Without a steady flow of bright young talent, the high-performance marine industry doesn’t just struggle in the present. It has no future. The good news is there are lot of roles—from boat-sales-and-service business-owner and event organizer to mechanic and marketing rep—to be filled.
The better news is there are some bright up-and-comers in the industry, all of whom are less than 30 years old and already have impressive skill-sets.
Don’t believe me? Here are five young rock-stars who continue to excel and impress.
Nick Imprescia, 25
You could say that Nick Imprescia, as the son of the late throttling legend Joey Imprescia, had a lot of advantages when he entered the marine industry and offshore racing worlds. But while his legacy status may have opened some doors, Imprescia had to walk through every one of them with distinction. And he did. From the exceptional work ethic and service mentality he displays at Shaun Torrente Racing in Southwest Florida to his performance on the racecourse as a throttleman, Imprescia is already the real thing.
Julian Maldonado, 28
The co-owner of Manatee Marine Unlimited in Palmetto, Fla., Julian Maldonado is an entrepreneurial force in the go-fast boating world. In addition to bringing the Valor line of catamaran hulls from the Middle East and finishing them at the Manatee Marine shop, Maldonado and his team have created a service business that its clients cannot say enough good things about. And of course, he also happens to be one of the top Super Stock-class throttling talents in the sport.
Matt Rogers, 25
The organizer of the Rocky Top Power Run in Tennessee, Matt Rogers is a human sponge. When he visits other events, which he does to learn about event-production world, he spends more time listening and observing than talking. He’s young enough to want to do things his way, but mature enough to recognize things that don’t need reinvention. Event-organizing can be a thankless job, but Rogers pursues it with fresh eyes and boundless energy. Under his energetic leadership, the Rocky Top affair continues to improve and gain momentum
Sage Rush, 22
No one appreciates an exceptional, professional marketing coordinator more than a busy reporter—at least this one—and no one handles the job of dealing with media better than Sage Rush of Big Thunder Marine at the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri. Rush reaches out with story ideas and anticipates what is needed, from photographs to quotes, to help make them happen. She’s proactive rather than reactive, which makes working with her a pleasure.
Riley Will, 23
Headquartered on the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks and continuing to grow operations in Florida, Performance Boat Center produces enough newsworthy stuff to keep even a fast-working daily reporter busy. But to handle the dealership’s in-house video, photography and social media needs, co-owners Brett Manire and Mark Waddington brought in Riley Will. Not only is Will talented and dedicated enough to handle the formidable workload, his joyful manner is infectious. His work is good-to-great and continuing to improve. As for his professional demeanor, it’s already far beyond his years.
