Business Success Sees No Age July 30th, 2007 |
Press Room Menu: |
| For many, a boat is their second car or home away from home. While taking bids to build the dock for your investment, you may have the opportunity to meet 19 year old Scott Fitzpatrick with Maritime Dock Works or one of his sales associates. Maritime Dock Works designs and constructs boat docks and lifts of all sizes for marinas, groups, and private residents, and has sent products as far as Colorado and California. Though the industry appears to be seasonal, Fitzpatrick balances the needs of his individual customers during the summer with those marinas who want to upgrade their facilities over the fall and winter, their slowest part of the tourist season. Maritime's start-up was fueled by Fitzpatrick's knowledge of the boat dock industry and desire to continue in the business in which he was raised. He started out working for his father at North American Marine Industries when he was 12 years old. While working for his father, Fitzpatrick learned much about the industry. He started out working in the shop, preparing dock sections for departure to water, assembling boat lifts, and receiving inventory for the company. After working in the shop for a summer, Fitzpatrick was allowed to move out to an assembly crew where he learned how to build a dock. Through this opportunity, he saw first hand what construction practices were best. New dock construction was not the only type of work Fitzpatrick experienced while working for his father. He also assisted on many re-float, demolition, and renovation jobs, as well as boat lift installations and repairs. Even after his father sold North American Marine Industries to pursue other opportunities, Fitzpatrick was still interested in the boat dock industry. At 15 years old, he started his own dock repair and renovation company in Shell Knob. The business started with two employees. One year later, the company began building new docks and sub-contracted the fabrication to an outside vendor. He has built his business using trade website advertising as well as the phone books of lake side communities. "This year we will be profiled on the inside back cover of our local phone book," he said. As a freshman at University of Missouri in 2006, he was unable to be as hands on with his company as he wished. "At first, I chose to be selective about which projects we accepted," said Fitzpatrick. It is now getting where I have less to worry about since I have a wonderful managerial staff in place." Five months ago, Maritime Dock Works began fabricating dock part at the Shell Knob location for on-site installation by his staff or the dock owner. His profitable business now employs 20 people and only 50 percent of revenue is generated from Table Rock Lake. "We are currently on track to double our 2006 revenue," Fitzpatrick notes. "There has been a lot more to think about as the business has grown." Fitzpatrick attributes all of his success to those who work with him. Many of his key people he has known for a long time while working in the industry. "Chris Moffeit, the vice president of operations, worked for my father," Fitzpatrick said. "Chris has been with me from the beginning. He has always believed in me." This will be the second year in Mizzou's business program. His experiences will both help in his business classes as well as the classes will help build his business further. "Because I have a lot of fun doing what I do, the extra time needed to balance school with my business is not work," Fitzpatrick notes. Fitzpatrick recommends future entrepreneurs, no matter what age they are, to think heavily about the decision to start a business. "If you are going to invest your time and money to start a business, make sure the business is what you want to do," says Fitzpatrick. "Once you start it is too late to change your mind. However, enjoyment can be a wonderful motivator." |
|
Joplin Business Journal |