Published January 06, 2014
by Steele Whowell
MasterCraft Unveils Gen 2 Surf System
Vonore, TN—- MasterCraft Boat Company unveils the next generation in surf systems,
simply called the Gen 2 Surf System. In 2009 MasterCraft introduced the first ever wake-shaping
device called Surf Tabs and won the coveted NMMA Innovation Award in 2010 for this invention.
In the four short years following the introduction of Surf Tabs, wakesurfing has seen
unprecedented growth. As a result, MasterCraft began work on its next evolution of surf
technology several months ago and today is proud to announce the arrival of the Gen 2 Surf
System.
When MasterCraft set out to develop the Gen 2 Surf System, it took note of what was
already available and how they could improve on what were great leaps forward in wakesurfing.
First up, MasterCraft believed it was essential to have a consistent wave on both sides that had
constant push five feet back AND thirty feet back. Second, this constant, stable wave had to be
achieved on both sides without the need to shift weight or people. And finally, it all had to be
operated with a simple push of a button. With the Gen 2 Surf System, MasterCraft has
accomplished all their goals.
Published January 06, 2014
by Steele Whowell
Q&A: Gordy’s Rallee Chupich is named 2013 Darlene Briggs honoree
Tom Kaiser, Senior Editor
January 1, 2014
Filed under Features, In This Issue, Q&A
Rallee Chupich, director of service and restaurant operations at Gordy’s Lakefront Marine in Wisconsin, was named the 28th recipient of the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year award at the 2013 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, held November 17-20 in Orlando, Fla. The award is presented annually to an outstanding woman who is actively involved in the marine industry at any level and recognizes long and devoted service, untiring commitment and the advancement of women in the marine business.
As part of the second generation of a family business operating since 1955, Chupich and her three siblings grew up on the water, helping their parents and working on the piers. She officially joined the business as a teenager 30 years ago, and the family is now grooming its third generation to take over the business some day in the future.
Chupich is the smiling face of one of the country’s most successful marine operations that has evolved significantly since adding boat sales to the roster more than 15 years ago. With an insatiable drive, never-ending sense of urgency and background as an educator, she has become one of the industry’s most powerful women and a role model for anybody looking to get ahead by hard work and force of character.
Published January 06, 2014
by Steele Whowell
Rallee Chupich named 2013 Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year
MRAA Educational Foundation
December 24, 2013
Filed under News
ORLANDO, Fla. – Rallee Chupich, co-owner, Gordy’s Lakefront Marine Inc., Fontana, Wis., was named the 2013 Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year during a luncheon Nov. 20 at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo. The honor is given annually to an outstanding woman in the marine industry.
A 30-plus year veteran of the boat business, Chupich has served in a wide variety of roles at the dealership, from ski instructor and service manager to owner and COO of Gordy’s Boat House, its restaurant and bar. Additionally, she has been involved in numerous community organizations, including the Lake Geneva Chamber of Commerce, the Fontana Park Commission, and the Geneva Lake Conservancy.
“As a business, community and industry leader, as well as mother, wife, teacher and athlete, Chupich truly embodies the spirit with which the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award was created,” says Liz Walz, Executive Director, MRAA Educational Foundation. “Her passion for the marine business, the boating lifestyle and Gordy’s in particular is immediately apparent to all who meet her.”
The recipient of the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award demonstrates leadership and commitment to the boating business. Recipients also must show a willingness to volunteer their time and effort in their communities and social organizations.
This award was established in 1987 in honor of Darlene Briggs of Wayzata Marine, who exemplified these qualities, serving as the first retail marine saleswoman in Minnesota and the first female member of her state marine trades association. It is sponsored by Boating Industry and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas.
At the event, Boating Industry’s national sales director, Kathy Johnson, introduced the 2012 Darlene Briggs Award Winner, Debbie Meigs of Cobalt Boats, who presented the award.
Past recipients include: Jewell “Julie” Crowe of Crowe Marine; Barbara Woodard of Woodard Marine; Nancy Smith of Colorado Boat Center; Ann Baldree of Marine Products Corp.; Marcia Kull of Volvo Penta; Joan Maxwell of Regulator Marine Inc.; Kris Carroll of Grady-White Boats, Inc.; Lynn Fiorenzano of Silver Spring Marine; and Maureen Dickson of Cap Sante Marine.
For more information, visit the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year web page: www.mraa.com/DarleneBriggsAward. Please contact Liz Walz with any questions at 315-692-4533 or liz@mraa.com.
Published November 22, 2013
by Steele Whowell
Gordy’s Lakefront Marine was recognized by Boating Industry Magazine as the #1 Boat Dealer in North America for Customer Service and the #2 Best Overall Boat Dealer/Marina in North America at their Top 100 gala Wednesday night in Orlando, FL. Also, Rallee Whowell Chupich (Owner/Manager of Gordy’s) was honored by the MRAA with the prestigious Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award recognizing the most outstanding woman in the marine industry for the year. All of us here at Gordy’s are honored and excited to have received this recognition by the industry and we want to thank all of our close partners for we couldn’t do it without them, namely - Cobalt Boats, MasterCraft, our Cobalt 20grp, GE, Volvo, and Mercury Marine. But most of all we would like to thank our teammates for all the hard work they put in every day and our wonderful Customers for choosing us as their dealer of choice for their boating needs. Thank you all for your help and support.
Here is an article released by Boating Industry Magazine on our Best in Class “#1 Best Customer Service in North America” award.
Read More Here
Published September 24, 2013
by Steele Whowell
(NEODESHA, KS – September 5-7, 2013) Cobalt Boats recently completed a very successful Worldwide Dealer Conference at the Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, FL. Over 350 Cobalt Dealer participants from across North America and other International locations traveled to St. Petersburg. “We are proud to have such a fantastic group of dealer partners join us as we celebrate a successful season” says Gavan Hunt, VP of Sales and Marketing at Cobalt Boats. “Our dealers provided us the opportunity to have a record-setting year at Cobalt, and our dealer meeting this year had the feel of a victory celebration.”
Published September 24, 2013
by Steele Whowell
September 7, 2013. - The Cobalt 5 K Fun Run is an annual Cobalt dealer meeting function started in 2006 by Cobalt associate George Muffick, the North Eastern Regional Sales Manager at Cobalt Boats. Since it’s inception, George has been the leader of the event helping it grow from 6 participants in 2006 to the 78 that participated this year (either Running, Walking, or Biking). You see, George is a cancer survivor, and this year he made a focused effort to involve the worldwide Cobalt dealers in a fund raiser. Cobalt dealers were tested by a rejuvenating 5 K Fun Run in the Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, FL running along the shores of Tampa Bay in the wee hours of the morning before the days agenda kicked off.
Published June 29, 2013
by Steele Whowell
Gordy’s 1st boat “Effie” makes a splash in Classic Wood Boating Mag.
Read More Here
Published June 08, 2013
by Steele Whowell
De Pasquale’s Dozen with Author Brad Thor
Lisa De Pasquale | Jun 03, 2013
“I have been blessed to have had many excellent teachers. The further I get away from school, though, the more I realize that the greatest teachers in my life have come from outside of academia. One of my favorites was my first employer, Tom Whowell of Fontana, WI. I pumped gas at the lakeside marina that Tom owns, but not before I earned that position by demonstrating I was responsible and hardworking.
I didn’t realize it until I was older, but Tom mirrored the values and principles of success that I was learning at home. Tom taught me that success came in no small part from how well you treated your customers and how much you paid attention to detail. You sweat the small stuff so your customers don’t have to.
When I returned years later to visit, I was proud to see that Tom had lined his pier with flags proclaiming his love of America and his love of liberty. Success isn’t a mystery. It leaves clues – whether by a business or a nation. In that moment, I saw yet again all that was good and right about America and capitalism. Only by embodying what he does can Tom’s business and America be successful. I strive to live up to his example every day.”
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Published May 10, 2013
by Steele Whowell
Gordy’s is proad to announce that we are now an official MasterCraft Boat dealer for southeastern WI
Read More Here
Published March 01, 2013
by Steele Whowell
WSJ article Dec 27th, 2012
By JIM CARLTON
SAN FRANCISCO—Don Lorenz decided to hold off on splurging on a new boat until he was convinced the economy had stabilized.
The right moment came this summer, when the 63-year-old chief investment officer for a real-estate firm paid $75,000 for a 20-foot water-skiing boat for his family’s lake trips in Northern California.
“I wouldn’t have bought one earlier because the recession and uncertainty were severe,” said Mr. Lorenz, a resident of Menlo Park, Calif., who last bought a boat eight years ago and plans to keep using it, in addition to the new one. “I was trying to maintain my liquidity.”
