“What struck me most about Marina Jack was how much it had changed over the last 15 years or so, continuing to evolve when many marinas were struggling with the economy,” said Anna Townshend, editor of Marina Dock Age Magazine.”
Marina Jack has been chosen as the 2015 “National Marina of the Year” by “Marina Dock Age” magazine. The award is given each year to one marina with under 250 slips and one marina with more. Marina Jack won in the large marina category.
Marina Jack has 316 wet and dry slips, a full-service fuel dock, ship’s store and on-site yacht services department. It can accommodate mega-yachts up to 228 feet in length on Sarasota Bay.
The business also offers a waterfront restaurant of the same name overlooking Sarasota Bay.
“This award is truly a testament to, not only our ownership, but our staff and customers,” said Sam Chavers, Marina Jack’s director of marina operations, in a statement on Monday.
“We’re honored and proud to represent the marina industry, the city of Sarasota and our community with this nationally recognized distinction. Our business plan has always been to create points of difference for the customer in order to build one of the best marinas in the United States, and this award exemplifies our efforts towards that goal.”
Marina Jack’s submission highlighted that it is partnership between public and private sectors; its strong ties in community events; its experienced staff; its industry involvement with boat shows and local brokerage affiliations; the development of the city of Sarasota’s first mooring field; and its certification as a clean marina for the past 12 consecutive years.
“What struck me most about Marina Jack was how much it had changed over the last 15 years or so, continuing to evolve when many marinas were struggling with the economy,” said Anna Townshend, editor of Marina Dock Age Magazine. “The marina invested a lot of money in its facilities, but it also listened to its customers and partnered with the city of Sarasota on important projects. ”
“The growth and success at Marina Jack over the last 10 years is no surprise, when you read about all the marina has done to get there.” Townshend said. “The hard work is important, but each facility needs the right vision.”
Chavers and owner Robert L. Soran accompanied by the Marina Jacks’ management team to accept the award at the inaugural Docks Expo industry conference in St. Louis this month.
This year’s small marina winner was the Harbour Town Yacht Basin in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
HeraldTribune 12/7/2015
