Meet the Team

Mike graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision and a master’s degree in Industrial Technology. He graduated in the middle of the great recession, and it took him a couple of years to find his way to the marine industry. Mike joined a well-known and well-respected pontoon and deck boat brand in 2010. During his time there, he filled roles in quality, production, supply-chain, and engineering. Mike then joined the Barletta team in August of 2017 as VP of Supply Chain. He has since moved into the role of VP of Operations, overseeing production, supply-chain, engineering, and facilities.

Growing up, my time on the lake was typically spent on a fishing boat and I was always looking forward to my next time back out on the water. Mike is married to Samantha, and they have 2 sons, Jackson 13 and Easton 9, 1 daughter Piper 7, and an English Mastiff named MJ. Time is now mostly spent at baseball parks rooting on all 3 of the kids, but still like to get out to the pool, a beach or spend a day on the water whenever we can get the opportunity. Barletta was the company that I was waiting to come along. A company with all of its employees that longed to be the best, that truly looked to partner with all facets of the business. Every relationship matters, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen relationships with our customers, dealers, employees, and suppliers.

As Barletta Pontoon Boats “keeper of the cool”, Josiah oversees all thing’s product design and development. Amid a long and successful tenure at Bennington Pontoon Boats, Josiah chose to join the team at Barletta in 2020 and since then has elevated the entire Barletta lineup. Josiah’s knowledge of fashion, design and the marine industry has helped Barletta Pontoon Boats create products that turn heads on the water with aesthetic beauty inside and out.

Chad joined Barletta in April 2023 after spending nearly ten years with a large regional health care system where he led Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Leadership and Organizational Development functions.

His previous experience spans many industries including retail, supply chain and durable goods manufacturing. Chad credits his passion for leading and developing others from experience gained in human resources leadership roles at Target and Whirlpool Corporation. He shares, “I was attracted to Barletta due to the employee-focused culture. It’s more than words. We have a genuine and authentic desire to provide our employees a great place to work and hold ourselves accountable to do so. That’s something I am proud of every day.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Purdue University and his master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Roosevelt University and possess a Certified Innovation Mentor (CIMP) designation from the University of Notre Dame. He also serves as a board member for Seasons Counseling, Career / Success Academy of South Bend, and The Northern Indiana Workforce Board.

Chad credits his wife, Kristin, for introducing him to boating and the wellness of relaxation on the water, often spending time with family (Connor, 20, Tyler, 18) and friends on Lake Michigan and “anywhere in Southwest Florida”. His other passion is racing. An accomplished sprint car driver with multiple championships to his credit, he now enjoys traveling the Midwest dirt tracks operating a family-owned sprint car team for his driver / son, Tyler.

“We race on Saturdays. But everyone knows that Sundays are our time to connect as a family, on the water. I am proud to work for an organization that advocates for the outdoor lifestyle and makes a product that helps families make memories.”

Mike has over 25 years of manufacturing experience including 4 years of experience in public accounting where he earned his CPA certification (1999). He served as CFO for Middlebury Hardwood Products (2000-2009) and most recently was the VP of Operational Efficiencies (2011-2012) and then VP of Finance (2012-2017) for Crossroads RV. Mike received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame (1996).

Jeff graduated from Manchester College with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing. Over a period of several years, Jeff spent time in various positions including sales, management, graphic design, project management, communications, and public relations looking for the perfect fit. It wasn’t until April of 2007 that Jeff discovered the marine industry and joined a storied brand as a graphic designer. During his time there, Jeff filled roles that specialized in brand management, social media communications, customer service, customer experience, dealer support, photography, and videography. Jeff joined the Barletta team in 2017, as “employee #6”, as Director of Marketing before being promoted to VP of Marketing a couple of months later. Bill Fenech’s vision and the team and foundation that were built were the fuel needed to fire a passion for Barletta and the lives their boats would touch in the future.

Boating was a major family activity growing up, spending time on Lake Maxincuckee and Lake Shafer in northern Indiana. Jeff met his wife on a blind date on Valentine’s Day back in 1996 and has a son and daughter; Sam (25) and Elena (20). His rescue pup, Ellie, joined them almost 6 years ago and is the perfect sweetheart. Jeff is an avid tennis player, and downhill snow skier. Occasionally having the opportunity to take friends and family out for an afternoon at the sandbar or for a dinner cruise, “just adding water” really has an affect that is tangible even if not completely measurable. Barletta has been the culmination of a lifetime of work – it’s been a dream watching the growth of Barletta and impact it’s had on the entire industry. Jeff feels blessed to have been tapped as one of the original architects of a company that will long be remembered after he fades into the sunset.

Matt is our Vice President of Sales at Barletta. He has multiple experiences leading national sales teams in high growth environments, and executive experience leading operations for some of the RV industry’s leading brands.

Matt began his sales career with Damon Motor Coach, advancing to serve as Vice President of Sales for THOR Motor Coach. He then transitioned to a similar role at CrossRoads RV. His executive leadership experience began in 2014 as President of Jayco’s towable group, and in 2017 advanced to Chief Operations Officer of Jayco. Matt has been involved in two separate startup companies, most recent as Owner / President of Peak Plastics.

Matt is an avid boater and lives on the water with his wife, Andrea.

Greg graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis on Organizational Administration. He has broad based experience spanning over 25 years that includes customer service, sales, marketing, supply chain and logistics from some of the most well respected names in their industries, including Whirlpool and Bali/Graber. His passion for customer service started early in his career. “My first adult job was manning the phones for Whirlpool’s 1-800 ‘cool-line’. It taught me how important customer service was to overall consumer experience. Those early years laid the foundation for a career of “consumer-centric” design in all aspects of the business pipeline. In the end, you can never go wrong by putting the consumer first in all aspects of your product.”

That passion led Greg to Barletta. “From our very first conversation it was evident that the team places the utmost importance on all aspects of a strong culture. A culture of putting the consumer first, a culture dedicated to its people and a culture of building the best boat in the industry. I knew early on I wanted to be part of that legacy.”

Growing up in southwest Michigan, time on the water was so common it was almost taken for granted. “It wasn’t until later in life I realized how lucky I was to live within minutes of Lake Michigan and a plethora of inland lakes. My first boat was a 70’s era Starcraft open bow fishing boat. From there I’ve been lucky enough to own everything in-between from waverunners to a 34’ Doral cabin cruiser.”

Greg and his wife Krystle are avid outdoor fans and you will often find them spending weekends in Ludington, MI camping out in their RV and riding trails in their SxS’s.   They have two adult children, Taylor (25) and Austin (21) who currently reside in Texas. They recently welcomed their first grandchild to the family in August of 2023. They are also big animal lovers and generally travel everywhere with their rescue dog named Wrigley.

James Baker, our Southeast Regional Sales Manager, brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for the marine industry to Barletta Boats. He began his journey with us in October 2023, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a career that spans over three decades.

Before joining Barletta, James devoted 27 years to Seattle Boat Company, where he ascended from a salesperson to the General Manager. His leadership played a pivotal role in expanding the company from 2 to 3 showrooms, managing 4 service locations, overseeing 3 marinas, 2 winter storage facilities, 2 fuel docks, 2 boat clubs, and establishing a successful restaurant. James's professional journey also includes a six-year stint as a commercial crab fisherman in Alaska and Russia. Notably, he spent three of those years in Russia, collaborating with local fishermen and imparting U.S.-developed technology.

James is a proud alumnus of the University of Oregon, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1991. His commitment to continuous learning is further demonstrated by holding a 100 Ton Masters Near Coastal Captains License.

James has actively contributed to the marine industry, serving as a Board of Trustees Member and Board Chair for the Northwest Marine Trade Association. He is also a proud member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at the University of Oregon.

His outstanding contributions have earned him several accolades, including being named "Best of Best under 40" by Boating Industry in 2007. Additionally, he achieved recognition as one of the top twenty salespersons globally for Cobalt boats in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

Currently residing in Mukilteo, Washington, James enjoys mountain biking and fishing in his free time. He is a loving husband to Evelyn Baker and a proud father to sons Joshua and Corey and their dog Vinny.

James's earliest boating memory dates back to when he was four, rowing a dinghy alone for the first time. James grew up spending 6 weeks every summer on a 36’ Boat and family of 6 cruising the waters from the Puget Sound to Alaska. His love for boating spans various activities, from exploring new destinations and inventive boating experiences to fishing, crabbing, and anchoring up in quiet bays.

While he refrains from revealing his favorite secret boating location, James has a diverse selection of favorite boat models tailored to different boating activities.

At Barletta Boats, James Baker continues to embody the spirit of adventure and dedication that defines our commitment to providing exceptional boating experiences.

Chuck earned his Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Management from the University of Montana in Missoula.

Prior to joining the team at Barletta in early 2019, Chuck spent 15 years working in Marketing, Advertising, and Sponsorship sales in San Diego with businesses of all sizes across multiple industries. 

Chuck's affinity for the marine industry stems from a lifelong passion for being on the water and a childhood spent around boats. As a member of the Barletta team, Chuck takes pride in transforming customers boating dreams into reality. He loves having the opportunity to be a part of the wonderful times and memories our customers make on their Barlettas.

Outside the work, Chuck enjoys surfing, playing a local round of golf in San Diego, and spending quality time at the beach with his wife, Jenn, and their dog, Mia.

Evan graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in history, a minor in education from Saint Mary's college, and a master's degree in Teacher Leadership from the University of Phoenix. He is a former Notre Dame baseball and football player, played in the Seattle Mariners baseball organization, and maintains an avid connection to fitness through individual and group training.

Evan owned Sharpley Training, a facility in Elkhart for over 7-years and focused on training local middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes. He most recently worked for Vixen Composites, a brand of Airxcel/Thor, in sales as a vender to both the RV and marine space.

Evan originally hails from the small town of Marshall, Michigan, but currently lives in Bristol, IN. His athletic career took him from small ball diamonds and football fields, to playing quarterback under the Golden Dome, traveling the nation playing baseball, forging his way through the fitness industry, and now slinging the best pontoon boats in the business.

Evan and his wife, Julia, have three kids, Micah (13), Johonna (8), and Lucy (6), a couple cats Nala & Nash, and a German Shephard/Rottweiler named Tupac aka Chewpac. When he isn't in the Barletta office, visiting a dealer, or a working a boat show, you can probably find him taking a cold plunge or sitting in the sauna.

Chris has 10+ years of experience in the sales world including sales in the RV and marine industry, he has spent the last 8 years as a sales manager for JC Tritoon. Chris has a great reputation with marine dealers across the country, we are delighted to have him as a part of the Barletta team!

Scott brings 20+ years of marine industry experience including sales, customer service, operations, and management. Most recently Scott was employed with a Fortune 200 company as Regional Sales Manager.