In Brief: Springfield Marine Company, SBT, Sea Ray

Marine seating and accessories company Springfield Marine has appointed of Gary Smith as National Sales Manager. With more than 25 years of experience in the marine and consumer products industries, Smith joins the company from Garelick Mfg. Co., where he served as director of OEM and aftermarket sales. Prior to that Smith held various senior level sales and marketing assignments around the U.S. and Europe with 3M Company. Smith will be responsible for growing sales with marine OEM and aftermarket customers, as well as the RV segment, for the full line of Springfield products and assisting with the development of new products and strategies to accelerate growth in all divisions of the company. In addition to Smith, the new Springfield Marine sales team includes Danny Sweeney, director of sales and marketing, who joined Springfield Marine from Seasense earlier this year, and Doyle Bridges, vice president/general manager for the Springfield Marine Company.

SBT, which remanufactures engines and supplies aftermarket parts to the personal watercraft industry, has launched a new Web site to sell its products. “Our goal was to make the Web site a technical resource for the mechanic or do-it-yourselfer” Greg Pickren, SBT’s founder and owner, said in a release. “With over 2000 PWC parts in stock, we knew it was important to focus on making the shopping experience quick and easy, and designed in such a way as to reduce the risk of the customer buying the wrong parts.” The site also contains technical videos, technical articles, a tech support forum, and other resources.

Sea Ray Boats created its Pet and Water Safety (PAWS) program to help boaters keep their sage on the water, according to a release from the company. In a recent survey of its customers, Sea Ray found that more than 60 percent of Sea Ray owners had dogs and cats, and nearly two-thirds of them take their pets — primarily dogs — on their boats between five and 15 times a season. Sea Ray recently launched a PAWS Web site (www.petandwatersafety.com) with the help of lead partner Nestlé Purina PetCare. The site currently includes feature articles, guidelines, safety tips, contests, gear, and special offers from PAWS sponsors.

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