LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY
Innovators improving the boating experience
PMY: How does your passion for boating and business feed innovation?
CHRIS GRATZ: My passion for boating and the Pursuit brand runs very deep and extends back over 30 years. I can still remember the day my father and I took delivery of a well-cared for Pursuit and set course to bring her home. I certainly had no inclination at that time this would ignite a passion and lay a foundation that I would be lucky enough to build my future career upon. The best way I can leverage my lifelong passion of boating and the Pursuit brand is to use it to help fuel the passion of our team. My story is not unique in many ways among the Pursuit team, and this same type of passion and shared experience lives in so many facets of our organization. That is the strength that drives us, and I feel privileged to be a part of such an outstanding team.
PMY: How have your customer demands shifted in recent years?
CHRIS GRATZ: The connection to our customers is extremely important to Pursuit across all areas of the business from the conception of a new product in engineering, through the integrity of the build process in manufacturing, to putting the boat in the hands of the customer at our dealers and ultimately ensuring our customer’s expectations are exceeded as owners. We are very proud of the processes that our team has created to embed consumer feedback to ensure we are continuing to refine our product offerings. One example is how this customer-centric approach has intertwined the term ‘uncompromised functionality’ into our lexicon. Our customers want a boat that transitions seamlessly from a morning of serious offshore fishing to a casual afternoon of relaxing at the sand bar or socializing with family and friends. The ability of the Pursuit product line to do this is something we have become synonymous with.
PMY: What do you hope yours and your company’s legacy will be?
CHRIS GRATZ: We strive to create a legacy that lives through the eyes and experiences of our valued customers. Ultimately creating an exceptional experience and translating our passion into our customers experiences on the water is at the heart of all that we do at Pursuit. Giving our customers a platform that delivers unrelenting performance, built with integrity and with the utmost refinement will give them the ability to forge lasting memories with family and friends while they take advantage and enjoy their time out on the water. Because our passions align with those of our customers, we understand how special those experiences are and feel privileged when anyone choses Pursuit to play a role in that process. Really, what could be better than sharing your passion with others.