Joel Shoemaker
Scott Way
Mike Simpson
Brian Kozminski
Joel Shoemaker
Joel has been on the water his whole life and has even worked on the water most of his 28-year-long career, aside from one job as a paper boy. Growing up in Ludington he got to do what he loves, which is fishing and is now accompanied by his family and dog, appropriately named Mr. Fisher. He also takes advantage of the beautiful golf courses in Northern Michigan when he gets a chance. Like the golf courses, Joel takes pride in having the nicest the nicest lawn in town. With a love for fishing, it’s no surprise that his favorite boat is the Pursuit S288, well equipped for any angler. A favorite memory working at Walstrom has been a boat trip where he and his wife lead a group of Walstrom customers out to the quaint Beaver Island known for its access to nature and stargazing. A piece of advice he’d like to offer to boaters in the market for a new boat is to buy a boat at a dealership in the city where they boat most. For accurate forecasts and wind reports, Joel recommends the SailFlow app which provides live updates for all boaters.
Scott Way
Scott is a faith and family man from Charlevoix, MI. He got into boating as a hobby that he could share with his family, who he loves to relax with on the waters of Northern Michigan. When Scott first started at Walstrom, he was admittedly nervous about not being an expert boater but his favorite memory working here has been how helpful everyone was as he got started. Working at Walstrom, he has gathered useful knowledge that he’d like to impart on Walstrom Customers, Scott suggests that every boater should know a reputable broker and build a strong relationship with a reliable boatyard. Having both together is a recipe for success and ease during the boating season.
Mike Simpson
Mike grew up sailing with his parents and working on a fishing charter in Charlevoix, where he fell in love with the water. He loves being out on the water because it’s an escape from reality and a chance to make priceless memories. While Lake Charlevoix is on his list of favorite places to boat, he also enjoys making the trip to Torch Lake and the North Channel. Mike has many other hobbies that include hunting, fishing, golfing, hockey, and watching football with friends, family, and their dogs. Mike has a lively house with six dogs around, three of them being Great Danes. Like the camaraderie of his dogs at home, Mike loves the camaraderie within the sales team at boat shows. Some of his favorite memories at Walstrom have been his experiences at boat shows that he had with his coworkers. At boat shows, he may love to show you his two favorite boats, the Tiara 48 LS and the Regal LS 36. He may also recommend to customers that they buy a boat where they plan to boat. This makes boating easier because they can build a relationship with the salesperson, service department, and dealership to get the most out of their entire boating experience. Mike is more than happy to be that salesman and offer his assistance.
Jacob Rabe
Jacob and his identical twin brother have been boating with his family from a young age. Despite being from Holland, his favorite place to boat now is Lake Charlevoix, understandably for the gorgeous water and stunning architecture. He not only enjoys just being on the water but also admiring the lakefront homes that adorn the Midwest lakes. Off the water, Jacob likes skiing and traveling, as do many of his co-workers. Another passion he shares with his co-workers is traveling for work. One of his favorite memories at Walstrom is a sales trip they took to Florida for Pursuit product training. You may be wondering if his favorite model is subsequently a Pursuit, but it’s actually a Tiara 48 LS for the convenient size and luxury, yet sporty features. Regardless of his affinity for any particular model, he is here to help customers find their favorite model that suits their needs. In the search for a boat, Jacob recommends that new boaters explore all options, research, and hop on some sea trials.
Brian Kozminski
Brian ‘Koz’ Kozminski is an avid fisherman from Grand Rapids, MI, who learned from his father and stepfather. From a young age, he found solitude and relaxation on the water fishing in the Midwest and Canada. His favorite thing about being on the water is “the calmness of early mornings on the water as the mist would spiral in columns off the glassy surface. Enthralled with the multiple personalities each body of water can have in any given day.” His passion for fishing influences his boating and daily life as his favorite model is the Pursuit DC 306 for its suitability in both fishing and entertaining out on the Big Lake or an inland waterway. With all the time Koz spends on the water by himself and with his wife and two daughters, he relies on Weather Underground as his go-to weather app to keep him updated on the ever-changing Northern Michigan weather.
