Boatbuilder SAFE Boats International announced a leadership transition and a shift to a cooperative management structure as it approaches its 30th anniversary.
The 100% employee-owned company announced at the International WorkBoat Show that its CEO, Richard Schwarz, will step back from daily duties and move into a consulting and advisory role. The transition “allows Richard to pursue his personal passion of traveling while continuing to contribute his experience and insight to key strategic initiatives and long-term planning,” according to the announcement. SBI said his continued involvement will help guide long-term planning and preserve institutional knowledge.
As the company enters its third decade, it will adopt a new cooperative leadership model. Day-to-day operations will be led by four longtime executives:
- Rob Goley, chief revenue and customer officer, responsible for sales, marketing, customer support, training, and product development and sales engineering.
- Christer Bradley, chief operations officer, overseeing operations, manufacturing, quality, production engineering, and continuous improvement.
- Tom Gumpert, chief financial officer, directing financial operations, supply chain, and IT.
- Cindy McFarland, chief people officer, leading employee owner/team member experience and professional and workforce development.
The company, which is preparing to mark its 30th anniversary in 2026, said the structure reflects its employee-owned model, emphasizing shared leadership and cross-functional collaboration.
A chief executive board will guide the leadership team. Company founder Scott Peterson will serve as chairman, with Vice Chair Bill Hoglund, Board Member Vice Adm. Dean Lee, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), and Treasurer Tom Norton.
“Our people have always been the heart of SAFE Boats,” Peterson said. “This structure reflects who we are —collaborative, customer-focused, mission-driven, and united by the pride of employee ownership. With this leadership team and this model, we’re positioning SAFE Boats for a strong and innovative future. It honors our history while giving us the agility and shared perspective we need for continued success.”
