Marine and auto accessories firm navigates its next growth phase

It doesn’t get more homegrown than SeaSucker. Started in 2005 by long-time Florida resident Chuck Casagrande, the outfitter company manufactures every product for its marine, biking and off-roading lines in house at its facility in Bradenton. While many companies say they’re ‘like a family’, several of the 44 employees actually are family, including Chuck’s brother Gregg, wife Joyce, and daughter Genevieve Valk who took the lead over day-to-day operations in 2019.

“I'm the luckiest guy there is. I mean, I created a company out of my hobbies. If I'm complaining, there's something wrong. I fish, I bike, all this. And it's just a blast,” Casagrande says.