Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Stewart.
Hi Kelly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Northern Virginia spending weekends on the Northern Neck of VA at my Grandparents home off the Potomac River. We grew up fishing and crabbing on their creek and boating on the Potomac. My parents moved to Deale MD in 1999 and we continued our lives on the Chesapeake Bay. Boating was always a family past time and one of my fathers passions. I started working for the Boat Shows in Annapolis is 2009 and worked there for about 13 years. I continue to work for the Chesapeake Bay Boat Show at the MD State Fairgrounds with the Marine Trades of Baltimore County as well as the DC Boat Show at National Harbor. Home is Kent Island on the Chester River and my husband and I also own Anchors and Oars and Sailboatparts.com. We salvage boats and resell the parts.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started working for Ed Hartman Sr at the Annapolis Boat Shows the country was in a recession and my job was to help recoup the losses. And when Covid hit we could not have a show for an entire year, and that was difficult. When we were able to have a show again inventory was an issue for manufacturers waiting on parts and from the tremendous increase in boat sales during the pandemic.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to bring experiences to the shows I manage. Boating is a lifestyle and we can approach it from many angles. Its not always about boat sales, sometimes its just getting a family on the water or introducing a kid to fishing that creates a lifelong passion. I like being a part of a healthy pastime for people, I like getting people on the water in any way possible.
What are your plans for the future?
Keep supporting the boat dealers and our local marine industry as a whole.
My husband and I are expanding our website www.sailboatparts.com and adding more inventory on it daily. We ship sailboat parts to our customers around the world!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dcboatshows.com and www.thechesapeakebayboatshow.com
