SG Marina gains three new marina management contracts, names vice president

SG Marina, the marina management division of Milwaukee-based Siegel-Gallagher Management Company, has been awarded new management contracts for marinas in Waukegan, Ill., Egg Harbor Wis. and Rochester New York. In addition, SG Airport will handle management of the airport in Waukegan.

“These are important wins for SG Marina and SG Airport as we continue to expand our efforts in public marina and airport management operations both in and outside of Wisconsin,” said John Matheson, chief operating officer for SG Marina and SG Airport.

“Both the harbor and airport provide a significant contribution to the regional economy now, but have the opportunity to play a much larger role,” said Grant B. Farrell, chairman of the Port District Board. “We believe that bringing in a professional management company will provide us the best chance to significantly improve these important assets.”

“The commercial harbor and recreational marina are facing new economic and market environments,” added Matheson. “Operators must adapt to the market changes with the right skills and employ more sophisticated management to be successful, and Waukegan Harbor is no different. The expectations boaters demand from marinas has evolved dramatically from what it was 15 years ago. The Waukegan Port District Board has the foresight to recognize the challenges they face and are taking action to keep the commercial and recreational harbor vibrant and relevant for the future.”

The Marina at the Port of Rochester is a brand new 84-slip marina, designed by Edgewater and built and owned by the city of Rochester. It will open to boaters this spring. The marina provides transient and seasonal boat docking for a variety of vessel types. It will accommodate boats up to 80 feet in length. The marina entrance is connected directly to the Genesee River approximately 0.5 miles upstream from the entrance into the channel from Lake Ontario.

“We will work to integrate the entire Port of Rochester area into the marketing and promotion of the new marina,” said Matheson. “It’s a beautiful and well-designed facility and boaters will certainly be impressed with the marina and all of the amenities surrounding it.”

Located in Door County, Wis., Egg Harbor Marina has 83 slips and was completely rebuilt about five years ago. Its currently at full capacity, but Matheson believes that additional attention to customer service and developing more engaging relationships with local businesses will help SG Marina significantly improve boaters’ experiences at Egg Harbor.

SG Marina names new vice president

In addition to the three new contracts, SG Marina recently named Chris Marx as the new vice president of marina.

Marx joined SGMC in January 2014 and brings more than 20 years of experience the organization.

“Chris has the perfect mix of experience, leadership ability and enthusiasm to serve as the front line face of the SG Marina team,” said Matheson “His extensive experiences in hospitality and marina management are important components in the growth strategy for SG Marina.”

Prior to joining Siegel-Gallagher, Marx worked at Thardlson Enterprises/Hospitality Management as part of a special management team assigned to rebuild troubled assets. He opened and created standard operating procedures for a number of flagship hotels, as well as Northwest Airlines and the Northwest Aerospace Training Corporation. Chris also served as the general manager for Skipper Marina Corporation at the Harbor Centre Marina in Sheboygan, Wis.

Marx is a Certified Marina Manager (CMM) with International Marina Institute and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Touring, Real Estate & Property Management from the University of Wisconsin – Stout.

“Our focus on growing and integrating municipal marinas into the community has shown outstanding initial success,” said Marx. “With a solid strategy in place and a growing team of talented professionals, SG Marina is poised to continue our growth in 2016 and beyond.”

Siegel-Gallagher Management Company is a full-service property management firm with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, and Chicago. SG Marina now manages more than 2,500 slips, providing full-service marina management for the following publicly-owned marinas:

• Harbor Centre Marina – Sheboygan, Wis.
• Reef Point Marina – Racine, Wis.
• Titusville Municipal Marina – Titusville, Fla.,
• Fort Myers Yacht Basin – Fort Myers, Fla. (Coming in late 2016)
• Waukegan Harbor Marina – Waukegan, Ill.
• Egg Harbor Marina – Egg Harbor, Wis.,
• The Marina at the Port of Rochester – Rochester, NY

Matheson said that SG Marina works to build upon the local charm and strengths of each of the marinas, improving the visual appeal and overall levels of service to boaters, while adding programs that promote nearby restaurants, shops and attractions as amenities of the marinas.

“We work to integrate the marina with the local community and that synergy benefits the boaters, marina and area. Strong marketing, exceptional service and a focus on publicly owned marinas are strengths that have made us successful,” he said.