Best In Class: Russell Marine

Nestled around Lake Martin in Central Alabama, Russell Marine (Ranked 10) capitalizes on the expanse of resources its parent company, Russell Lands, affords it. The residential real estate company has built several single-family and condominium developments on Lake Martin and also owns several hundred lakeside rental homes, two golf courses, seven building materials stores and an energy business, in addition to its four full-service marinas and two boat dealerships. But amidst all its other businesses, Russell doesn’t lose sight of its boat business. All four of its marinas have achieved Sea Ray Master Dealer status, and the company says it had the highest sales percentage increase of any North American Sea Ray dealer in 2005/2006. The company’s vast resources contribute to incredible marketing programs, especially when one considers the ability to tap into a database of more than 2,500 potential customers with whom the parent company has made contact. The corporate office also provides training opportunities to ensure all employees are well-trained. And it’s the attention to detail – showcased by a 96.5 CSI score – that makes Russell Marine the highest-ranking dealer with 5 or 6 stores.