CHIOMA A., PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SUSTAINABILITY

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
One that stands out is leading due diligence on the Fanautic, Inc. acquisition. This acquisition was especially challenging because Fanautic is based in Spain, and we were working through the middle of the Covid pandemic, a 7-hour time difference, language barriers, meeting fatigue, and complex site-visit planning. Although it was challenging, it was fun, and both teams worked hard to make it successful.

What advice would you share with other women entering your field?
Your voice is powerful, use it often. This is important because research has shown women are more likely to second guess themselves or feel like their opinions are not as valued. But there is no benefit to having more women in the room if we are not helping to shape outcomes. You are where you are because people believe your voice is important, so make sure everyone hears it.

TAYLOR G., WELDER

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
Meeting my goal to become a welder. I used to be afraid to use power tools, now they are only afraid of me.

What does it mean to be a woman in your position?
It means setting an example for others to see it as an option or even a possibility for themselves. "The sky is the limit."

What advice would you share with other women entering your field?
It's not impossible. When you succeed in it, you will be so proud and ready for more challenges. It's a growing opportunity?

VAIBHAVI M., QUALITY ENGINEER (BUSINESS ANALYST)

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
Promoting data-driven decision making within my workplace: Putting relevant data in front of the right people to manufacture better (and really cool) products while minimizing costs.

What does it mean to be a woman in your position?
It often means being the *only* woman in the room, since a majority of my colleagues are men. I'm lucky to be in a workplace where that's never an issue, though. I work with an awesome team that promotes each other's work and a boss who is invested in making sure I succeed in my career.

KATIE F., DIGITAL PRODUCT OWNER

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
My favorite digital brand transformation has been leading two website redesigns for Boston Whaler. Leading a strategy like this gives you an opportunity to dive deep into the consumer mindset to ensure we are giving customers the right information, in the right way, at the right time.

What female leader inspires you and why?
Lauren Beckstedt, our CMO, is one of the most empowering women I've met. Not only does she fight for her team relentlessly, but she also fights for what's right across the business. She's never afraid to share her opinions and always does so with class and respect. She believes in the business and in her peers and makes me feel like I can conquer anything with the right mindset.

ANDREA N., UX/UI DIRECTOR

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
The entire process of designing and developing the CZone mobile platform for Boston Whaler and Sea Ray. Plus working with multiple teams across Brunswick, maximizing my time, energy, and creativity at work while getting my twins through their freshman year of high school from home.

What advice would you share with other women entering your field?

1. Trust your experience and your instincts.
2. You have a unique point of view; do not be afraid to share it.
3. Listen, observe, and show empathy. Making connections with people is more important than showing you are right.

ISABEL W., INVENTORY CONTROL ATTENDANT

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
My biggest accomplishment has been becoming a master mentor and transforming myself into the person that has worked her way through the workplace and who other employees can depend on. Being able to take all the knowledge I have gathered through many years of experience and passing it down to the next generation is something that makes me feel accomplished.

What advice would you share with other women entering your field?
I would tell them to not be afraid to take charge and become a leader for your peers, and to never let anyone silence your voice. Your voice is one of the most powerful weapons you were born with, and nobody can take that away from you. I would also tell them that it won’t come easy for them, but nothing that's ever really been worth it came easy.

CHELSEA T., WELDER

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
My greatest accomplishment would definitely be becoming a MIG and TIG welder.

What advice would you share with other women entering your field?
If there's a job you're interested in, don't let a lack of other women hold you back. It was encouraging how helpful and supportive my coworkers have been as I've learned and grown as a welder.

What is the most valuable way Brunswick has helped our female workforce?
I believe that the onsite training and classes for upward mobility in the company is extremely valuable because it opens the door to so many skills and positions that I wouldn't have considered otherwise.

CARRIE F., DESIGN MANAGER

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
Supporting the reinvention of the Sea Ray brand. There is such a rich history with the products and the people who made them. Honoring the stories, identity, and brand they built is something I greatly value and respect. I think C.N. Ray, the founder, would approve.

What does it mean to be a woman in your position?
I aspire to lead a more inclusive and diverse mind set within our organization, and show other young women that they can be successful in a role that has typically been dominated by men. A role seems more attainable or achievable when you see someone like you in that role. It additionally expands the minds of others in the industry when they learn my position and see that women do it, too.

What is the most valuable way Brunswick has helped our female workforce?
Because Brunswick is such a force in the marine industry, the impact of our DEI initiative will extend beyond internal. Starting the conversation was a big step. Now we are creating groups such as TIDE and ERGs that can start to establish the tools, support, opportunities, and communities we all need to be successful together, while leveraging the strength of our different lived experiences.

ASH S., MANAGER, TREASURY

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
I led two different system implementations that resulted in the technological transformation of the team and the significant improvement in our efficiency.

What does it mean to be a woman in your position?
Having been one of two or so women in my past and current position, I believe that gender has no bearing on someone's ability or success on a job. While gender stereotypes are an unfortunate reality, I've come to understand the importance of having a female perspective. The most important reason I’m in my role is to provide a unique perspective–I embrace it and unapologetically share my perspective.

JOLENE D., MANAGER, ANALYTICS & WARRANTY

What has been your greatest accomplishment in your career?
My biggest accomplishment in my career is working in a field I enjoy while utilizing my degrees and leading a team of people who care about the success of Mercury. I'm proud to be where I am in my career at my age and am excited to keep navigating through new challenges that cross my desk.

What advice would you share with other women entering your field?
Stay confident. I love being inspired by other confident women who can dominate any meeting or presentation they're in. When one woman is confident, it is contagious to the women around her. There is a difference between being confident and arrogant–don't let the fear of coming off as arrogant stop you from proving yourself.

Today and every day, Brunswick celebrates all of our incredible women and the roles they hold in our communities, families and in the workplace. Are you interested in joining our crew? Visit Brunswick.com/careers to find your fit today.

Meet the lifelong Ohioan and overnighter who keeps a dedicated folder just for his weather apps.

Name: Casey Keller

Boat Name: Seadog Model: 2003 Sea Ray 260

Favorite Destination: Kelleys Island on Lake Erie

Favorite Activities: Overnighting, Pleasure Cruising

Favorite Boating Playlist: No Shoes Radio on Sirius XM

Tell us about yourself and your boating community.

I live in Norwalk, Ohio and grew up not far from where I live now. I’ve been on a lot of boats, as far back as I can remember.

Weather permitting, my girlfriend and I like to hang out on our boat with friends. There are several islands off the northern coast of Ohio that we just refer to as “The Islands.” Kelleys Island is our favorite—it’s quiet and serene without as much of a bar scene as some of the other islands nearby.

What place does your boat have in your life?

Almost everybody we know who likes to overnight and pleasure cruise has a Sea Ray, so we bought ours from a friend who was upgrading. It was our first serious big pleasure boat; the day we took possession of it, I took off work just to spend time on the water. I remember just sitting there thinking, “Wow. Is this real?”

I also own a 16-foot bass boat that I like to fish from, but we like to keep our Sea Ray nice and clean. It’s where we entertain.

What are your top tips for overnighting and pleasure cruising?

Weather apps are your best friend.
We always check the wind in the forecast with the understanding that it could change, so I use a lot of different apps to stay on top of it. Dark Sky is kind of like my basic go-to, but I don't like to get all my information from just one source. I also recently downloaded the Sea Ray+ app, which is great. (Pro tip for other Sea Ray owners: You can learn more about the Sea Ray+ app and download it here.)

So are appliances that can do it all.
We pretty much never leave the boat. We sleep on there; shower there; we cook and eat—you name it. I love my Blackstone griddle because you can cook up a full breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast, then use it to grill. We keep the refrigerator fully stocked.

And don’t be afraid to bring the whole family.
Some friends of ours have a five-month-old and I tell them all the time to bring him out on the boat; you gotta start them young, and it’s the best place for kids to nap!

There’s no reason to leave the dogs at home, either. Our lab loves to swim, fetch, and retrieve from the boat.

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Breakfast in bed, on the boat? Yes, please! We love getting to know our Ripl members! Have a story to share about boating? Tell us here, and you could be featured in an upcoming Member Spotlight.

If you’ve never fished from a boat, you’re in for a new kind of adventure. But with every new adventure, comes a new checklist of essentials. When you’re on the water, you can’t run to a nearby bait shop if you forget a crucial item. Make sure you’re prepared with all the fishing gear you’ll need before you head out so there’s no interruption to your day on the water and remember to wear a lifejacket when fishing or moving around your boat.

Fishing license

Always check the local laws of where you’ll be fishing ahead of time so you can get the proper permits and licenses. Keep the paperwork on board in case someone requests it. Permits and licenses ensure we don’t overfish so future generations will still have access.

Rod, reel, and line

Without a rod, reel, or line, you won’t be doing much angling. If you’re new to fishing, choose a medium-action spinning combo spooled with 10-pound monofilament to cover a variety of locations and species. Don’t forget to take any used line back to shore to dispose of it properly.

Hooks and sinkers

Have a variety of hooks and sinkers on board to cover different fish species and uses. Keep some split shot or sliding sinkers with you as well to keep bait down.

Lures or bait

Research where you’ll be fishing before you go to know what kind of bait you need. Not all fish will bite all bait or lures, so consider what you’ll be catching.

Proper attire

Angling is a patience game. That means you need to come prepared for spending hours at the mercy of the weather. Sun can be brutal as it reflects off the water, so remember polarized sunglasses (which also help your eyes cut through the surface glare to see below the water), a neck gaiter or sun mask, and sunscreen. If conditions will be cool, wear layers.

Basic tool kit

Put together a basic tool kit including pliers to remove hooks from fish, scissors to cut line, a multitool for other incidentals, and superglue to secure knots or make minor repairs.

First aid kit

You should already have a first aid kit aboard your boat. Make sure it’s handy when you’re fishing.

Digital scale, ruler, and camera

If you get a big catch while angling from your boat, you’ll want proof. A digital fish scale, ruler, and camera will ensure you can back up your claims when you tell friends about the Big One.

Landing net or gaff

Once you get a bite, a landing net or gaff can help you get the fish on board your boat.

Filet knife and sharpener

If you like to filet your fish on-site, keep a filet knife on deck. Keep it sharp to make quick work preparing your catch for dinner.

Beyond the essentials

Once you’ve been angling from your boat for a while, you’ll want to become more sophisticated in your approach. Choose rods and reels specific for your location or preferred species. Research technology to help you track and find your catch. Once you’re hooked, enjoy hunting for the hottest and latest accessories.

Whether you have a Harris pontoon, a Sea Ray cruiser, Lund Mod-V or any other boat type—as the captain—you’re responsible for keeping your family and friends safe on the water. So, that means knowing and obeying safety guidelines. While we’ve compiled a list of the most basic safety rules and regulations, state laws and local rules can vary, so you’ll need to do a bit of your own research as well.

Remember how learning the rules of the road seemed overwhelming at first? Boating might feel the same. But as you explore your local waterways, the rules of boating will feel more and more natural, letting you and your passengers enjoy a fun, safe day on the water.

Before You Go

Prepare your boat and passengers before your adventure begins to minimize the risk of injury.

Know Your Boat

Read and follow the instructions and warnings in your boat’s owner’s manual.

Wear Your PFD

Your personal flotation device (PFD)—or life jacket—could keep a small mistake from turning deadly. There must be a properly sized PFD for every person on board, and children under 13 must wear theirs at all times.

Follow the Weight Limit

Find the decal in your boat that indicates the boat’s weight limit, and make sure your guests and their cargo don’t exceed the limit.

Know the Rules

State laws and local rules can vary. Do your research to make sure you know the requirements.

Check Your Equipment

Inspect your boat, PFDs, and other safety equipment before you head out.

Mind Your Seating

Make sure passengers sit in locations where they’re not at risk of falling overboard or blocking the driver’s view.

At the Fueling Station

Safety against fire begins well before your boating adventure. You can never be too cautious when handling fuel, so make sure to follow these steps when proceeding to the pump:

• Close all vents, doors and hatches.
• Open and allow your engine compartment to ventilate.
• Move any portable tanks outside the boat.
• Ground the nozzle to the tank opening.
• Extinguish any flames on board (e.g. from lit cigarettes, cigars, pipes or cook tops).

While on Your Boat

Because boats don’t have brakes, avoiding collisions takes more effort and foresight than it would in a car. Keep an eye on the conditions, water, and other boaters to anticipate any dangers that can come your way and work to avoid them ahead of time.

Boat Sober

Drinking and boating is just as illegal and dangerous as drinking and driving. Make sure there’s a driver on board who will stay sober.

Watch the Weather

Conditions can turn quickly. Check the weather often, keep an eye on the sky, and know the safest—and quickest—way off the water.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Keep an eye out for swimmers, skiers, and other hazards. Be sure to look where other boats are headed and give them plenty of room.

Follow Wake Restrictions

Slow down in no-wake zones and observe no-wake hours.

Be Prepared

Wear your lanyard cut-off switch so the engine will shut off if you’re thrown from the helm.

Board Safely

Approach someone in the water on the driver’s side so you know where they are. Idling isn’t enough to prevent propeller strikes or carbon monoxide poisoning. Shut off the engine when picking up swimmers or skiers, and have them use a boarding ladder.

Participating in Water Sports

When you’re towing a water skier, tuber, or wakeboarder, they’re off the boat and more exposed to hazards. You’re responsible for their fun and their safety.

Protect Your Rider or Skier

Always have an observer on board to watch and communicate with the rider or skier using the universal hand signals.

Use Your Flags

Each state has different laws regarding flags that indicate a boat is towing someone. Follow your state’s laws and carefully watch for flags on other boats.

Watch Your Area

Don’t participate in watersports near shore, swimming areas, shallow water, unknown waters, anglers, or divers.

Be Mindful of Your Tow Lines

Make sure your tow lines don’t injure passengers or get tangled in the propeller.

Continue Your Education

Many organizations host boating safety courses. Find local licensing resources at BOATERexam.com® or discover in-person, on-water training courses available near you via BoatClass

Essential Safety Gear for Your Boat

You’re only as good as your gear. Stock your boat with the necessities and stow any other items you think could come in handy. Use these checklists to make sure you have everything you need to keep your crew safe or help in the case of an emergency.

Check out the Essential Safety Gear checklist to make sure your Brunswick boat is outfitted with everything you need to keep your friends and family safe on the water.

Items Required by Regulation

The US Coast Guard requires certain items on your boat at all times.

• PFD
• Fire extinguishers
• Visual distress signals
• Sound signals
• Ventilation on boats using gasoline
• Backfire flame control on boats using gasoline

Recommended Items

Outfitting your boat with the right items will help you and your crew stay safe. Your needs may change depending on where you boat.

For everyone:

• First aid kit
• Watersports flag
• Anchor
• Sunscreen
• Extra water and food
• Backup propulsion, like oars
• Boarding ladder
• Carbon monoxide detector
• A set of oars or a paddle

For boaters on nearshore waters:

• Float plan
• GPS
• Compass
• Depth finder
• Tool kit and safety knife
• VHF radio

For boaters on offshore waters:

• Everything above
• Life raft
• Searchlight and strobe light
• Radar and radar reflector
• Sea drogue
• Man-overboard recovery gear
• Automatic identification system (AIS)
• Radio direction finder
• Long-range communication gear
• Weather information system
• An emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)
  or emergency locator beacon (ELB)

For boaters on river waters:

• Throw bag
• Helmet

Engage With Your Community

Another great way to be accountable for your safety is to build a community around you. Engage with other boaters and even your boat manufacturer to stay in the loop for safety information and more. Brunswick is proud to offer marine enthusiast access to Ripl—a boater’s community that offers free access to member-only news, events, and discounts.

Join Ripl

“Wells Fargo has been a long-standing partner of Brunswick Corporation for more than 45 years, including almost 20 years through our joint venture,” said Ryan Gwillim, Brunswick Corporation CFO. “We are currently experiencing incredibly high demand in the marine industry, and this extension will ensure that our channel partners in North America have access to high-quality floor-plan financial services and offerings, enabling their opportunity for financial growth.”

“Through what has been an exceptional and unpredictable year, Brunswick remains a key player in the recreational marine industry,” said Bruce Van Wagoner, Marine Leader for Wells Fargo Distribution Finance. “We are grateful Brunswick trusts us as their preferred floorplan financing provider through all stages, and we look forward to continuing to support their vast network of North American dealers.”

Committed to serving the marine industry and focused on its success, Brunswick Corporation and Wells Fargo CDF have supported the industry together through the joint venture of Brunswick Acceptance Company since 2002.

About Brunswick:

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Mastervolt, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Heyday, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club and Boat Class. For more information, visit brunswick.com.

About Wells Fargo Distribution Finance (DF)

Wells Fargo Distribution Finance provided more than $42 billion in financing for more than 30,000 dealers and more than 1,200 distributors and manufacturers globally in 2020. CDF provides inventory financing solutions, service and intelligence through in-depth industry expertise and commitment. Programs include inventory and accounts receivable financing, asset-based lending, private label financing, collateral management, and related financial products. For more information, visit wellsfargo.com/cdf.

Brunswick Portugal was granted a 130.084,70 € incentive to use for the training and development of their employees, to promote the sustainability and quality of employment, as well as to support employee’s mobility. This inventive is to be used from now until July 2021.

“This project is important for Brunswick Portugal,” explains Joana Bernardo, HR Manager at Brunswick Boat Group Portugal, “It will help to support our efforts in the development of our employees to achieve our growth plans and our business 3K Club strategy.”

The company requires a robust degree of training and qualifications for their employees given the operational activities for the organization. This prestigious training project award will provide employees an enhanced opportunity to significantly benefit from specialized training and development in partnership with top tier companies in their fields.

ABOUT BRUNSWICK

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 7, 2020) — Sea Ray is kicking off a new decade with the launch of one of the most innovative boats in the marine industry. During CES 2020, Jan. 7–10, in Las Vegas, Nev., Sea Ray will debut the brand-new SLX-R 400e Outboard featuring cutting-edge technology paired with high-performance propulsion, elevated design elements and the orchestrated excellence of the SLX 400. With more than 170,000 attendees and 4,500 exhibitors, CES is the world’s largest and most influential tech event.

“CES presents a unique opportunity to debut the new SLX-R 400e in front of an audience that will truly appreciate its beauty, capabilities and incredible suite of new technologies,” said Steve Langlais, Sea Ray president. “This pioneering new model, which will be available in 2020, showcases the kind of unique, advanced technologies that are worthy of the world’s largest consumer electronics show.”

The “e” in the SLX-R 400e Outboard model name designates a first-of-its-kind boat electrification feature – the Fathom e-Power system. Developed by Brunswick, the Fathom system includes a high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack with an intuitive power management system capable of powering all of the boat’s accessory systems and providing boaters with a convenient, smart way to enjoy all of the features of the boat, for a longer, quieter and more eco-friendly day on the water.

The SLX-R 400e Outboard is propelled by triple Mercury® Racing 450R outboard engines and features Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards, NextWave™ innovations such as Quiet Ride™ and Dynamic Running Surface™. Other highlights include an exclusive helm display with Dual Digital Dash™ NSO evo3 16-inch displays, state-of-the-art systems from Simrad®, and a premier FUSION® Apollo RA770 marine audio system with a touchscreen display for the ultimate in technologically advanced sound.  The boat also comes standard with the Sea Ray Connect™ remote monitoring system, powered by NAUTIC-ON™.

Enhancing the SLX 400 aesthetic, the SLX-R 400e Outboard showcases upscale design elements including special-edition Shadow metallic gel paint, superior quality upholstery with contrast stitching, red underwater lighting and red accent lighting throughout the vessel. Its best-in-class layout offers seating for 22 passengers, an abundance of storage space and iconic amenities like the inviting sunpad and fold down swim terrace. Below deck, a generous cabin that sleeps four creates a comfortable space to escape the elements, relax or spend the night.

- CONTINUED -

“Last year, Sea Ray introduced the special-edition SLX-R 350 Outboard,” said Brad Zoelle, Sea Ray vice president of category management. “Due to its astounding success, I am thrilled to announce we have expanded the R package within the SLX family to present the SLX-R 400e Outboard.”

CES 2020 runs Tuesday, Jan. 7 through Friday, Jan. 10. The SLX-R 400e Outboard will be showcased at the Brunswick display, located at exhibit #26021. Members of the media are invited to visit during show hours to view the SLX-R 400e Outboard and test out Joystick Piloting and the latest revolutionary technology from Brunswick. To make an appointment for a guided media tour, please contact Sara Moore at Sara.Moore@SeaRay.com.

The boat will also headline Sea Ray’s display at the Miami International Boat Show, Feb. 13­–17. For more information about Sea Ray, and to view the complete line-up, visit SeaRay.com.

ABOUT SEA RAY

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Sea Ray is the world’s leading creator of superior quality pleasure boats. For 60 years, Sea Ray has pushed the limits of performance and craftsmanship to elevate the boating experience. Each Sea Ray is designed to make every moment exceptional,

supporting boaters’ unique lifestyles with a customized balance of unparalleled comfort and performance and world-class technology throughout. Learn more about the Sea Ray Experience at SeaRay.com.

ABOUT BRUNSWICK

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Heyday, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit Brunswick.com.

# # #

The Green Masters Program measures companies on a broad range of sustainability categories ranging from energy and water conservation to waste management, community outreach and education. In addition, companies are measured on transportation, supply chain, workforce and governance.

“We are honored to earn a Green Masters designation for the ninth consecutive year. This is especially gratifying considering how the bar is raised every year, making each successive year’s designation an even greater accomplishment,” said Mercury Marine President Chris Drees.

WSBC’s Green Masters Program requires applicants to describe specifically those sustainable business practices and initiatives that the applying organization had undertaken in the past year, and to show improvement over prior years. Consequently, organizations are challenged to implement new initiatives and report further progress each year.

“Our company is focused on achieving ambitious business goals to serve the needs of boaters. This includes not only delivering marine engines and integrated technologies to enhance boating experiences but also addressing contemporary social and environmental issues that are important to today’s consumers,” Drees said.

Just yesterday evening, during the WSBC's Sustainable Business Awards Ceremony, Mercury Marine received the Sustainable Process Award for the process whereby the company seeks to maximize sustainable benefits from its use of aluminum.

Mercury’s sustainability mission is built on four clearly defined pillars that drive strategy:

• Energy: Achieving greater energy efficiency by implementing energy-reducing projects, promoting best practices in energy management and employing new energy technologies.
• Environment: Preserving the natural places where customers use Mercury products for work and play; decreasing the use of natural resources through conservation, redeployment and recycling; and returning purified resources to the planet whenever possible.
• Product: Minimizing engines' impact on water, land and air — recognizing the need for an unspoiled environment in which to live and enjoy Mercury Marine products.
• People: Helping people who relate with Mercury Marine — employees, partners, customers and the communities where Mercury operates — to enjoy happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

See Mercury's Sustainability Report and learn more about its sustainability initiatives at www.MercuryMarine.com/en/us/land/sustainability

About Mercury Marine

Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Mercury Marine is a world leading manufacturer of marine propulsion systems. A $3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury designs, manufactures and distributes engines, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy-to-use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world with 10,000 service points globally. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines and Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages. Mercury's global parts and accessories offerings include: propellers; SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.

Members of Mercury Marine's Sustainability Committee (from left) Steffanie Baierl, Sue Bell, Committee Chair Scott Louks and Chrissy Schwebke stand together with Mercury's ninth consecutive Green Masters Certificate from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council.

“I am honored to work here at Mercury Marine with a group of employees who care so much about our community,” said Carrie Rohde, a Lean Six Sigma master black belt at Mercury and chair of the employees’ Fill the Boat Committee. “They demonstrated so much enthusiasm and we all had a lot of fun putting on this event, even with some scrambling to respond to weather challenges,” she said.

The event took place Oct. 7‑11 at Mercury’s Fond du Lac campus. In keeping with custom, the week’s activities culminated with a Friday cookout for employees. This year, the cookout celebrated not only the food drive but also Mercury’s 80th anniversary. Not even a steady dose of rain could dampen the spirits of the employees, who took the celebration indoors.

Andres Gonzalez, Mercury vice president of human resources, said this year’s event was particularly memorable. “To surpass our donation totals from last year is very rewarding. It demonstrates our employees’ commitment to supporting the communities where we work and live,” said Gonzalez. “The inclement weather had the effect of enhancing our camaraderie, as everyone worked together to get things moved indoors and have a truly enjoyable gathering.”

Fondy Food Pantry has been a fixture in the greater Fond du Lac community for 45 years. The organization serves roughly 1,100 individuals in need, distributing an average of 30,000 pounds of food, every month. It feeds 780 children every week.

“The pantry’s requirements for food donations and financial support have never been greater as we serve ever‑increasing numbers of neighbors in need,” said Sandy Breth, Fondy Food Pantry president. “Fill the Boat is a hugely generous endeavor on the part of Mercury employees, and one for which we are ever grateful.”

Breth underscored Mercury’s close partnership with the pantry and the local community. “You’ve been instrumental in our ability to help others over the years,” she said. “We want to take this opportunity to join with the greater Fond du Lac community in congratulating Mercury Marine on your 80th anniversary year. Just as one of your 80th anniversary taglines calls Fond du Lac ‘The Heart of Mercury,’ surely Mercury Marine is also ‘The Heart of Fond du Lac.’”

Mercury employee volunteers unload the boat full of donated food after hauling it to Fondy Food Pantry. The bed of the pickup that towed the boat and some space in a Mercury facilities box truck were also needed to transport the record amount of food donations.

“We kicked off our anniversary celebration in May with a dealer celebration event and have now hosted three celebrations with our employees in both Tennessee and Florida,” said Steve Langlais, Sea Ray president. “During the celebration at Sykes Creek, it was fascinating to look back through Sea Ray’s rich history at the plant and celebrate not only the milestones, but the continued future plans for Sea Ray in Merritt Island.”

During the event, more than 170 employees enjoyed lunch, raffle prizes and a video highlighting the last 60 years. Having the distinction of working at the Sykes Creek Plant for more than 25 years, 31 employees were honored for their dedication with a hand-written thank you card and a token of appreciation from Langlais.

“The incredible dedication and loyalty of our employees truly differentiate Sea Ray from other boat builders,” said Kellie Hood, director of human resources for Sea Ray. “When you think about one out of every five people you meet have been with the company for at least 25 years, it’s quite astounding. We’re always looking to expand our team of the most passionate and best boat builders in the world with new talent. We currently have 45 open positions to support our growth.  We’re always ready to train others. We offer a great benefits package and competitive pay.”

Interested applicants can apply for a job at Sea Ray by visiting Brunswick-Careers.com and clicking “Find Your Fit.”

For more information about Sea Ray, and to view the complete line-up, visit SeaRay.com.

“The raffle boat concept has been a tremendous success for the SATT”, says Jason Bahr, Executive Director for the SATT and Lund ProStaff member. “This year we’ve raised nearly $50,000 from the raffle ticket sales. Most of the proceeds goes towards the fishing tournament scholarships while another portion goes back to the individual high school teams selling the tickets” added Bahr. “I knew we had a winning formula on our hands. I couldn’t be prouder of the dedicated individuals who have put their heart and souls into growing student angling and turning the SATT into such a huge success in a short period of time.”

The TOC event was a two-day event held on Lake Vermilion. The winning team of Kobie Koenig and Alex Keranen, members of the Grand Rapids, MN fishing team, posted a two-day total of 54 lbs 3 oz and took home the top $10,000 scholarship prize. The Top five placing teams won scholarships that totaled over $20,000. Scholarship funds can be used for any college, trade school or law enforcement program.

For more information on the Student Angler Tournament Trail go to www.mnsatt.org.

About Lund

Since 1948, Lund has been building boats from the heart of lakes country in New York Mills, Minn.  Built with professional grade materials to withstand a lifetime of use, Lund Boats are guide tested and wilderness proven and demanded by more camps, resorts, fishing guides and professionals throughout North America.  Whether the preference is aluminum or fiberglass, each boat is carefully designed with fishing features and optimal fishing layouts in mind.  They’re engineered for maximum performance and superior boat control to effortlessly stay on the breaks and catch more fish, delivering The Ultimate Fishing Experience.  Lund Boats – Built by Fishermen for Fishermen. For more information, visit www.lundboats.com.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

Employee contributions of money and school supplies are matched by Boston Whaler, helping to fill more than 150 backpacks with school supplies, which Whaler employees delivered to three Edgewater and Oak Hill elementary schools on August 23, 2019. Adding a healthy bit of fun, the backpacks are delivered in a Boston Whaler boat. Each school has its students come out to carry in the backpacks and see and in some cases climb into the Boston Whaler boat.

A team from Boston Whaler (including Rebecca Crews, Faustina Shedlock, Kim Shaller, Dave Brannan, Kerry Jones & John Williams) greeted the students and their principals at each of the schools.

“It’s always an exciting and fun day for our team and the kids,” Stickler said. “Boston Whaler is deeply integrated into the Edgewater and Oak Hill community. Many of us live here, we recruit employees here, and we have a strong connection to the area that really matters to us. The Boatload of Backpack program is just one of many ways we work to give back to support our community and our schools.”

On hand to receive the backpacks were Principle Becky Porter and Assistant Principal Michelle Brown, Edgewater Public School; Principal Carrie Crkvenac and Assistant Principal Jennifer Holmgreen at Indian River Elementary; and Principal Dr. Jan McGee, Assistant Principal Dan Hardgraves and Lola Kemick - Tech Teacher at Burns Science and Technology Charter School. Each school receives 50 backpacks, each containing a school supply kit and additional cases of copy paper, boxes of folders and notebooks.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com.

About Boston Whaler

For 60 years, Boston Whaler has been building superior quality unsinkable runabouts, cruisers, and center console boats. Founded in 1958 and currently headquartered in Edgewater, Fla., the company’s unique foam-cored construction process contributes not only unsurpassed flotation, but also superior ride characteristics and durability. The current product line ranges from 11 to 42 feet and is distributed around the world by a network of exceptional dealers. For more information about The Unsinkable Legend™, please visit www.bostonwhaler.com. Boston Whaler is owned by Brunswick Corporation, the leading marine manufacturer in the world.

Since February, Freedom Boat Club members and employees volunteered more than 250 hours towards building the home. Freedom Boat Club was also involved as a significant financial contributor funding half of the building costs for the project.

“We are thrilled to have worked with Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County, investing our time and energy to give back to our community,” said John Giglio, President of Freedom Boat Club. “To share this experience with our employees and members makes this opportunity even more special. It speaks volumes to the strong-knit community we have built within our local boat clubs.”

Since 1992, Habitat for Humanity has built more than one million homes with more than 140 of those homes having been built locally in South Sarasota County. The home has been built with an open concept to promote family togetherness and includes environmentally friendly, cost-effective and easy to maintain features.

“Freedom Boat Club has quickly become one of our key supporters. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and eagerness to help with any project we present to them. I am confident this is a partnership that will continue to grow.” said Christina McCauley, Development Coordinator for Habitat South Sarasota.

In addition to its partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Freedom Boat Club has created a national cause-marketing partnership to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Both initiatives exist under the umbrella title of "Freedom Gives.”

About Freedom Boat Club

Freedom Boat Club, a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC) and headquartered in Venice, FL., is the world’s oldest and largest boat club with 195+ locations in 31+ states, Canada, and Europe. The club services more than 20,000 memberships representing 40,000 members and sports a fleet of more than 2,000 boats. More information about Freedom Boat Club and membership opportunities can be found at www.FreedomBoatClub.com.

About Habitat South Sarasota

Since 1992, Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota’s goal has been to build or renovate safe, decent, affordable, energy-efficient homes for those in need in south Sarasota County, FL. Habitat educates its homeowners so that they may succeed in home-ownership and pass their newly acquired knowledge onto the next generation. More information about Habitat can be found at www.habitatsouthsarasota.org.

Early this spring the Employee Activities Committee started the planning and worked with the local New York Mills VFW to establish a boat raffle for a Lund 1675 Adventure SS with a Mercury 75 HP engine. Employees then sold raffle tickets around the community to raise nearly $10,000. The funds raised will be split between two programs with half going towards the Stuff the Boat program while the other half will be donated to the New York Mills school activity fund.

“Last year we were able to help over 100 families with back to school needs and our employees were looking for a way to build upon last year’s success to make an even larger impact on our local community”, said Mary Allen, a member of the committee. “Our employees were just looking to make a larger impact and the raffle boat seemed like a perfect opportunity”.

Later in the summer, the Employee Activities Committee began their campaign to collect school supplies by organizing various drop-off locations throughout the facility and sent out communications to kick off the program and raise awareness. The program was promoted heavily throughout the facility and the collection bins began to fill.

“At this time every year our employees are shopping for their own families back-to-school needs and the timing was perfect again this year for a great campaign like this,” stated Liz Holzer, another member of the committee. “It is important for us as a company to help our local schools, and it is a great feeling to know that our families who may need some additional help will have the necessary supplies they need to begin school this year. We are excited to be a part of this campaign and extremely proud of all our employees who helped make this such a tremendous success."

The Brunswick New York Mills Employee Activities Committee looks for different ways for the company to get involved locally and to help make an impact in the community. The committee is comprised of 14 employees from different areas throughout the operation. The committee members will deliver the checks and the Stuff the Boat school supplies next week.

About Brunswick New York Mills Operation

Building two of the most recognized brands in the fishing boat industry, collectively the Lund and Crestliner heritage represents over 140 years of boat-building innovation and quality. Generations of employee expertise and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities combine to create fishing, hunting and utility boats of superior design, craftsmanship and lasting value. Lund and Crestliner are owned by Brunswick Corporation, the largest marine manufacturer in the world. For additional information about our boats and our brands visit www.lundboats.com and www.crestliner.com.

About Lund

Since 1948, Lund has been building boats from the heart of lakes country in New York Mills, Minn. Built with professional-grade materials to withstand a lifetime of use, Lund Boats are guide tested and wilderness proven and demanded by more camps, resorts, fishing guides and professionals throughout North America. Whether the preference is aluminum or fiberglass, each boat is carefully designed with fishing features and optimal fishing layouts in mind. They’re engineered for maximum performance and superior boat control to effortlessly stay on the breaks and catch more fish, delivering The Ultimate Fishing Experience. Lund Boats – Built by Fishermen for Fishermen. For more information, visit www.lundboats.com.

About Crestliner

Located in Otsego, Minn., Crestliner boats and pontoons are crafted with an uncompromising mix of functional design, all-welded aluminum construction and a relentless commitment to excellence. Since 1946, Crestliner has been making boats forged with strength and defined by durability. As a worldwide leader, Crestliner continues to redefine the industry with boats built to last. A testament to our quality and craftsmanship, Crestliner has received the CSI Award of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction for Aluminum Outboard Boats for 11 consecutive years. Learn more about Crestliner and its line of boats by visiting www.crestliner.com.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

At the ceremony, Boston Whaler President Nick Stickler addressed the crowd of employees and Brunswick executives. “I would like to congratulate our entire team for this accomplishment,” Stickler said. “Through a shared commitment to each other’s well-being, we’ve been able to uphold the highest standards. We’re proud to receive recognition from Brunswick for our ongoing efforts toward health and safety.”

The Brunswick Safety Leadership Award is selected and presented by Brunswick senior management to the most outstanding performers. Boston Whaler was one of three facilities selected for the top honor for their performance throughout 2018. Additional facilities received accolades including the Brunswick Award for Sustained Safety Performance and the Distinguished Safety Award. The purpose of the program is to encourage, recognize and reward employees and facilities that have achieved outstanding safety and wellness performance through promoting and practicing safety awareness, ultimately minimizing workplace incidents and injuries and improving the workplace.

“People, along with Energy, Environment, and Products, are the four pillars of Brunswick’s sustainability efforts,” explained Foulkes. “We seek to have our employees, partners, customers and the communities where Brunswick operates all enjoying happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Safety and wellness are key components of this effort.” In all, 25 Brunswick facilities did not sustain any lost-time incidents in 2018.

“We congratulate Boston Whaler and its employees on their tremendous accomplishments,” Foulkes said.

Following the ceremony, a company gift was presented to all employees, along with a celebratory luncheon.

ABOUT BOSTON WHALER

For more than 60 years, Boston Whaler has been building superior quality unsinkable runabouts, cruisers, and center console boats. Founded in 1958 and currently headquartered in Edgewater, Fla., the company’s unique foam-cored construction process contributes not only unsurpassed flotation but also superior ride characteristics and durability. The current product line ranges from 11 to 42 feet and is distributed around the world by a network of exceptional dealers. For more information about The Unsinkable Legend™, please visit www.bostonwhaler.com. Boston Whaler is owned by Brunswick Corporation, the leading marine manufacturer in the world.

ABOUT BRUNSWICK

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

“On behalf of everyone at Boston Whaler, we present this check to the Atlantic Center for the Arts as a contribution to its children’s programs,” said Davis. “As a company, we owe a great deal of our success to the support of our community, so we’re thankful for opportunities like this to give back. We’re happy to see our efforts help local students pursue their interest in the arts.” Now in its 43rd year, IMAGES: A Festival of the Arts is an annual event held in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., featuring fine art, live music, student art exhibits, educational opportunities and more. Boston Whaler hosted a display and raffled off an original painting by artist Steven Hardock depicting a fishing scene. The amount raised during the raffle will allow the ACA to provide 11 kids with scholarships for a week of Summer Art Camp.

“The ACA team greatly appreciates Boston Whaler’s involvement over the past several years with IMAGES and our community, raising money to send our kids to Summer Art Camp,” said Heather Paternoster, Development Coordinator for the ACA.

Founded in 1977, Atlantic Center for the Arts is a nonprofit interdisciplinary artists’ community and arts education facility dedicated to promoting artistic excellence by providing talented artists an opportunity to work and collaborate with some of the world’s most distinguished contemporary artists in the fields of music composition and the visual, literary and performing arts. Community interaction is coordinated through on-site and outreach presentations, workshops and exhibitions.

About Boston Whaler

For more than 60 years, Boston Whaler has been building superior quality unsinkable runabouts, cruisers, and center console boats. Founded in 1958 and currently headquartered in Edgewater, Fla., the company’s unique foam-cored construction process contributes not only unsurpassed flotation but also superior ride characteristics and durability. The current product line ranges from 11 to 42 feet and is distributed around the world by a network of exceptional dealers. For more information about The Unsinkable Legend™, please visit www.bostonwhaler.com. Boston Whaler is owned by Brunswick Corporation, the world’s leading marine manufacturer.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

“Our team has a tremendous focus on making safety the first priority at all of our Brunswick manufacturing facilities,” said Brian Hines, Brunswick Aluminum Fish Group vice president of operations. “Our team has been the recipient of the Brunswick Chairman’s Safety Award, received the Meritorious Achievement Award for exemplary workplace safety efforts in 2018 and the New York Mills facility participates in the voluntary consultation program with Minnesota OSHA. Those are just a few of the many examples that show our commitment to safety in the workplace.”

“Each day in Minnesota, about 100 workers get injured or fall ill to the point that they can’t go back to their job the next day,” said Paul Aasen, Minnesota Safety Council president. “Congratulations to Lund and Crestliner for their hard work to make sure their employees are not part of this statistic.”

Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance. Applicants are judged on several years of injury data as it compares with their industry’s national statistics, and on their progress in implementing a comprehensive safety program.

“We are very happy to receive so much recognition around safety improvement, but we are most proud of our team’s ability to sustain these improvements year after year,” said Hines.

The Governor’s Safety Awards recognition is part of the 85th annual Minnesota Safety & Health Conference, coordinated by the Minnesota Safety Council. The conference is the oldest and one of the largest gatherings of workplace safety and health professionals in the region. The Minnesota Safety Council, founded in 1928, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Minnesota by preventing unintentional injuries.

About Brunswick Corporation

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group, and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories, and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

Media Contact

Lee Gordon
Director - Marine PR & Communications
Lee.Gordon@Brunswick.com
904-860-8848

“What makes this award special is that it is based on employee opinions measuring engagement, health, and satisfaction. That tells me we have the right people leading our organization and we look forward to continued growth,” said Dirk Hyde, Brunswick’s Aluminum Fish Group president. “Employee satisfaction leads to success – and we are building a world-class manufacturing facility that is not only one of the best in the state, but one of the most well respected in the entire marine industry.”

The analysis for all of the awards included responses from over 140,000 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations. A complete list of companies selected is available at StarTribune.com/topworkplaces and will also be published in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section on Sunday, June 16.

“This award is all about our employees and the quality of our workforce,” said Hyde. “Empowering our team for continuous improvement is the key to our success. We will continue to attract and retain the top talent in the area who are committed to each other and our community.”

To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Rankings were composite scores calculated purely based on employee responses.

About Brunswick Corporation

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, Freedom Boat Club, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group, and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories, and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

Media Contact

Lee Gordon
Director - Marine PR & Communications
Lee.Gordon@Brunswick.com
904-860-8848

Winners of the award are given the opportunity to donate the check to a local charity and the Suwannee team has selected Make-A-Wish Georgia as the recipient of the $10,000 donation. Brunswick (NYSE:BC) CEO Dave Foulkes was on hand to help present the check to Make-A-Wish and celebrate the team’s commitment to safety.

“Through continued focus on driving safety through the workforce, our Suwannee team has made incredible strides focusing on enhanced employee participation, training, vehicle, and pedestrian flow as well as a commitment to 5S+1,” said Jim Sutton, Mercury Marine director of safety and occupational health.

The distribution facility in Georgia employs 40 people between Mercury and Land ‘N’ Sea.

About Mercury Marine

Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Marine is the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services, and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Power Products, MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury propellers; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; Attwood marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.

"People use and enjoy our products out in the world's natural environments and we are driven to make the world cleaner and increasingly welcoming of those activities," said Chris Drees, Mercury Marine president. "We are thrilled to achieve the first Zero Waste to Landfill designation for one of our plants, and we will use the work we invested in this outcome as an inspiration and template for continued achievements in environmental stewardship."

Mercury's Plant 3 at its Fond du Lac campus is the hub for the company’s parts and accessories distribution, serving customers around the world. This function entails extensive use of packing materials and containers that — without focused efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle — could generate considerable landfill waste.

A task force charged with achieving the Zero Waste to Landfill status undertook a months-long process of defining standards, identifying measurements of waste output, and enhancing initiatives that focus on reducing, reusing and recycling materials. To define Zero Waste to Landfill in the manufacturing and warehousing context, the team adopted standards set forth by the world's leading zero-waste organizations.

Waste streams addressed in the initiative include cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, wood, and various hazardous and non-hazardous materials. The team developed procedures for ongoing monitoring and measuring of these waste-stream materials generated as a result of the plant's operations, and of the amount of these materials moved into the proper processes of reuse and recycling.

Mercury has received several accolades in the past year for its sustainable business practices. These include:

• Best Eco-friendly Company That Is Hiring Now: Mercury Marine. Awarded by Glassdoor.com
• 2018 Sustainable Product of the Year Award: Mercury Marine Active Trim technology. Awarded by Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council
• 2018 Business Friend of the Environment Award: Mercury Marine for its new V6 and V8 outboard engines. Awarded by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC)
• 2018 Green Masters designation: Mercury Marine (eighth consecutive year). Awarded by Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council

Learn more about Mercury Marine's sustainability initiatives at https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/land/sustainability/.

About Mercury Marine

Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Marine is the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services, and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Power Products, MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury propellers; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; Attwood marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.

During a ceremony in Fond du Lac on Friday, Mercury donated $5,000 to the Town of Fond du Lac Volunteer Fire Department and another $5,000 to the Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Department.

“The town of Fond du Lac Fire Department is flattered and humbled to be chosen to receive this donation,” said Fire Chief Dean Birschbach. “To be chosen by the employees who earned the award makes it that much more meaningful to each and every one of our members.”

The town of Fond du Lac Volunteer Fire Department serves 30 square miles surrounding the city and since its founding in 1959, at least one Mercury employee or retiree has been on the department’s roster.

Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Chief Peter O’Leary was also on hand for the celebration and says the partnership developed with Mercury Marine over the past several years continues to strengthen. “We are extremely grateful to Mercury for their commitment not only to the safety of their employees but to the safety of our department and community,” said O’Leary.

“We are continually driving safety culture improvement at all of our facilities, but our Plant 12 product development team continues to perform at the highest level, and they deserve this recognition,” said Jim Sutton, Mercury Marine director of safety and occupational health. “Plant 12 has a high level of employee engagement with all employees participating in the Safestart personal safety training process, resulting in Mercury’s SAFE Award in 2018 for our trainers.”

Multiple employee-led projects involving a reduction in risks, from engine testing to ergonomics and chemical safety helped pave the way for the success of the Plant 12 facility, so much so, that the facility had zero recordable injuries in 2018.

Safety, innovation, and development go hand in hand at all of our plants and it is very important that all of our employees are engaged to drive our safety culture” said Sutton. “Our commitment to safety begins with everyone doing their part and I’m so proud of our team and all that they have accomplished.”

“Safety has been a continuing focus and a cultural value across our business, especially as we continue to grow and expand,” said Tim Reid, Mercury Marine vice president of product development & engineering. “Ergonomics, product safety innovations, pre-work assessments, and personal safety accountability are just a few examples of the work being done by our team. But most importantly, it’s the commitment by everyone on the team to make safety a priority.”

About Mercury Marine

Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Marine is the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services, and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Power Products, MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury propellers; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; Attwood marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.

The Reynosa plant, which has been in the Brunswick family since 2002, manufacturers four boat brands, Bayliner, Sea Ray, HeyDay and Lund Fiberglass Sport Boats ranging from 16 to 25 feet.

“This is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the hard work and dedication to safety by all of our employees in Reynosa,” said Keith Yunger, Bayliner president. “This achievement highlights our commitment to continuous improvement and attention to detail. We are dedicated, at all of our plants, to create a culture that delivers the best possible product to our customers for an enjoyable boating experience.”

“I’ve been employed by Brunswick for 34 years and have been part of many achievements and awards, and none are more rewarding than being part of the Reynosa Facility Safety achievement award,” said Mike Fritts, Bayliner vice president of operations. “To run a world-class manufacturing facility, everyone must be committed to safety and quality. I am proud to say that we have not only achieved our goals but are on pace to set a new standard for safety in the entire industry.”

The Reynosa facility has had a great deal of success over the past few years; winners of five consecutive Brunswick Distinguished Awards, seven consecutive CSI Awards, and the 2018 LSS BB Chairman’s Award.

The plant abides by a very strong vision that states, “Through the talent and constant development of our people, we will be leaders in boat manufacturing and product innovation, under a respectful, discipline, development and safety work environment, achieving operational excellence and continuous improvement.”

“The first major shift towards a culture of safety began with a commitment from every employee at the facility,” said Fritts. “We have emphasized 6S and LSS to create an environment of teamwork where every employee can contribute to our safety efforts and be a part of our success.”

This is the second major safety milestone reached by a Brunswick manufacturing facility in the last two weeks as the Ft. Wayne Operations recently surpassed two-million hours without a lost-time incident.

About Brunswick Corporation

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick, and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine, and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group, and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories, and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

“We pride ourselves on promoting a safe and sustainable work environment for our employees and continuing to engage our entire team in working safely every day,” said Steve Langlais, Brunswick Ft. Wayne Operations president. “Two million hours of no lost time is an incredible achievement and I am proud of the culture we have created here in Ft. Wayne and the attention to detail paid by all of our employees.”

Langlais and the Brunswick leadership team recently held a celebration for all employees in Ft. Wayne to honor them for their commitment to safety.

“We dedicate a lot of time and effort to preparation and prevention in our manufacturing facility,” said Langlais. “This honor is a testimony to the sustainability of our safety culture at Brunswick, our employees and the communities where we live and work.”

Brunswick Fort Wayne Operations has been manufacturing award-winning recreational boats for more than 50 years in Ft. Wayne, driving plant-wide engagement and communication to raise safety to a record level of awareness. The plant is currently on track to cut recordable incidents and its Recordable Incident Rate by 50%.

The manufacturing operation in Ft. Wayne continues to grow thanks in part to the success of the pontoon market and category-leading products from the company’s leading boat brands. This growth has resulted in the doubling of the Ft. Wayne workforce since 2013.

About Brunswick Corporation

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

“One of the main components of the Angling Aces program is supporting young anglers, both single students pursuing professional angling, and the teams that are just learning the craft,” said Lori Kneeland, Crestliner Director of Marketing. “It’s a privilege to be able to give back to the future leaders and lovers of this great sport.”

Crestliner is the first and only aluminum boat manufacturer offering individual and team scholarships to anglers. In Fall 2018, Crestliner awarded a second round of Angling Aces scholarships, and three Jersey Discount recipients. A few recipients shared their thoughts on what it meant to receive a scholarship:

Jersey Discount and Team Scholarship ($1,500):
O.A. Carlson High School Fishing Team
Brownstown, MI
“This scholarship really adds validity to our work so far, that we are doing really good things, and the possibilities are endless for our team… I want them to understand that being a part of our team is an opportunity to connect with other anglers and to sustain relationships with like-minded people to allow themselves more opportunities in the world of angling.” —Cliff Mentzer, O.A. Carlson H.S. School Fishing Team Coach

Team Scholarship ($1,500):
Oak Lawn Community High School Spartan Fishing Team
Oak Lawn, IL
“Because of this team scholarship, team members are now able to make their fishing and boating experiences more enjoyable, which for a 14 or 15-year-old, is very important! This prize is also the ideal capstone to our senior team members, who have worked hard over the past four years to maximize their outdoor experiences.” —Chris Kuchyt, Oak Lawn Community H.S. Fishing Team Coach

Academic Scholarship ($1,000):
Isaac Black
Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH
“To me, this scholarship represents all of the hard work I have put in during my time in high school. It also gives me hope that my goal of funding and achieving higher education is within my reach.” —Isaac Black

Angler Scholarship ($2,000):
Cal Culpepper
University of Montevallo Bass Anglers’ Association, Montevallo, AL
“This scholarship will allow me to purchase books for this next semester, as well as help take care of some of my other financial obligations at school. It also will allow me extra money to travel to some of the upcoming tournaments and not worry about how to cover the cost of my school bills. ” — Cal Culpepper

In addition to awarding scholarships, the Angling Aces program seeks to cultivate three core principles in these young scholars: enhanced fishing techniques, environmental and resource conservation, and expansive on-water safety knowledge. Crestliner has made purchasing a boat more affordable for student anglers through its Boat Purchase Program, which allows up to $5,000 in rebates plus factory pricing. The program launched Reelin’ Rewards in March 2019; a new rewards program where anglers earn points for making efforts to develop themselves as student anglers and giving back to their communities.

Crestliner continues to explore new program opportunities they provide to anglers year-round. “The Angling Aces program is a continual exchange with young anglers, one from which we are constantly learning,” Kneeland said. “The objective of the scholarships is not just in helping to defray students’ costs, but also in introducing newcomers to the world of fishing. We are always looking for new and exciting ways to expand the support Angling Aces can provide.”

To sign up for the program and receive news updates, students can visit Crestliner Angling Aces and follow us on Facebook at Crestliner Angling Aces. Angling Aces scholarship applications are now available; the deadline to apply is May 31, 2019.

About Crestliner

Located in Otsego, Minn., Crestliner boats and pontoons are crafted with an uncompromising mix of functional design, all-welded aluminum construction and a relentless commitment to excellence. Since 1946 Crestliner has been making boats forged with strength and defined by durability. As a worldwide leader, Crestliner continues to redefine the industry with boats built to last. A testament to our quality and craftsmanship, Crestliner has received the CSI Award of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction for Aluminum Outboard Boats for 11 consecutive years. Learn more about Crestliner and its line of boats by visiting crestliner.com. Crestliner is a division of Brunswick Corporation, a leader in the recreational marine industry, brunswick.com

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lori Kneeland Lkneeland@Crestliner.com (763) 241-2625

“I would like to congratulate and thank everyone who made this achievement possible,” said President Nick Stickler. “Boston Whaler is committed to the well-being of our employees — safety is more than just a priority, it’s a part of our culture. It’s a commitment to each other that we renew every single day.”

Boston Whaler strives to maintain a supportive, teamwork-oriented atmosphere that encourages employees to look out for one another. New employees go through many hours of training to learn safety procedures and protocols as part of Whaler’s Touchpoint Program and are supported with one-on-one and group mentoring throughout the onboarding period. Team leaders and supervisors are well-versed in OSHA regulations, and a dedicated cross-departmental Safety Committee is trained in first aid, CPR and other key competencies.

“Safety is about more than handing over a pamphlet or showing a video,” said Stickler. “It requires focused time and attention, as well as the ongoing support of the organization. Reaching two million hours without incident reflects everyone’s efforts.”

To celebrate the milestone, Boston Whaler held a company-wide cookout on April 2nd. All Whaler employees were invited to enjoy hamburgers and hotdogs, and each received a commemorative gift.

About Boston Whaler

For more than 60 years, Boston Whaler has been building superior quality unsinkable runabouts, cruisers, and center console boats. Founded in 1958 and currently headquartered in Edgewater, Fla., the company’s unique foam-cored construction process contributes not only unsurpassed flotation but also superior ride characteristics and durability. The current product line ranges from 11 to 42 feet and is distributed around the world by a network of exceptional dealers. For more information about The Unsinkable Legend™, please visit www.bostonwhaler.com. Boston Whaler is owned by Brunswick Corporation, the leading marine manufacturer in the world.

About Brunswick

Headquartered in Mettawa, Ill., Brunswick Corporation’s leading consumer brands include Mercury Marine outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine and Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils; Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Thunder Jet and Uttern boats; Boating Services Network, NAUTIC-ON, OnBoard Boating Club and Rentals; Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Indoor Cycling Group and SCIFIT fitness equipment; and Brunswick billiards tables, accessories and game room furniture. For more information, visit https://www.brunswick.com.

On February 5th, the plant celebrated together during the lunch hour, signing a commemorative banner and a commitment to continue its leadership in safety.

“Building and maintaining a culture of safety as well as attention to detail has been the key to our success as a business unit here in Juarez,” said Vicente Rodriguez, General Manager of Mercury Juarez. “To achieve two million hours with no lost-time injuries is an incredible feat and I’m proud of all of our employees who remain committed to our safety mission.”

This isn’t the first time the Juarez plant has been honored by the company, in 2015, Mercury Marine's Juarez plant received the Brunswick Corporation Chairman's Safety Award for excellence in safety and employee engagement.

In addition, the plant won the 2014 S.A.F.E. Award, for giving voice to employee concerns regarding safety, quality, and productivity in the facility. This is a program that continues today with great success and has been a springboard for other facilities to integrate similar initiatives.

“In 2018 we implemented various safety initiatives that have been well received by our entire workforce,” said Rodriguez. “Safety takes a commitment from everyone and with a continued focus on safety in our plant, I am confident that we will continue to reach our goals and set additional milestones in the near future.”

About Mercury Marine:

Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Marine is a world-leading manufacturer of marine propulsion systems. A $3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury designs, manufactures and distributes engines, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world with 10,000 service points globally. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; Mercury global parts and accessories including propellers, and SmartCraft electronics; Power Products Integrated Solutions; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood, Garelick and Whale marine parts; Land ’N’ Sea, BLA, Payne’s Marine, Kellogg Marine & Lankhorst Taselaar marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.