Marine Mover – Yamaha Marine promotes Speciale

KENNESAW, Ga. – Yamaha Marine Group has promoted Ben Speciale to vice president of Operations and Planning, the company said in a recent release.

Speciale will have more oversight of the entire Yamaha marine operation including expanded roles within strategic planning, customer service and financial performance.

“I have worked with Ben for nearly 20 years,” said Phil Dyskow, Yamaha Marine Group president. “He has contributed greatly to our success over the last eight years with his tireless focus of improving our business operations. He has been one of our key management team members that has led Yamaha Marine to its leadership position. This change will strengthen our group and drive more focus in the area of customer service improvement.”

Speciale has been in the marine industry for most of his life. About 30 years ago, his family acquired Rhea Harbor, a family resort and marina in Spring City, Tenn. Speciale, with his brother and mother, still owns the business, which includes 12 lakefront cabin rentals, a 60-slip marina and boat and motor sales and service.

He is active in the marine industry sitting on the NMMA Statistics Committee, Grow Boating Funding Model Task Force and chairman of the Timely and Accurate Sales Statistics Task Force.

“I am both honored and humbled by this promotion,” said Speciale. “I work with a great team of people at Yamaha, G3, Skeeter and Century, and most importantly, our valued customers. I simply support the great ideas from this larger group. What we do is not difficult, you simply have to listen and respect the roles and talent of each person.”

Dyskow also said, “If you ask Ben, he will firmly state, ‘This is not just a job or career, the marine business is a way of life for me.’”