jobs in the industry during high school and college , working on weekends and during the summers . The culmination of my younger life experiences with the boating lifestyle , the technological innovations involved , and my passion for problem-solving solidified my desire to build a career in the boating industry after college . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? When I first transitioned to a sales role in my mid-20s , I frequently interacted with boaters and industry professionals who were significantly older and more successful than I was , and I looked much younger than my actual age . As a result , I often encountered dismissiveness or a lack of respect when starting to work with these individuals . I had to work extra hard to prove my worth and expertise , especially when dealing with first-time clients . Initially , this undermined my confidence and made it more difficult to make sales . However , over time , I took great pride in overcoming their initial assumptions and demonstrating that age has nothing to do with competence and expertise . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? With this award in mind , I hope my story inspires others to take that leap of faith and pursue their passion for boating by building a career in this field . The industry needs more enthusiastic young professionals . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? My passion and enthusiasm drive me to constantly think about what ’ s next and what can be better . I admit that I often set too many goals at once , which can make me feel overwhelmed at times . Each morning , I create a daily work list and cross off each item as I complete it . This practice helps me stay focused and reduces feelings of being overwhelmed . For my larger , long-term goals , instead of making a list , I find myself reflecting on them often . I especially do this in the early morning while enjoying a cup of coffee before my phone and emails start . Dream Big , Start Small ! What boat did you learn to boat on ? An Oday 28-foot sailboat .
How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? I hope young engineers in this industry see the opportunities that it provides for growth and learning . I ’ ve been very fortunate to be part of some very exciting projects with Malibu , including living in Australia for an acquisition , helping vertically integrate trailer , engine , and SoftGrip businesses , and helping grow the factories of vaunted brands like Malibu , Axis , Cobalt , Pursuit , Pathfinder , and Cobia . What boat did you learn to boat on ? I grew up on a 24-foot Hurricane SunDeck outboard , trying desperately to make it a tow boat ( and myself a wakeboarder ) during my high school years and failing quite miserably on both fronts . Who was your hero as a child ? Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior . What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies ? I have five kids , so I have their hobbies , not my hobbies ! There ’ s no better family hobby than being on a boat . I ’ ve never once been asked for a screen of any kind — it is one of the last refuges in our digital world . Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry ? The speed this industry moves at is unlike any other that I ’ ve either worked in or benchmarked against , and therefore no industry can provide design or manufacturing experience faster than the marine industry . The speed and moderate size of the companies will expose you to bigger projects and more facets of the general business which will rapidly develop you professionally in many ways .
JASON VANCE DIR . OF CAPITAL PROJECTS & EXPANSION ENGINEERING , MALIBU BOATS
What first drew you to the marine industry ? My passion for boating stems from growing up spending every summer on the water with my family . My first internship solidified my desire to build my career in the marine industry . What accomplishment are you most proud of ? Being part of a team that took Malibu Boats from building 10 boats per day to a peak of 24 boats per day , while simultaneously achieving five million man hours without a lost time incident twice in that time period . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? Donna Tallent has been my greatest mentor . She taught me how to prioritize the needs of the production line teams to ensure their success , because their success is critical for the outcome of every project . Another great influence on my career recently retired . Ritchie Anderson ’ s deep understanding of what it takes to produce quality boats safely and efficiently greatly helped set the standard of success that I ’ ve emulated in my career . As a young professional , what are the biggest challenges you ’ ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them ? I think most companies in the marine industry struggle with wanting to have the tools and efficient systems from the automotive industry , while lacking the volume or market capitalization that make them feasible . I ’ ve found the best method for right sizing our tools and systems is to involve the right team of people , with different perspectives , to ensure you ’ re getting the most value for your time and capital budgets available .
LOGAN VAN HOUTTEGHEM DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER , HONDA MARINE
What first drew you to the marine industry ? Growing up on the water in Florida . What was your first job ? I worked at a Bait and Tackel Shop ( Atlantic Bait and Tackel ). What accomplishment are you most proud of ? Being able to juggle a career and family . My wife and two kids are my biggest accomplishments . Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career ? My mother and father were my biggest supporters when I was younger and getting started in the marine industry . They always pushed me forward and supported me through school . I would not be here if it weren ’ t for them . How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry ? This industry needs young technicians and engineers . I hope to show younger individuals that you can make an excellent career out of this industry . There are so many opportunities out there . How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success ? Truthfully , I never go out of my way to set “ goals .” I always make sure my focus is on the job that I have at the time . I have found that working hard in your current role and mastering that task will set you up for success . My advice is " don ’ t get ahead of yourself ."
30 march / april 2025 www . boatingindustry . com