Her Story
About Tammy
I like to create things, and that's how I originally got into the marine industry. I started out as a fiberglass laminator when I was young, and it just led from there. I worked at four different marine manufacturers over my 42-year career. I started at Privateer where I stayed for about five and a half years, then went to work for Reggie Fountain at Fountain Powerboats. I started there as a laminator and ended up running all the gel coat repair for the entire company for the last 7 years I worked there as a supervisor. After leaving Fountain, I went to work for Hatteras Yachts where I built everything from a 41-foot Cabo to a 105-foot Hatteras. I did all the repair work from coming out of the mold all the way out the door, and I stayed there for 9 years and 3 months. Then I came back to Iconic Marine Group, which I'm still currently at. It was the original Fountain but is now owned by Mr. Fred Ross, and they build the original Fountain boats which has always been my love in the marine industry. I do all the parts for Nautic Star and Fountain Boats, primarily the original Fountain powerboats now, and I also do the rework on the hulls, decks, and liners all the way out the door. My task is like taking a totaled car and putting it back to brand new - I do total restoration work. I can find imperfections and fix them completely. Every day is a learning process, even after all these years in the field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tammy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I honestly would say the opportunity to work at Fountain Powerboats and for Mr. Reggie Fountain, and now Mr. Fred Ross, because he owns Iconic Marine Group. Both have made me successful. Having the opportunity to work for Mr. Reggie Fountain back at Fountain Powerboats was my most notable professional achievement - he was just awesome. He was an industry leader that had so much knowledge of the marine industry, and I got to work for him for 20 and a half years.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Mr. Reggie's statement sticks in my head all my life. He was always a prominent figure in the marine industry, and always will be. His statement used to be, 'You better be able to run like the gazelle, because if you don't, you're gonna get eat by the lion.' And it's true, because in that field, there's always somebody around you, and you better learn to be better and faster than everybody around you. Or, it's like anything, they're gonna take you out. And I've managed to make it 42 years.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up, and believe in yourself. Because if you really want it, it's out there. I know because it is a very male-dominated industry, especially the marine industry. The top tiers are all men, but there's a lot of women that I'm looking at that started out on the bottom that are now COOs of these companies. Natasha Hatch at MJM, Chris Carroll at Grady White, Carol Price at Fountain - I mean, they started out on the bottom and just kept moving forward. It's not been easy, but you know what? It's been worth it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Well, of course, the economy with the marine industry - you really gotta be at the top of your game to make it in the marine industry. The economy, of course with COVID, everybody wanted to get away from COVID and everybody went boat crazy. And so in the last 2 years, the boat business kind of leveled out from all the inventory out there that was built up in 2020. Employers are more picky, not hiring as many people, and they can choose because there's a lot of people out there that maybe because of cutbacks had nothing to do with the employees. The economy in that field right now is hit or miss. The manufacturers aren't producing as many, or a lot of them are, it just depends on what they're selling with the cost of stuff and the tariffs. The marine industry has taken a big hit because a lot of things have been hit with tariffs, and some things are costing three times more to buy that part, to buy that Garmin screen. They know they're gonna have to pay for it, which sooner or later affects the employer, and they have to pass that cost down to the consumer. Or, as in anything else, what are they gonna do? They're gonna scale back. Still, if you have the skill level, you can still keep getting picked up by somebody else.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Always be fair and compassionate to others. Auto is firm, fair, and consistent.
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