Chris Ragland Email and Phone Number

Founder and co-operator of exclusive, members-only boat club at The Landings, a private island community of 8,500 people. Provide a variety of recreational boating and fishing opportunities, along with valet-style service, safety instruction, one-on-one training, and use of 30 other boat clubs nationwide. Easy access to Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, and Savannah riverfront. Licensee of Carefree Boat Club.

Responsible for sales of new and used Sea Rays and Harris pontoon boats at #1 boat dealer in U.S. Assisted in financing, service, and on-the-water instruction.

Supported formation and growth of private boating membership club, which grew from a handful of members to more than 500 and from a fleet of 3 boats in 1 marina to 50 boats in 4 marinas, plus regional expansion to 24 clubs in 7 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Initially hired to sell memberships, soon assumed general management of entire club. Responsible for overall operation of all aspects of the club, including maintaining boats to 95% uptime (industry standard 90%), training members, reviewing float plans, hiring dockstaff, ordering supplies, negotiating contracts and insurance policies, and working with all vendors, from marinas and suppliers to mechanics and Mercury Marine. Chief Safety Officer in charge of boater education and on-the-water training programs.

Manufacturer of automatic signature and calligraphy machines used by Fortune 500 companies, hospitals, colleges, and direct mail marketers. Responsible for manufacturing and sales for $3.5M firm with 7 employees. Instrumental in converting company from analog to digital technology at birth of personal computer industry. Sold company in 2000.

Broker of large IBM computers. Traded IBM 370 computers domestically as well as Canada and South America. $32M firm with 3 employees.