3 minute read
Why I Do What I Do
By Andrea Lightfoot
Of four things I am certain in life: my love for Northern Michigan, boating, wine, and cheese. Aside from number 3 being strongly discouraged during the work day (and 4 depending on how strong the cheese is), Walstrom Marine checks all of my “love what you do, do what you love” boxes.
After I graduated from Lake Superior State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation Leadership, I got an offer to turn my summer job into a year round position, living and working aboard a 72’ Hatteras. It wasn’t just the boats that I loved, it was the mentality. You honestly can’t be a sad person when you are boating, even when you have bad experiences: engine catching on fire, running aground, running out of fuel 1 mile off a rocky shore, no light in the inland waterway at 1am, trying to jump onto the boat we towed in 6 foot swells, going through the locks for the umpteenth time while it’s sideways raining. I wouldn’t give any of these experiences up. For all the bad that can happen with boats, the good outweighs it 100 times over.
My love of boating has lead me to Walstrom Marine. When I first joined the Walstrom team it was a time of change, and I wanted to be a part of that change. After a short time working with the sales and marketing teams I was fortunate enough to be offered the Business Manager position, a new role for the company. Everyday I wake up and I look forward to going to work. My job requires a lot of multitasking and organization, two things I have always been very good at. I love being able to talk with so many different people throughout the day and I love being able to help others turn their boating dreams into reality.
As a business manager I am able to offer options such as financing, protective options for your vessel, extended warranties on your engines, and more. We are growing our list weekly to increase different financing options for different types of boaters as well as partnering with more establishments to bring you additional coverage options. We have always been here to make your boating experience more enjoyable and less stressful, and being a part of growing that aspect is a joy. Any closings, registrations, and vessel documentations are also done through me and my door is always open for a chat or any questions you may have.
On behalf of Walstrom Marine we are so excited to be able to offer a wider range of services in the same personal, family-owned style we’ve been providing the last 75 years. Happy Cruising!
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Rick Simonton, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, RMA®
Senior Vice President Wealth Management Advisor Portfolio Manager 231.922.6825 richard_simonton@ml.com
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
333 West Grandview Parkway Suite 300 Traverse City, MI 49684 fa.ml.com/theswhmgrouptc
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