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28 | Boating Industry | July 2017 [ 40 Under 40 ] www.BoatingIndustry.com boats, moving boats. It was one of those marine industry summer jobs where you are up at 4 a.m. and don't get home until 8 p.m. What is your favorite place to go boating? Hands down, Abaco, Bahamas. The water is beautiful, there is great free diving and spear fishing, and it is always nice to be a little discon- nected from the fast-paced Orlando life. What boat did you learn to boat on? I have had the privilege of boating on many dif- ferent boats as I grew up. Everything from 19- foot sport boats to 50-foot yachts. I was driving 40-foot yachts around the age of 12 or 13. I spent most of my time growing up behind the wheel of a Regal 2100, though. I am sure I have over 1,000 hours behind the wheel of that boat alone. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? There is a long list of people that have influenced me greatly. I have obviously learned a lot from my dad. He has taught me a great deal and given me the opportunity to grow and take on a lot of responsibility. There is no way I could be doing what I am doing now without his mentorship and desire to help me grow. Tony Kelleher from Volvo Penta has always been a great resource for me over the years. A great teammate and always willing to invest his time in me. Duffy Stenger, Regal's retired VP of sales & marketing, has a taught me a lot over the years on the sales side of the business, working with dealers and developing growth strategies. LEE LEVANDOWSKI Owner, Charlotte Ski Boats What was your first job? Working the gas dock at Klinger Lake Marina. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Opening Charlotte Ski Boats with my wife, Amanda. What would you be doing if you weren't working in the boating industry? Fishing charters in Costa Rica. What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies? Building anything, fixing random things, race cars, anything with an engine! Oyster Shooters in Key West, hiking/camping, building fires, travel- ing. Making things happen. Sunsets and sunrises. Longboarding at the beach, playing with my dog. What is your favorite place to go boating? Anywhere the sun is shining. What boat did you learn to boat on? 1988 Ski Centurion and 1987 Malibu Skier. Who was your hero as a child? Papa and MacGyver. Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career? I have quite a few, first God, my papa, Norm Kraus, Mike Mckenzie, Mike Todd, Ed Brailsford. KIRA MELHEIM Marketing manager, SeaDek Marine Products What first drew you to the industry? I love the water and extreme sports, so the boat- ing industry was a perfect combination of the two. What was your first job? My first career-related job was graphic designer for EA Sports. What accomplishment are you most proud of? The accomplishment I am most proud of is be- coming the marketing manager of SeaDek Ma- rine Products at the age of 27. What would you be doing if you weren't working in the boating industry? If I wasn't working in the boating industry, I would probably be working for an extreme sports magazine or in the music industry. What is your favorite place to go boating? Wiggins Pass. What boat did you learn to boat on? While having been on a handful of boats when I first began boating, the first boat I got the op- portunity to drive was a Parker 23 Sport Cabin. Who was your hero as a child? Hands down, my childhood hero was Princess Leia. I first watched Star Wars Episodes IV, V and VI when I was about seven years old and Princess Leia had a huge impact on me. While not being a "girly girl" myself, I was inspired by this incredible character that was in fact a princess, but could hold her own in a male-dominated environment. Not to mention, she has the force. MIKE MELILLO Co-founder and CEO, Dockwa What first drew you to the industry? I've always loved getting out on the water, but had my boating industry "lightbulb moment" in Newport, R.I., when I saw boats doing endless laps through the harbor trying in vain to secure dock space. What accomplishment are you most proud of? That two years after we launched, Dockwa con- tinues to grow at an accelerating pace. The ma- jority of our early conversations with people in the boating industry were centered around the