The Crowley Advisor

20 Questions with Dan Bochnovic, General Manger.

1. How long have you worked at Crowley’s? 

24 years.

2. How did you first start working here? 

My recreational marine career started in 1979 at Sailing Specialist, a small shop in Clarendon Hills, IL. That experience led to working at Sea Castle Marine in Broadview, IL and then Patterson Marine in Chicago. I landed at Crowley’s as a Customer Service Representative in 1989.

3. Which departments have you worked in? 

All of them. I can paint a bottom, build a furler, change an injector, drive the travel lift, and program the database. 

4. What is the big new news in your current department? 

A continued push to be customer focused. Through events and technology we want our customers to be the smartest, fastest, safest, funniest, and most generous customers on the water. We host multiple events through the year. This past weekend was our newest event, the 2nd Annual One Day Sale Plus! Crowds of people came in on Saturday morning to learn about their boat and save a little money on holiday gifts and personal gear. We are industry leaders in internet communication with customers through online scheduling, sales, and bill pay.  Soon Crowley’s customers will be able to interface directly with the technicians working on their vessel. We are very excited about this prospect.

5. What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? 

I love the spring. The fast paced excitement and beauty of newly serviced yachts setting out for the first sail of the season gets me going.

6. How often do you go boating?

For pleasure, my partners and I have a standing sail date, every Wednesday evening.  Want to sail with us? Come on down, 7pm, North Juliet 11 in Monroe Harbor. Everyone is welcome.  Professionally, I’m on one of our customer’s boats or a work boat almost every day. Last week I took a little run to Hammond Marine to test some depth sounder readings. Walking around the facility is like a never ending boat show.

7. What kind of boat(s)?  

If it has a bow and stern, I’m on it. I have a Ranger 33. I sail both cruising and racing sailboats. I think its fun to back a 72’ motor vessel down the aisle into its berth at Burnham Harbor. Water skiing is cool too. Jet skies are thrilling. Last year my wife gave me the plans to build a wooden canoe. One of these days we’ll take it for a spin down the river.

8. Did you grow up boating?

Sort of. My brother wanted to be a rich banker. He needed his corporate advantage. He wasn't going to master golf so he bought a sun fish. I was the only one who would go with him to learn how to sail. That was the beginning of a long road.

9. What is your favorite boating activity?

There are so many. If I had to choose only one, I would go cruising with my wife Tina.

10. How many employees work for you?

I’m the General Manager at Crowley’s and we have 40 full time employees plus a dozen or more that come and go during the busy seasons.

11. Do they have job specific training? If so, how often do they go?

I make sure everyone attends professional training events throughout the year. I organize our in-house training. We have a class at least once a week throughout the winter. The range of topics is huge. Last month I was at the ASIS security show. Tomorrow’s topic is OSHA workplace safety. In a few weeks Grant and I will be at Underwriter Laboratories observing a test of the new StatX fire suppression system.

12. What job specific training do you have?

Over the years I have been to hundreds of lectures and classes on almost every aspect of recreational marine management, boat building, and repair.

13. What certifications do you have?

My college degree is in computer science. This year I completed the course work for my USCG Captains license. I'm currently reading the City of Chicago plumbing code, just for fun. I'm an IHSA Baseball umpire too. Basically, I have a hunger for knowledge and a self proclaimed nerd.

14. What is your number one recommendation to boat owners?

Take people boating.  Learn about every aspect of boating. Learn about every switch, every line, and every pump aboard. Learn about navigation and weather and the fish and the birds. While you’re out boating, teach others what you learned. Let them repay you with the wealth of their knowledge.

15. In your area of experience, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat?

Clean it. The simple act of cleaning the bilge, the engine, the deck, everything, reveals the maintenance and repair required. A clean vessel is a safe vessel.

16. What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners?

Use your boat for your family summer vacation. No one will ever forget the experience. Ever. Guaranteed.

17. What is the toughest part of your job?

Time management. I want to spend the time to get the job done right. Many times there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get to everything I want to.

18. When are you most likely to be found in the harbors?

Wednesday nights chillaxin' on the fine yacht, Integrity, North Juliet 11, Monroe Harbor.

19. What is your favorite winter activity?

#1 Building things in my woodshop.  #2 working on the boat with my partners. We take advantage of indoor heated storage to increase our ‘boating time’. Sunday morning 9 to noon at the boat yard. We meet at the boat about twice a month, have coffee, catch up on life, turn this or rub that. Mostly ponder what we should do next time.

20. What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question?

dan@crowleys.com