In Season 5, Episode 10, Kristina Hebert explores Christine Battles’ journey of evolving her public relations expertise into a dedicated initiative to develop a sustainable marine workforce pipeline. The episode highlights Battles' efforts in establishing Junior Achievement's maritime storefront, along with her success in scaling pre-apprenticeship programs that facilitate job placements for high school seniors. Additionally, the duo delves into Advanced Mechanical's strategies to enhance reliability in service delivery, emphasizing the intricacies of simplifying complex systems to ensure they are both effective and easily accessible to clients.

• Season theme of marine industry success and behind‑the‑scenes impact
• Christine’s path from political fundraising to maritime leadership
• Workforce education committee lessons and barriers to hiring green talent
• Discovery of Junior Achievement and rapid fundraising for a marine storefront
• Design of interactive, tech‑forward exhibits for fifth and eighth graders
• COVID pivot to virtual engagement and re‑upping multi‑year funding
• Expansion from yacht focus to balanced commercial maritime roles
• Pre‑apprenticeship model for 12th graders and field trips to ports and yards
• Volunteer needs, corporate partnership options, and ongoing sponsorship
• Advanced Mechanical’s vibration analysis and “machine doctors” framing
• Culture, slogans, and outreach that make maintenance relatable

Visit Junior Achievement to volunteer or partner: https://jasouthflorida.org/

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

A family legacy meets a builder's journey from a Guatemala lodge to a modern custom brand shaped by a "game boat ethos." Host Kristina Hebert and Release Boatworks' founder, Jim Turner, unpack how simplicity, safety, and innovative tech design keep crews fishing longer, plus what's next for Release and Game Fisherman.

• Defining a game boat as a purpose-built, easy-maintenance tool
• Why seating and simple layouts make walkarounds work
• Blending craftsmanship with modern tech without overcomplicating systems
• Power planning across AC and DC loads for reliability
• Saying no to risky installs and feature creep
• Timelines, capacity, and launching new 55s with a 66 in development
• Culture of dock talk, learning from mistakes, and future-proofing
• Game Fisherman acquisition and charter heritage from Costa Rica to Venice
• The role of boat shows, community, and shared stories

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75

Host Kristina Hebert sits dockside at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show with Hooker Pumps founder Trista Evans to explore how a patented, serviceable livewell system changed uptime, service, and safety across boating. The conversation widens to boat show business, tech integration, rescue use cases, and a surprising move into agriculture.

• Family legacy and industry resilience across market shocks
• Fort Lauderdale Boat Show as a business engine and meeting ground
• Patented livewell pumps with variable flow and external sea chest
• Manifold design delivering true redundancy for multiple wells
• Adoption by major builders and standard fit on many models
• Tech integration with marine electronics for monitoring and control
• In-house service, installer network, rapid turnaround, pump pinch
• Future applications in AC circulation and emergency de-watering
• Expansion into agriculture with transfer, agitation, and drip pumps
• Open pitch to Sea Tow for 10,000 GPH crash pumps

Wards Marine Electric
https://www.wardsmarine.com/

Wards Way YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75