Willard Marine, manufacturer of composite and aluminum boats for 57 years, has appointed Bob Beck Jr. and Renée St. Lawrence to its sales team.
Beck joins the Willard Marine sales and training team with more than 24 years of experience in the U.S. Coast Guard where he held several ranks and also acted as the supervisor of Coast Guard units managing personnel, budgets and maintenance contracts.
Upon retiring from the Coast Guard, Beck joined Zodiac as the Coast Guard customer support manager and director of the Maritime Training Academy. Most recently he served as chief operating officer overseeing government and professional markets.
“Bob’s vast Coast Guard and maritime sales, training and management experience are tremendous assets to Willard Marine as we grow our business locally and abroad,” says Ulrich Gottschling, Willard Marine’s president and CEO, in a company news release. “Based in Arkansas, Bob is conveniently positioned to work closely with customers throughout the central U.S. to design and develop customized vessels that meet their specific mission requirements.”
Renée St. Lawrence was Zodiac’s federal sales and contract manager where she spearheaded a variety of contracts from initiation through product delivery. St. Lawrence developed vessel maintenance guidelines and conducted training for military customers on product operation, plus she oversaw Zodiac’s safety program and developed dealer training requirements.
Prior to that, St. Lawrence held positions managing government contracting and regulations such as GSA contracts and compliance with FAR, OSHA and ANSI codes.
“Located in Willard Marine’s new office in Annapolis, Md., Renée will work closely with our customers in the Mid-Atlantic region to develop innovative products that meet the evolving needs of domestic and foreign military agencies,” Gottschling says. “Bob and Renée are the ideal fit for Willard Marine as they have the credentials and experience necessary to help us explore new markets while maintaining the highest level of customer service and delivering the ultimate in product performance, quality and safety.”
