Freedom Boat Club and Groupe Bénéteau executives share a toast to celebrate their new FBC alliance.
TAMPA, FLA. -- Today, Soundings Trade Only announced the first ever winner of their new Top 10 Most Innovative Marine Companies awards at the annual IBEX Show.
54 companies from across the industry were nominated for excellence in innovative manufacturing processes, marketing approaches, technologies, products, workforce and other initiatives. Michael Verdon granted this year’s award to Freedom Boat Club, a Venice, Fla. based firm whose business model seeks to lower financial barriers to boating.
“Recognizing and encouraging innovation in our industry is what IBEX is all about,” said Anne Dunbar, IBEX Show Director. “The winning products will positively impact boating forever, and it's very exciting. Congratulations to all the entrants for their dedication to product evolution.”
The announcement, fitting the culture of IBEX’s vision for awarding innovation, was made via a live-streaming event at the Soundings Trade Only booth. Other winners and honorable mentions will be announced in the November issue of the industry magazine. Freedom Boat Club's CEO John Giglio was on hand to accept the crystal trophy from editor-in-chief Michael Verdon.
According to Soundings Trade Only’s nomination form, the goal of this new award was to recognize companies shaping the future of the marine marketplace. Each application was individually evaluated by a team of Soundings Trade Only and AIM Marine Group editors, writers and publishers.
Eligibility was open to organizations across the globe that manufacture or supply products and services to the marine industry may apply. Each company demonstrated how their innovations over the past year have impacted their business, the industry and marketplace.
The profiles of the Top 10 Most Innovative Marine Companies 2018 will remain on the website until September 2019. In addition, each winner will receive a Most Innovative Marine Company logo to use on corporate materials until the 2019 winners are announced.
