October 2016

Rallee Chupich Director of Service and Restaurant Operations, Gordy’s Lakefront Marine and Gordy’s Boat House     Education: Master’s of Education, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, Wisconsin certification to teach grades 6-12 Spanish & Geography, Assistant to the Dean of Education; B.A. Degrees in Geography and Spanish, University of California, Santa Barbara Years in the marine industry: My entire life. I ...

Anne Dunbar IBEX Show Director, IBEX LLC Education: B.A. Communications, University of Colorado, Boulder; Master’s Certificate in Creativity & Change Leadership, Buffalo State College, 2012 Years in the marine industry: 30 Companies you have worked for in the marine industry and titles you held within those companies: Soundings & Soundings Trade Only, Region Advertising Sales Manager; Boating Industry magazine, East Coast Advertising Sales ...

Amanda Rodriguez Levandowski Chief Operating Officer, Sales, Charlotte Ski Boats Education: Business Administration from McColl Business School at Queens University Years in the marine industry: 6 What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry? I have learned to embrace the journey. Every day is a new opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. ...

Wanda Kenton Smith Chief Marketing Officer, Freedom Boat Club; President, Kenton Smith Marketing Education: B.A. in Journalism, Auburn University Years in the marine industry: 36 Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry? Why or why not? Throughout my 36-year career in this industry, I have been extremely fortunate to be associated with many very smart business leaders who ...

Serenity Gardner Chief Operating Officer, SeaDek Marine Products Education: Master’s in International Politics & Economics Years in the marine industry: 9 Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry? Why or why not? Thankfully, no. Within four months of starting with SeaDek in July of 2008, the recession hit and it wasn’t long before we were wondering how we ...

Marcia Kull Vice President – Marine Sales, Volvo Penta of the Americas, LLC Education: B.A. in Education – University of Iowa; JD – University of Iowa College of Law. Years in the marine industry: Over 25 Companies you have worked for in the marine industry and titles you held within those companies: Genmar Holdings – Assistant General Counsel, Vice President ...

Joan Maxwell President, Regulator Marine, Inc. Education: B.A. in History, University of North Carolina Years in the marine industry: Almost 30 years What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned working in the marine industry? This industry is full of great people – some in large organizations and some in small. I’ve learned that most of these people are ...

Dana Russikoff Business Leader & Co-Founder, SureShade Education:  Double Master’s Degree in Marketing and Operations, Drexel University Years in the marine industry: 9 Was it difficult to navigate a career in this industry? Why or why not? My career began 20+ years ago in the male-dominated manufacturing industry, so I’m used to that dynamic and therefore has no bearing on getting ...

Most in industry still not concerned about diversity, survey says Those working in the boating industry are still much more concerned about bringing younger buyers into the market than they are about attracting non-white buyers, according to the latest Boating Industry reader survey. We surveyed readers of Boating Industry’s print and digital products, including dealers, manufacturers, suppliers and others working ...

Paulee Coughlin Day Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary, MarineMax, Inc. Education: B.A. – Vanderbilt University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa; M.B.A. – Vanderbilt University, magna cum laude, Beta Gamma Sigma; J.D. – Indiana University School of Law, magna cum laude Years in the marine industry: 14 What are some of the biggest lessons you have ...