Free to grow

John Giglio tried two careers before he found his passion in the boating industry.

He first got into human resources, with a staffing firm in Tampa soon after he graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. After about a year, feeling unfulfilled, Giglio took a job in operations with a family-run chain of auto body repair shops. That job was somewhat more stimulating, but Giglio didn't see much of a long-term future there, either.

“I knew I wanted to be in business,” says Giglio, “but I didn't know what kind of business.”