big and lead it .
26 march / april 2025 www . boatingindustry . com