Fostering B2B editorial excellence
MANAGING EDITOR Madelyn Hubbard | mhubbard @ epgacceleration. com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Glenn Hansen | ghansen @ epgacceleration. com
TOP 100 PROGRAM DIRECTOR Adam Quandt | aquandt @ epgacceleration. com
Off the keyboard, into connection
The month preparing for this issue was my favorite since entering the world of content creation. I was inspired by the people I spoke with and the perspectives they shared.
I got to sit down( virtually) with the 2025 Mover and Shaker of the Year, Finalists, and product specialists from the marine audio and PWC segments. Each discussion left me envisioning the future of our industry with excitement, and more importantly, each discussion reminded me of the importance of connection.
Because I work from my home, the conversations I have with industry professionals are brief and usually focused on a specific topic. These are helpful for my work, of course. But I look forward to boat shows and industry events where conversations flow more organically and the learning is broader.
Over the last few weeks, following the discussions shared with those featured in this issue, I rolled my chair out from under my desk and closed my computer with extra enthusiasm.
Why? Because these leaders spoke about their businesses and teams with passion. As I learned about their background in the industry, I felt more connected to the unique people that make up our industry. To help share their stories made me feel connected to something bigger.
Recognizing nine leaders this year as part of our 2025 Movers and Shakers program, we celebrate many accomplishments. To the same extent, we recognize and honor their investment in the teams they work with. From the people who mentor them to the peers they empower. Because it’ s all about connection – intentional connection that drives morale and growth.
As our 2025 Mover and Shaker of the Year put it,“ We’ re in the people business, not the boat business. We just happen to produce and sell boats as a vehicle to connect with people … My team probably hears it ad nauseam that engagement is critical in how we learn and understand and develop the right solutions, whether it’ s services and products or relationships with our dealer friends.”
He discussed the normalization of communication through a screen versus in-person conversations; he encourages his team to have the first discussion face-to-face and use the keyboard as a tool to follow up later.
That resonated with me. While I can’ t control the remoteness of my job, I can make more phone calls. I can set aside 10 minutes to catch up with Joe Bob from the Miami Boat Show and share a conversation as if we were in passing from desk to break room. I’ m sure that can apply to many of us. What changes can we make to invest in the relationship aspect of business?
Hearing the energy, optimism, and perseverance that define our industry was motivational. And greater, the leading voices in our industry reminded me that relationships and personal connections matter just as much as innovation and growth.
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