Leadership in boating isn’t about boats.
It’s about people.
Nautical Boat Club President Bryan Wallace has been named to Boating Industry’s 40 Under 40, recognizing the next generation of leaders shaping the marine industry. This honor highlights individuals who are not only growing businesses — but redefining how people experience life on the water.
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For Bryan, the mission has always been simple:
Make boating more accessible.
Make it more enjoyable.
Make it about people.
“The ability to positively impact people’s lives through boating… being able to share that joy with others is a gift I don’t take for granted.”
That mindset shows up across every Nautical Boat Club location — from the dock teams to the ownership groups.
One of the things Bryan is most proud of isn’t scale.
It’s opportunity.
Nautical Boat Club has helped create a system where team members can grow from:
Dock staff → Leadership → Business ownership
“That’s something truly special I get to be a part of.”
This isn’t typical in the marine industry.
And it’s a big part of what separates Nautical from competitors.
Growth is easy to chase.
Culture is easy to lose.
Bryan calls out one of the biggest challenges:
Scaling the business without sacrificing relationships.
Every system, every process, every piece of technology gets filtered through one question:
Does this improve the member experience?
If it doesn’t — it doesn’t belong.
Bryan’s philosophy is grounded in two principles:
Because boating isn’t just a business.
It’s a responsibility.
Recognition like this reinforces what members already experience:
It’s not just about expanding locations.
It’s about raising the standard of what a boating country club should be.
The future of boating will be shaped by leaders who prioritize:
Experience over ownership
People over process
Access over barriers
Bryan Wallace is helping lead that shift.
And Nautical Boat Club is building the platform to support it.
Tour a location.
Meet the team.
Experience the difference.
PRESIDENT, NAUTICAL BOAT CLUBS
What first drew you to the marine industry?
The ability to positively impact people’s lives through boating. There is something extraordinary about the feeling of being on or even near the water. Being able to share that joy with others is a gift I don’t take for granted.
What was your first job?
My first job on the water was at YMCA Camp Tockwogh teaching water skiing. When you see the look on a kid’s face the first time getting up on water skis, there’s nothing like that feeling.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
The people I work with and what we do every day. As cliché as that sounds, I don’t know of many organizations that have brought up so many people from working on the dock cleaning boats and greeting members to being owners of small businesses. It is something truly special I get to be a part of.
Did you have any key mentors or influences in your career?
Unequivocally, the largest influence has been my wife, Leland Boisseau. She was the one who encouraged me to make a change and pursue something that truly brought me joy, and she has stood by my side through the entire journey. Within the boating industry, Tom Gardiner, our CEO, has had the largest professional impact on my career. He’s shown me that it’s possible to grow and operate a business at scale while still holding onto the values of a family business.
As a young professional, what are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the marine industry and how did you overcome them?
I’ve found the biggest challenge to be scaling the business without losing the culture that made it successful. Sometimes we focus on processes so much that it can overshadow the most important thing: relationships. Every time we add technology or process the big question is “how does this help us support our relationships with our members, marinas, boat dealers, manufacturers, etc. through this process” Those connections are everything to us, efficiency without excellent service and experience goes against our culture.
How do you hope to inspire others in the marine industry?
Two things come to mind for me. First, serving others by helping the people around me achieve their goals, even when they don't further my goals. Sometimes we need a reminder that we're all in this industry together, and our successes depend on one another. Second, making sure we properly steward the waterways. Everything we do depends on healthy, respected waterways, so I believe it’s our responsibility to protect them for the next generation of boaters.
How do you set goals for yourself and set yourself up for success?
I like to keep it simple and only focus on one or two goals at a time, there is a lot of noise out there, so the Eisenhower Matrix helps ranking things on urgency and importance, keeping a focus on the ROI for all the stakeholders of our business.
What boat did you learn to boat on?
The Unsinkable Legend - 17’ Boston Whaler Montauk.
Where is your favorite place to go boating?
I’ve been so lucky to go boating at so many incredible places, but I’ll go with the Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore.
Who was your hero as a child?
My grandfathers, James Wallace and William Braxton. They both taught me the ability to treat everyone with respect and how to serve others first. The two greatest men I've ever met in my life.
What are some of your favorite non-boating hobbies?
Spending time at the ice rink, on the baseball field, basketball court or really any sport with my sons, Sadler and Braxton. I’m not sure you’re allowed to have other hobbies as a parent.
Why should young professionals choose a career in the marine industry?
The marine industry offers something you don’t find in many careers - the chance to build a profession around something that genuinely makes people happy. Every day you’re helping families and friends create memories on the water. On top of that, the industry has seen significant investment and innovation over the past decade, which means the opportunities for young professionals today are much greater than they were even ten years ago.
