Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/834717
24 | Boating Industry | July 2017 [ 40 Under 40 ] www.BoatingIndustry.com JOANNA GOLDBERG CEO, Fairwinds Marina What was your first job? When I was 14, I started working as a customer service representative for Storage Village, my dad's self-storage company. What accomplishment are you most proud of? That I am making my dreams come true in a way that facilitates other people making their dreams come true. What is your favorite place to go boating? My favorite place to go boating is the Magothy River. It's beautiful, quiet, with lots of little nooks to explore. What boat did you learn to boat on? A 17-foot Boston Whaler Newport. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? My dad, Larry Goldberg, is my mentor. He is the one who motivated and inspired me to be the leader I am today. My dad is the most tena- cious person I know, and one of the most caring. Through his example and coaching I learned that excellence is the only acceptable standard, and more importantly "never ask anyone to do something you wouldn't do yourself." DANNY GOLDENBERG CEO, Marine Connection What accomplishment are you most proud of? I'm proud of the fact that I started Super Boats & Yachts LLC in May 2006 in a 1,000 square foot warehouse with only one boat and my partner John. Between the years 2006 to 2010 we bought hundreds of used boats from dealers, private par- ties and banks and sold them to customers all over the country as well as to Austra- lia, Europe and the Middle East. We then bought Marine Connection in 2011 and switched its business model back to selling new boats again. Since 2011 we have sold hundreds of new boats in South Florida and expanded the Marine Connection territory with two new loca- tions in Miami and Vero Beach. What is your favorite place to go boating? I love the Greek Islands. My favorites are Leros, Marathi, Zakynthos, Symi and Mykonos. You can only enjoy them during the summer months, and the color of the sea is addictive. The seafood is always fresh and cooked by locals with amaz- ing taste. I also like the Bahamas, but have only been to Bimini and Nassau. Who was your hero as a child? My childhood hero was the French undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau and I always envied his life. He was an adventurer and spent most of his life on a boat. I watched all his documentaries with great pleasure. I was inspired by my grand- parents, my father and my elder brother because they all enjoyed boating and owned boats. I have boating in my DNA thanks to them. JANI GYLLENBERG Founder, Distinct What was your first job? I started washing boats the summer before my first year of high school. During the last week of the summer, I had mentioned to the owner of the dealership that their website was broken – he pulled me out of the yard to fix it. What accomplishment are you most proud of? In general, being able to innovate in the boating industry, creating new ideas that improve busi- nesses and forge real results. What is your favorite place to go boating? The countless lakes in Finland, fishing with my grandfather. What boat did you learn to boat on? Although we had a few boats when I was growing up, the one first one I can remember being excited about learning was our Pioneer 175 Venture. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? At the end of the day my career would not be where it is today without Timo Turkki. He was one of the first people to identify my strengths and provided the opportunities for me to utilize them. I very much value the work we created as a team over the first few years of my career and what I learned from him. NATHAN HEBER Founder, Boatyard What first drew you to the industry? I grew up in Miami Beach and have been boat- ing ever since I was a kid. Years ago, my wife and I sailed a Beneteau Moorings 352 on our first bareboat charter in the British Virgin Islands and had the greatest adventure of our lives. When we got home, I decided that I wanted to make it easier for other people to have similarly remark- able experiences on the water. What accomplishment are you most proud of? The owner of one of our marine service busi- nesses told me that he was planning to close one of his locations, but with the business he had generated through Boatyard, he was able to keep it open. Helping some good folks keep