Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/834717
www.BoatingIndustry.com 6 | Boating Industry | July 2017 AT THE HELM JONATHAN SWEET jsweet@BoatingIndustry.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Jonathan Sweet (jsweet@boatingindustry.com) SENIOR EDITOR: Liz Keener (lkeener@boatingindustry.com) MANAGING EDITOR: Brianna Liestman (bliestman@boatingindustry.com) DIGITAL SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST: Mark McPherson (mmcpherson@epgmediallc.com) MANAGING ART DIRECTOR: Dodi Vessels PRODUCTION ARTIST: Kelsey Houle (khoule@boatingindustry.com) PRODUCTION MANAGER: Angela Schmieg PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Cherri Perschmann NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR: Kathy Johnson 763-383-4409 (kathyjohnson@boatingindustry.com) SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, EAST: Chris Pelikan 763-383-4408 (cpelikan@boatingindustry.com) CEO: Marion Minor SR. VICE PRESIDENT/FINANCE & OPERATIONS: Gerald Winkel SR. VICE PRESIDENT/MARKET DEVELOPMENT: Joanne Juda-Prainito VICE PRESIDENT/MARINE, POWERSPORTS, BEVERAGE: Amy Collins SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER: Bernadette Wohlman BOATING INDUSTRY (ISSN #1543-4400) is published monthly; except combined June/July, August/September and November/December – by EPG Media & Specialty Information, 10405 6th Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55441. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boating Industry, P.O. Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Free to qualified members of the boating industry. Annual subscription rate is $99 per year for U.S., Mexican and Canadian residents and $149 for residents in other countries. All paid subscriptions must be paid in advance and in U.S. funds only. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Visit www.BoatingIndustry.com, call (847) 513-6025, email customerservice@epgmediallc.com or write to Boating Industry, P.O. Box 2123, Skokie, IL 60076-7823. EDITORIAL: All manuscripts, materials, photographs and artwork submitted are at mailer's risk and must include self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for return. No responsibility will be assumed for unsolicited materials. Boating Industry is a registered trademark of EPG Media & Specialty Information. © 2017 by EPG Media & Specialty Information. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited unless expressly authorized by publisher. For more information on e-prints or reprints from Boating Industry, contact Bernadette Wohlman, (763) 383-4400 x4464. Printed in U.S.A. Member of Boating Industry American Society of Business Publication Editors 2017 Regional P R I N T Award Winner Revenue of $3 million or under A | S | B | P | E Fo s tering B 2 B e ditorial e xcellence IT SEEMS WE SPEND a lot of time in this industry worrying about young people – and with good reason. Gen Xers and Millennials aren't buying boats at rates comparable to the Baby Boomers or the Silent and World War II generations that came before them. They also aren't choosing to work in the industry – leading to the workforce crisis we wrote about in detail in the April issue of Boating Industry. That's why I'm so excited about this month's 40 Under 40 special section recognizing stand-out young professionals in the boating industry. These young leaders — mostly Millennials, but also the tail end of Generation X — represent the future of the industry. There's been plenty written about the Millennials: that they're lazy, that they're job hoppers, that they expect to be promoted two months into the job. And don't forget the trophies. Some of this is simple generational change. I remember in the early '90s all the magazine and newspaper articles about the lazy Generation X. We were the "slacker" generation who were never going to get jobs or become contributing members of society. And if the stories I heard from my parents and grandparents were any indication, there was plenty of complaining about the Baby Boomers by the Greatest Generation. These young industry leaders help to put the lie to the stereotype of the aimless Millennial. They aren't the only ones. We received almost 200 nominations for the 2017 40 Under 40 from across the industry. These 40 individuals run the gamut from dealerships to manufacturers to marinas to software providers. There are people who are running companies and working their way up the ladder. From family businesses to tech start-ups, they are having a significant impact on the future of the industry. It's a good time to think about what you're doing to engage young employees in your business. Yes, they are looking for different benefits and perks than Baby Boomers were. No, they aren't as loyal to companies as their grandparents – but companies aren't as loyal to them, either. They want a chance to make a difference, to feel like they are an important part of the company, to have a chance to grow in their careers. These 40 young leaders are getting those opportunities and the industry is the better for it. Future focused