IMTRA announces staffing changes on support team

(NEW BEDFORD, Mass.) — IMTRA, a leading manufacturer and importer of quality marine products, has added to its support team. Staffing changes include the hiring of Steve Owens, Myles Cunningham and Tom Ladue, as well as the promotion of Jamie Simmons and Conrad Taylor. Owens, an industry veteran, has taken on the role of product technical support specialist. Simmons has been promoted to Zipwake product manager. Taylor is taking on a new role at IMTRA as e-commerce sales manager.

With the newer and more sophisticated equipment that IMTRA offers such as stabilizers, hydraulic systems, large yacht thrusters, gangways and custom equipment, Owens has joined the team as a field technician tasked with supporting IMTRA products throughout the United States. Born and educated in Northern Ireland, Owens emigrated to the U.S. in 2002. Most recently, Owens worked with ABT-TRAC’s service team and before that he operated a Florida-based thruster and stabilizer installation company, U.S. Thrusters. Owens is based in South Florida.

Simmons started with IMTRA in 2014 as a member of the customer service team. His ability to assist both trade customers and boat owners with problem solving and product selection quickly led to Simmons becoming a leading member of the team. When IMTRA brought on the Zipwake dynamic trim control system in early 2017, Simmons was appointed product manager for this innovative and growing product line. Simmons’ passion for fishing, particularly in his home waters of Buzzards Bay, makes him an ideal advocate for this new technology.

Taylor started with IMTRA in 2016, also as a member of the customer service team. He is a recent college graduate with a degree in communications with a focus in journalism and a passion for writing. These interests, combined with Taylor’s background as a lifelong boater and knack for technology, proved to be an asset to the customer service team, especially with online retail customers. It quickly became apparent how valuable a dedicated e-commerce specialist would be, so management developed the e-commerce sales manager role specifically for Taylor. In addition to assisting IMTRA trade customers with their online product mix and presentation guidance, Taylor also plays an integral role in IMTRA’s own customer-facing digital presence.

Replacing Simmons and Taylor on the customer service team are Cunningham and Ladue. Cunningham has been in the marine industry for his entire adult life and resides in Rhode Island. Ladue came to IMTRA from Marine Warehouse in Miami, Fla., after moving back to his native New England. Both Cunningham and Ladue are lifelong boaters and together have more than 40 years of marine trade experience.

“After 65 years in business, IMTRA is still growing and evolving,” said Eric Braitmayer, CEO of IMTRA. “Recognizing the need for additional resources to assist with new products and to help with the challenges that our customers face in today’s marine marketplace, we felt it was the right time to invest in new roles within the company."

For more information, visit www.imtra.com.

By Professional Mariner Staff