For Immediate Release
Contact: Marilyn DeMartini [email protected] – 954 649 4904
Kasi Barrow [email protected] – 269 832 6317
Irish Boat Shop Collaborates with Great Lakes Boat Building School for Annual Showcase
Charlevoix Marina Hosts Northern Michigan Students to Experience Marine Career Prospects
Charlevoix, MI – In scenic Cedarville, Michigan, at the Upper Peninsula’s Cheneaux Islands, students at
the Great Lakes Boating School learn skills to excel in the marine industry. The school’s important
function has been recognized by Irish Boat Shop since its inception as the school helps prepare future
team members for its three Northern Michigan locations in Charlevoix, Harbor Springs and Traverse City.
The company’s Charlevoix Marina will host an annual Great Lake Boat Building Showcase on Thursday,
October 17 to give students an interactive experience of the many types of jobs that operate its service
and sales locations, including marine carpentry, electrical and technician positions. Four alumni of the
school currently work at Irish Boat Shop locations.
Founder of the 60+ year-old company, Dave Irish, valued staff training and as a memorial, his daughter
and chair of the Irish Boat Shop Board, Susan Irish Stewart started a sponsorship that not only provides
financial support to the non-profit school, but also a scholarship program.
“Irish Boat Shop has been an amazing partner and has supported us since we started, as a member of
our Advisory Board,” says Nikki Storey, President, “Dave Irish’s legacy continues on and gives the kids a
leg-up in the marine industry.”
Storey, an Upper Peninsula native, raised in a family of tradesman, helped the school earn accreditation
in 2018 and since, its one-year training programs have grown at a significant rate to serve the marine
industry. High school students are invited to the Irish Boat Shop locations for various field trips
throughout the year, but during this showcase event, students participate in hands-on activities to learn
skills like compression testing, battery maintenance, splicing techniques and how to use computer
diagnostics from certified professionals. Students can also learn about shore power systems and safe
boating and will have the chance to learn the art of marine sales, focusing on Irish Boat Shop brands like
the ‘unsinkable’ Boston Whaler, Chaparral Boats and Pardo Yachts.
“This career path is rewarding and achievable without a four-year degree, which is encouraging to
students who seek alternatives to a traditional college experience,” says Storey, “By partnering with Irish
Boat Shop, we can provide students a chance to learn hands-on skills from a top-rated team of marine
professionals while also promoting the training programs offered at Great Lake Boat Building School.”
“Following Dave Irish’s lead, Irish Boat Shop continues to invest in outside training and certifications for
our own team and are always interested in hiring local residents. People here appreciate Northern
Michigan’s boating atmosphere and we think it is important to help them learn the skills to be a part of
our industry,” notes Shae Cross, President. “Our crew also enjoys sharing their knowledge with the
students and are excellent role models for the coming generation,” he adds.
Irish Boat Shop has collaborated with the GLBBS through the Marine Dealers Education Network (MDEN),
financially supporting the GLBBS Student Enrichment Fund in return for opportunities to connect with
future graduates. The Dave Irish Student Sponsorship, established in 2023, provides $15,000 towards a
student’s tuition in exchange for a one-year work commitment after graduation. Students in both the
Comprehensive Career Boat Build program and the Marine Service Technology program are encouraged
to apply for this sponsorship.
“The marine industry is rocking and a great one to work in, but if you’re sitting back waiting for people to
come to you, you’ll be behind,” states Storey, “We are not sitting back. Dave Irish would always come out
and talk to the students and they loved him—he was an inspiration and we are happy to continue his
legacy by working with Irish Boat Shop.”
For more information on Irish Boat Shop visit www.irishboatshop.com To sign up for notifications about
future Marine Trade Show events contact [email protected] and to learn more about Great Lakes
Boat Building School visit www.glbbs.edu.
About Irish Boat Shop:
For over 60 years, Irish Boat Shop has provided comprehensive marina services, including repair, restoration,
dockage, and storage with locations in Harbor Springs and Charlevoix, Michigan. Additionally, it maintains a
dedicated sales, service, and storage facility in Traverse City, Michigan. An authorized dealer of premium boat
brands like Boston Whaler, Nautique, Chaparral, Premium Pontoons, J Boats, RS Sailing, and Zodiac, the Boat Shop
also brokers preowned boats. A certified “Clean Marina” and service center for Hinkley Yachts in the Great Lakes,
Irish Boat Shop is committed to excellence and environmental stewardship in the marine industry.
About Great Lakes Boat Building School
GLBBS is a non-profit organization recognized as a charitable organization and is accredited by the Accrediting
Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Qualified students graduate from its Comprehensive Career Boat
Building Program (CCBB) and the Marine Service Technology Program (MST), in partnership with Mercury Marine
University. The School addresses the shortage of skilled trades and craftspeople in the marine industry following
graduation and boasts a nearly 100% placement rate. For prospective student enrollment information
visit glbbs.edu/admissions-aid/ or call 906.484.1081.
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