Biz Buzz Welcome Aboard!
Annapolis Yacht Sales announces the addition of Tom Turner as the powerboat service manager. Tom comes with a wealth of experience within the service industry, working more than 20 years in powerboat service management and another 19 years in agricultural and industrial equipment management. Tom and his service team will be based out of the Annapolis Yacht Sales Kent Island office, located at Bay Bridge Marina. “Tom is immensely experienced and holds customer service to the highest standard, which correlates with our core values. Creating this new division, focused solely on Powerboat Service, allows AYS to concentrate on the unique requirements of powerboats and our powerboat clients. We strive to be the leader in sales and service in the Mid-Atlantic, and this new division will allow us to raise the bar higher,” says Chris Humphreys, COO and principal of AYS. annapolisyachtsales.com
Combining Forces
Gowrie Group announces it has acquired International Marine Insurance Services (IMIS). Earlier this fall, Gowrie Group acquired Hartge Insurance Associates. In conjunction with this new agency combination, Suzanne Redden joined the Gowrie team to be the branch manager of the new Gowrie Group Mid-Atlantic operation. She will lead the team from the existing IMIS office located in the Annapolis area. “We are honored by our new relationship with these two firms, and we’re very impressed with the strong business they have built over the past three decades,” said Carter Gowrie, chairman and CEO of Gowrie Group. “We look forward to working together with their strong teams to bring increased access to insurance solutions to all their clients.” Together, Gowrie Group, IMIS, and Hartge become one of the largest recreational marine insurance agencies in the nation. gowrie.com
Congratulations
Freedom Boat Club of Maryland was one of eight Freedom Boat Clubs from throughout North America to receive special recognition as members of the franchisor’s national marketing advisory council. “Freedom Boat Club of Maryland is very proud to be actively engaged in the work of the national franchise marketing advisory council,” said JoAnna Goldberg, president. “By working together with other top marketers in our business and with our corporate marketing team, we collectively are able to positively impact the success and continued growth of Freedom Boat Club.” The recognition was made during the company’s national franchise conference held November 13 - 17 at the Sarasota Hyatt in Sarasota, FL. Club owners and operators from throughout North America gathered along with key vendors for a variety of professional development and training programs, new product launches, and award recognitions. freedomboatclub.com
Martin Bird and Associates welcomes Jeff Martini as a broker. Jeff began in boat sales in 1983, and over the years he has represented Sea Ray, Sea Ox, Marinette, Boston Whaler, Wellcraft, Bayliner, Maxum, Meridian, Maritimo, Tiara, Marquis, Silverton, and Beneteau. He has sold or sales-managed the sale of almost 2000 boats. The most rewarding part of boat sales for Jeff is “taking a buyer from a tentative feel that they should be boaters and helping them transition into a recreational lifestyle of boating that will last the rest of their lives.” martinbird.com
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PropTalk.com January 2017 57