Presidential support for Premier Marine

by Bob Wonders on 12 Aug 2010 Regular readers may recall a piece I wrote about just a few weeks ago when I made a rush trip to Sarasota, Florida, as a guest of Chris-Craft to view the legendary manufacturer's 2011 range.

Let me tell you, the Queensland Gold Coast, to Sydney, to Los Angeles, to Tampa and on to Sarasota is a long way, a very long way.

However, it did not prove to be too far for the company's #1 man, Chris-Craft Corporation President Steve Heese, who only a matter of days after the launch of the 2011 range made his way to Sydney and Darling Harbour for the 2010 Sydney International Boat Show.

Steve was not simply on a sightseeing trip; he was at the 43rd Sydney International Boat Show to sow support for Australia's Chris-Craft dealer, Sydney headquartered Premier Marine.

Dealer principal Steve Hannes and brand manager Lee Poulsen were delighted to welcome Chris-Craft's ‘main man.'

'We really appreciated him making the effort and he spent plenty of time on our display meeting with current and prospective owners,' Steve Hannes explained.

There was another good reason for Steve (popular name, that) Heese to make the trip to the land down under.

The Chris-Craft chief actually lived in Sydney for more than 10-years; he discovered Amanda, now his wife, on Sydney's northern beaches and the couple's three children, a daughter, 15, and 11-year-old twins (one boy, one girl) were all born in Sydney.

And he rates the Sydney International Boat Show as his favourite show in the world!

Amanda and the kids were of course on the trip, catching up with parents and grand parents.

'Actually, I have lived longer in Sydney than anywhere else in my life,' Steve Heese explained.

'I was born in Florida, grew up in Tampa, attended Harvard Business School, in Boston and now live in Sarasota, not far from the Chris-Craft plant.

'When I worked for Erico International, a construction company, I was sent to Sydney to open the company's offices here and also in parts of South East Asia, chiefly Singapore and Hong Kong,' he added.

Steve Heese is involved in a partnership with Stephen Julius (that name again!), now Chairman of the Chris-Craft Corporation.

The pair met while at Harvard and has enjoyed an extremely successful relationship since.

Owning the iconic Chris-Craft marquee was not the first foray into recreational boating for Steve and Stephen, now was it their first experience with an iconic name; in 1998 they purchased the renowned Italian company, Riva.

'We operated Riva for two-years and eventually sold it to the Ferretti Group in 2000,' Steve explained.

Steve said Chris-Craft was definitely 'not for sale.'

'We see it as our core business,' he declared.

On Premier Marine, Steve (Heese) is very happy with Steve (Hannes) and the Rose Bay operation handling Chris-Craft sales and service.

'No matter what field, a manufacturer needs a good dealer network, and at Chris-Craft we're confident that we have a first class operation representing us here in Premier Marine,' he said.

'Steve (Hannes) and Lee know the brand very well and their rapport with their clients could not be faulted.

'And what better place to sell Chris-Craft boats than right on the waters of Sydney Harbour,' he added.

For further information contact Premier Marine, Rose Bay, Sydney, telephone (02) 9328-0999.