February 19, 2019
Bob Pappajohn, the owner of M&P Mercury received Boating Industry Canada’s Employer of Choice Award for 2018 at the Vancouver International boat show. Boating BC’s annual general meeting (AGM) provided the backdrop for the award ceremony. This is the third year in a row that M&P Mercury has won the Employer of Choice Award in the Dealers/Marine category.
left - David Takahashi and Bob Pappajohn
Later at M&P’s display on the floor of BC Place, Greg Nicoll interviewed David Takahashi who was brought onboard to develop human resource programs for M&P Mercury.
David’s firm looks to leverage analytics and industry insights to help design and execute critical programs from business-driven HR to innovative people, leadership, and change programs.
David’s Highbridge firm serves a diverse client base comprised of cutting-edge global companies in managing human resources and intellectual capital to build a sustainable competitive advantage. In David’s own words: “We help companies navigate the choppy waters of a complex global economy, and position themselves to attract and retain the workers they will need on this journey.”
One objective was to look at the dreams and values of M&P and see how to link up those values and dreams with those of their employees.
M&P Mercury is very proud of the M&P University project that was developed with the help of David Takahashi. The M&P University project began with new Marine Technicians. Over 3 to 4 years, Technicians in a self-study program will upgrade their certifications and during that time they will spend time with the various departments of the MMP organization. For example, they will follow through on the sales cycle and also spend time in the parts department to better understand how the inventory process works. Participants will also take courses to understand the financial part of the business and have been offered programs to help with their personal understanding of investing, financial planning and well-being. In summary, participants will have a broader understanding and sense of the organization as a whole.
Congratulations to M&P Mercury!
Recreational craft and invasive species – how to manage biofouling to stop the spread

New Biofouling Management for Recreational Boating Report is published
Killer shrimps, sea squirts and the spiny water flea are all examples of invasive alien species that have been introduced to new areas in various parts of the world by recreational craft such as boats, yachts and other small craft.
Invasive alien species are known to be one of the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss, and their management especially in marine environments is incredibly challenging. Therefore, the most cost effective away of addressing their impacts is to prevent their spread to new areas.
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On January 4, 2023, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) launched Veer, an all-new boat brand designed to support electric propulsion and appeal to the next generation of boaters, and also debuted the first model in the Veer line-up; the X13.
“Recreational boating and fishing are enjoying increasing popularity with younger and more diverse consumers,” said Matt Atilano, Veer Director of Strategy. “We identified a gap in the marketplace and a need to create a more targeted and modern experience for these new boaters, which inspired the design and development of the Veer brand.”
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Garmin has announced their new ECHOMAP™ UHD2 series chartplotters that offer anglers premium features like Ultra High-Definition sonar, preloaded Garmin Navionics+™ mapping with an included one-year subscription to daily map updates, wireless networking for data sharing and support for Garmin’s award-winning LiveScope™ live-scanning sonar.
Available with a 6”, 7” or 9” bright, sunlight-readable touchscreen display with keyed assist, anglers can easily control and operate the functions they depend on for a successful day on the water, including zooming in or out on the map or quickly toggling between different sonar views.
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C-Tow Marine Assistance appoints Jill Noel to Manager of Operations

C-Tow Marine Assistance Ltd., which has been serving and assisting recreational boaters across Canadian waterways for more than 35 years, has announced the appointment of Jill Noel to Manager of Operations, effective January 2, 2023.
In her new role, with an overall goal of building the C-Tow brand across Ontario and throughout Canada, Jill will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations including digital marketing and social media initiatives, company representation at national and local industry events, managing the C-Tow captains, and liaising with marinas, yacht clubs, and marine associations.
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