Bobby Matos

About Me

I started under the cowling in 1984, halfway through high school, turning wrenches on Mercury and Johnson/Evinrude outboards, with marine training at McFatter Technical College and the OMC Outboard Technical Center. Fourteen years as a technician taught me how these engines are built, how their performance evolved, and how to win races on the water. In 1990 I campaigned with Team USA alongside driver Don Johnson with Mercury power and the new number-six drive; in 1991 I ran as navigator for August Busch IV's Bud Dry program. By 1992 I was Chief Technician for the Mercury-powered Brooks Athletic Shoes team that won the World Offshore Championship, capturing engine and drive data with Mercury's racing and product development team at Lake X and Fond du Lac.

After the 1992 season we took the program international. Managing Spirit of Norway out of Oslo to the 1998 UIM World and European Championships meant a crew, a budget, and $4 million in equipment crossing borders on a hard deadline every race weekend.

Norway taught me how to build a facility; Austria taught me how to build a business. Heron Robotunits trained me at their Dornbirn headquarters — engineering, manufacturing operations, sales, and marketing, taught on the factory floor and in the executive rooms rather than a classroom. Ireland was the final exam: I sited and stood up their first international plant in Killaloe. The best MBA I could have asked for — and I got paid to do it.

In 2001 I brought those skills home and founded Gulfstream Marine, leading a field sales team of eight representatives and building the dealer, distributor, and OEM network that launched the Anchor Lift brand in America. When that line went direct, I answered with my own product — Nautilus Marine Group — taking an anchoring system from concept through Asian manufacturing to OEM launch and the 2011 IBEX Innovation Award.

Today at Lippert I own key OEM, distributor, and dealer accounts across Florida and the Southeast — CWR, Lewis Marine, MarineMax, OneWater, Galati Yachts, Bertram, Intrepid, Yellowfin, Invincible, and Cigarette — part of a 200+ dealer, distributor, and builder network built nationwide. I can still talk to a technician in his language and a dealer or OEM principal in his. Give a field team clear objectives, real product knowledge, and a leader who shows up in market, and the revenue, margin, and share numbers follow.

EXPERIENCE

Lippert - Product Specialist

Elkhart, IN 2022 - 2026

First 3 years I successfully established and managed key distribution partnerships and dealer accounts for SE region. CWR & Lewis Marine are our trusted partners in selling to renowned dealers such as MarineMax, OneWater, and Galati Yachts across various categories. I took charge of driving sales growth by formulating strategic plans, executing impactful promotional activities, and fostering strong relationships with dealers in the SE region. Last 19 months I managed Florida builders (Bertram, Intrepid, Yellowfin, Invincible, Cigarette and Barker to name a few) with the full range of Lewmar, Taylor Made Glazing and SureShade solutions.

Lewis Marine - District Manager

Largo, FL • 2020

Restructured inventory and logistics organizational framework, improving operational efficiency and sustaining our competitive advantage in the Tampa region.
Played a pivotal role in the executive management team to strategize and address challenges related to business expansion, demonstrating strong problem-solving and strategic planning skills.
Leveraged leadership skills in working to reorganize and revamp the Largo facility, resulting in improved productivity and operational efficiency through barcoding and SOPs.
Managed large-scale transactions and oversaw inventory control, financial management and organizational skills.
Enhanced customer satisfaction by applying effective management strategies in daily supervision of the Largo employees and facility, demonstrating Servant Leadership management abilities.

Glenn-Mar Marine Supply - CEO

Largo, FL • 2019

Acquired Glenn-Mar Marine Supply with investor backing, increased profits 12% in the first six months through process streamlining, and sold the business to Lewis Marine — a full acquire-improve-exit cycle completed inside a single year.
Directed technology and process improvements that reduced waste and improved operational efficiency while preparing the business for sale.

Dark Horse Marine — Founder

Clearwater, FL • 2013 - 2019

Founded a direct-to-consumer e-commerce business selling anchoring equipment and marine accessories — built the storefront end to end and grew it into a self-sustaining revenue stream.
Personally ran Google Ads, SEO, and demand generation — digital skills that translate directly to dealer co-op advertising and lead-generation programs — while gaining first-hand insight into how boaters research and buy.
Divested my interest in the business in 2019 ahead of acquiring Glenn-Mar Marine Supply, ensuring no conflict between the two operations.

CEO — Nautilus Marine Group

Clearwater, FL • 2009 - 2013

Founded the company to bring an anchoring system of my own design to market, applying the dealer, OEM, and category knowledge built over the prior decade — a bet that produced the 2011 IBEX Innovation Award-winning Nautilus windlass.
Developed and implemented a comprehensive business plan that included conducting market research, devising a marketing plan, formulating a pricing strategy, and addressing legal and financial issues.
Managed intellectual property rights by filing patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
Showcased strong leadership skills by hiring, training, and managing personnel to align with the company's objectives and culture, both in US and Asia.
Leveraged engineering and design skills to create a IBEX award-winning windlass system, while also managing the development of packaging and marketing materials for the entire product line.
Exhibited excellent negotiation and supplier management skills during regular trips to Asia to source and negotiate deals with stainless steel and electrical component suppliers, ensuring cost-effective procurement and timely delivery.
Oversaw all aspects of operations, demonstrating a keen ability to multitask and prioritize effectively, which ensured smooth business operations and contributed to the company's success.

Gulfstream Marine — Founder & Principal

Clearwater, FL • 2001 - 2006

Founded a marine sales and distribution company bringing international manufacturers into the US market — market-entry strategy, warehousing, and distribution for lines with no domestic presence, anchored by the US rights to the Anchor Lift line.
Recruited, trained, and managed a field sales team of eight representatives while owning the full P&L, and built the dealer, distributor, and OEM network that launched the Anchor Lift brand in America from a standing start.
Exited the line in 2005 when Anchor Lift went direct and closed the company on my own terms in 2006 — then spent 2007-2008 designing the Nautilus anchoring system and sourcing Asian manufacturing partners for the 2009 launch.

Heron Robotunits - Consultant

Guernsey, Channel Islands • 1998 - 2000

Spearheaded the international expansion plan for Heron Robotunits of Dornbirn, Austria, after hands-on training at their headquarters across engineering, manufacturing, sales, and marketing.
Sited and stood up the company's first international facility in Killaloe, Ireland — location strategy, workflow design, IT network, and pneumatic assembly systems, run on JIT and KANBAN inventory control.
Translated the company catalog and website from German to English and trained staff on Alu-Cad structural engineering software.
Conducted US market research on competitors and market share, recommending the optimal location for a future American facility.

Team Manager — BRG Racing

Oslo, Norway • 1996 - 1998

Led the team to victory in the 1998 UIM European Championship and the 1998 UIM World Championship.
Managed the crew, all equipment purchasing, and global logistics for $4 million in race equipment — negotiating DHL and SOS Global air freight contracts and tracking ATA carnets across European borders.
Surveyed, sited, and gave final approval for the team's new race facility in Oslo.
Ran the data program — installing race telemetry and analyzing test results against the data acquisition system — and test-drove the boat in the driver's absence.

Marine Technician — Outboard & Offshore Racing

Florida • Europe • 1984 - 1998

Began as an outboard technician in 1984 while still in high school; factory-trained on Johnson/Evinrude at the OMC Outboard Technical Center and worked extensively on Mercury outboards.
Chief Technician for the Mercury-powered Brooks Athletic Shoes offshore team that won the 1992 World Offshore Championship — working directly with Mercury at Lake X and Fond du Lac on race motor development and Kiekhaefer VI drive data capture.
Built the service-department and dealer-side perspective that still shapes how I sell, train, and support product today.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2011 — Won the IBEX Innovation Award for the Nautilus Windlass Design, a project I led from concept selling to OEM and distribution channels.
2009 - 2012 — Led US and Asian team all aspects of a full anchoring system, including design, engineering, manufacturing in Asia, and marketing to OEM's like Yellowfin, Edgewater, Everglades, SeaVee, Century Boats, and Regal Boats.
2003 — As a member of the DeSantis Chevrolet Racing Team, I contributed to our victory in the World Offshore Championship, leading in areas of strategy and team coordination.
1999 — Led the strategic planning and execution for Heron Robotunits' first expansion facility in Killaloe, Ireland, demonstrating my ability to lead in international business development and operations.
1998 — Managed the Spirit of Norway Offshore team, powered by Lamborghini V12 motors, to the UIM World & European Offshore Championships.
1992 — As Chief Technician for our Mercury-powered Brooks Athletic Shoes Offshore Racing Team, led the technical effort behind our World Offshore Championship victory — capturing race motor and Kiekhaefer VI drive data with Mercury at Lake X and Fond du Lac.
1991 — Raced as Navigator for the Bud Dry Offshore Racing Team with August Busch IV and Jeff Soffer.
1990 — Campaigned with Team USA alongside driver Don Johnson and throttle-man Richie Powers.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Member of Team USA Racing Team; collaborated with high-profile drivers and industry figures in competitive offshore racing environments.
Partnered with Mercury Marine technicians at Lake X and Fond du Lac to capture performance data for race motors and the Kiekhaefer VI drive system.
Raced as Navigator for the Bud Dry Racing Team with August Busch IV and Jeff Soffer.
Managed Spirit of Norway Racing Team to UIM Championship, overseeing a Lamborghini V12-powered team with full operational and leadership responsibility.
Implemented Data Acquisition and Telemetry systems to monitor and optimize performance at the highest level of competitive racing.