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Tiara Yachts founder retires as new generations enter the family business

HOLLAND — Leon Slikkers’ recent retirement as chairman of Tiara Yachts Inc. marks a new chapter for the family business, which has seen a boom in recent years as younger generations consider joining the company.

Slikkers, the 93-year-old marine industry fixture whose boat-building career dates back to the 1940s, announced his retirement from the Holland-based manufacturer last week. Since 2012, the company’s day-to-day operations have been handled by his son, President and CEO Tom Slikkers.

However, the Tiara Yachts organization involves multiple generations of Slikkers in varying roles as the company eyes new investments to leverage revenue growth in recent years.

“The third generation is stepping up and is starting to take on some significant roles,” Tom Slikkers told MiBiz .

Now in his 40th year with the family business, Tom Slikkers works alongside Director of Government Relations David Slikkers, who’s been with the company since its inception in 1974.

In that time, the company has experienced significant shifts involving manufacturing technology, the labor force and consumer behavior.

“The shape, size, propulsion and how we execute that in what our customers want on the water — there’s been a natural progression that’s followed customers’ wants and desires,” Tom Slikkers said. “We try to be stewards of what the customer wants. Today, we’re pretty happy and pleased with our success in being able to interpret that.”

Boating pioneer

Leon Slikkers’ formal retirement from the company caps a decades-long, trailblazing career in boating. He was among the first to build boats out of fiberglass instead of wood, and founded S2 Yachts Inc. — Tiara Yachts’ parent company — in 1974.

Tiara Yachts specializes in mid-sized luxury yachts and employs more than 600 people at its 800,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Holland.

Leon Slikkers began his career as a carpenter at Chris-Craft in 1946. By the mid 1950s, Slikkers had sold his home to start building mahogany runabout boats under Slickcraft Boat Co. He would soon experiment with fiberglass and composite materials before selling Slickcraft in 1969 to focus on S2 Yachts. The company began manufacturing sports boats and sport fishing models by the late 1970s.

In recent years, Tiara Yachts began responding to consumer demand for more high-quality, luxury outboard-powered models. In 2017, Tiara Yachts developed a suite of outboard-powered boats that led to the February 2021 launch of its 48 LS model, the flagship of the company’s LS Series. 

Next year, the company plans to launch a 55-foot inboard yacht and its “most personalized and technically advanced product” to date, according to company officials.

Growth, family ahead

Tiara Yachts felt the brunt of the Great Recession nearly 15 years ago as consumer demand for luxury yachts tanked. The company pursued diversification in the following years, including with a subsidiary that manufactured a line of wind turbine blades that was later closed in 2015.

However, the company has realized steady revenue growth over the past four years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when company officials saw customers eager to pursue outdoor activities amid widespread closures.

Tom Slikkers said the company’s growth strategy is “pretty simple.”

“We want to grow our business, and we want to remain somewhat pure to who we are,” he said. “Growing our business means we want to capture more customers and have more customers who appreciate our quality and what we’re delivering to the marketplace.”

While the company’s diversification strategy under Energetx Composites was phased out within a few years after the Great Recession, Slikkers said “we certainly continue to have conversations as a family” about new business opportunities.

“There were a lot of lessons learned through (the Great Recession). Some were painful lessons, and that’s not completely on us,” Slikkers said. “My brothers and myself do have ongoing conversations as opportunities arise. We just have to be mindful of laying those opportunities on the table as it relates to what’s best for our company.”

With the company’s recent growth, however, Slikkers added that in most cases those opportunities would be a “distraction,” given the current backlog and strong order pipeline.

Meanwhile, Leon Slikkers’ retirement comes as a strong pipeline of family members is in place to continue running the business. The third generation includes Director of Manufacturing and Quality Kelly Slikkers and Director of Engineering Tim Slikkers, who are sons of Senior Vice President of Operations Bob Slikkers. A fourth generation family member is finishing college and has “expressed an interest” in the company, Tom Slikkers said.

He added that the company’s succession plan is not “extremely well orchestrated,” and follows Leon Slikkers philosophy when he started the company.

“Dad said, ‘If you want to work for me, great.’ We just had to get a college degree of some kind,” Tom Slikkers said. “Today, we extend that same invitation to his grandsons — our kids — and the next generation beyond that.”

“The opportunity is there. Relative to what happens once they’re here, we’re not trying to program that,” he added. “We take the responsibility of protecting (my father’s) legacy very strongly. We feel, as the second generation, that it’s our responsibility to make sure — whether it’s our senior team or family — that legacy is preserved. We’re trying to be guardians and stewards of that.”

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Leon Slikkers Retires from Tiara Yachts After 75-Year Career in the Marine Industry

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIARA YACHTS

Since the time he first started in the boatbuilding industry in the 1940s, Leon Slikkers has created a legacy of innovation, pushing the boundaries of design and engineering to create multiple successful brands that have become ubiquitous with quality and innovation. Over the years, he’s been said to have built more quality boats than anyone in the history of the industry.

Now, after 75 years in the business, he is handing over the reins to the next generation.

Slikkers started his career as a carpenter for Chris-Craft in 1946, later starting his own company manufacturing mahogany runabouts, called Slickcraft Boat Building Company. In the 1970s, he began S2, which became the foundation of Tiara Yachts and Pursuit sport fishing boats.

“This company, its rich history and all that it has accomplished wouldn’t have been possible if not for the vision, passion and unyielding entrepreneurial drive that our father has demonstrated for a lot of decades,” says Tom Slikkers, CEO and president of Tiara Yachts. “His dedication to excellence and the translation of his passion for boatbuilding across three generations will be a lasting legacy as we continue to provide exceptional customer service and highly specialized products.”

Pursuit sold to Malibu Boats in 2018, but the legacy of Tiara Yachts has continued, with cutting edge design and innovation evident in every stage of the company’s history, leading the industry in inboard and outboard design, with a recent focus on the luxury outboard market.

Now, the company looks forward to the culmination of its innovation, represented in the 55-foot inboard yacht to be released in 2022, a combination of an LS and coupe that represents the most personalized and technically advanced product from Tiara. Impressive growth in recent years has led to doubling revenue from 2017 to 2020, positioning the company for added growth and new innovation in the years to come.

To learn more, visit tiarayachts.com .

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Marine News from the Great Lakes

President and ceo of tiara yachts, tom slikkers, encourages support of glbbs.

Published: Sunday, June 5, 2022 12:00 pm By: Great Lakes Boat Building School

Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) is honored to have Tom Slikkers, CEO and President of Tiara Yachts, become such a strong advocate and supporter of the school and students. After Tom’s initial visit to GLBBS with his family, Tiara Yachts hosted a field trip for GLBBS students and faculty, financially supported the school’s  Come Aboard, Launch Careers  capital campaign, and provided two $15,000 student sponsorships for the 2022-23 academic year. GLBBS staff are truly grateful and humbled by Tom’s support.

When you read Tom’s letter, you will gain some insight into why Tiara Yachts supports GLBBS. At Great Lakes Boat Building School, we are setting students up with the skills needed for rewarding careers, while also tackling a daunting challenge that is currently being faced by Tiara Yachts and other businesses in the marine industry; developing strong employees who are highly prepared in the marine trades.

Please consider joining the Slikkers family and Tiara Yachts in supporting Great Lake Boat Building School’s  Come Aboard, Launch Careers  capital campaign.

Read more about the Tiara Yachts donation and GLBBS field trip here.

tags: Community Outreach , Education , Great Lakes , Yacht

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See sneak peek of a $3.5M Michigan-made luxury yacht

• Published: Mar. 20, 2022, 9:03 a.m.

• Cory Morse | [email protected]

HOLLAND, MI — Described as a “ high-end home on the water ,” Tiara Yachts is designing its biggest and most expensive boat yet.

Thomas Slikkers, Tiara Yachts president and CEO, spoke to MLive recently about the EX 60 inside the company’s Holland headquarters, 725 E. 40th St. A portion of the interview is shared in the video.

With a roughly $3.5 million price tag , the EX 60 will feature a customizable cockpit with plush seating, an outdoor breakfast bar and two bathrooms. It boasts a well-appointed kitchen, and the propulsion system has extras such as assisted docking. Below deck, three sleeping areas can accommodate six adults.

“We feel like this is going to just really put up a lot of new benchmarks and a lot of new firsts for our company and also for the industry,” Slikkers said.

Related: $3.5M luxury yacht built by West Michigan company like a ‘high-end home on the water’

In the works for 1 ½ years, the EX 60 is still under development, but the prototype is slated to be complete by mid-August and available to customers later this year .

For more than 60 years, the Slikkers family has been making boats in Holland.

Thomas Slikkers said product, place and people are critical to his company’s philosophy that focuses on luxury creating a comfortable, quiet experience for customers.

“I think this building and what we do inside of it is second to none in the world. I think our product is second to none in the world,” Slikkers said. “But I think we’re also blessed in the sense that we have some awesome people here and I think the combination of those three things make us unstoppable.”

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Tom Slikkers, Tiara Yachts president and CEO, speaks inside the Holland company on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Andrew Bartlett, Tiara Yachts director of design, talks inside the Holland company on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Tom Slikkers, Tiara Yachts president and CEO, shows rendering of the EX 60 inside the Holland company on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 aft cockpit with terraces down. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 master stateroom. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 salon with bulkhead and door open. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 alfresco seating module and aft adventure module. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 alfresco seating module and aft lounge module. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 alfresco breakfast bar module and aft lounge module. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Rendering of the Tiara Yachts EX 60 trunk and storage. (Provided by Tiara Yachts)

Tiara Yachts in Holland on Thursday, March 10, 2022. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

Click into the gallery below to see more photos, or click here for a direct link to the gallery .

Read more on MLive:

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Tiara Yachts Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence

HOLLAND, Mich., Feb. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiara Yachts, a family-owned manufacturer of American-made luxury watercrafts, is celebrating its 50 th anniversary today, February 18, 2024. Founded by Leon Slikkers under the parent company S2 Yachts Inc., Tiara Yachts embarked on a mission to handcraft the highest quality boats in 1974.

In the 50 years since, Tiara Yachts has remained a family-owned business and has stayed true to its mission; designing and delivering a legacy of quality, innovation, and unrivaled customer experiences that have withstood the test of time and continue to evolve with the needs and desires of their customers.

“My father’s story is the American dream come true. He started out by himself with his dream and a vision, and catapulted our company off into the stratosphere,” said Tom Slikkers, CEO and President of Tiara Yachts. “Seeing how far the company has come – all while remaining true to our values and principles and commitment to superior craftsmanship – leaves me excited to see how we continue to grow in the years to come.”

“This was more than just a job for my dad, there’s an unmatched passion here that permeates every facet of the business,” remarked David Slikkers, Director of Government Relations.

The most recent example of Tiara Yachts’ continued commitment to excellence is the all-new EX 54, which made its public debut at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. A perfect combination of flexible luxury built for endless exploration, Tiara Yachts continues to develop top-of-the-line yachts that combine traditional luxury with timeless design, impeccable craftsmanship, unmatched performance quality and innovative options to enable virtually any water-based adventure, making it ideal for every type of boater.

“There is a huge sense of pride for what we, collectively, have created here at Tiara. Hundreds of people make up the family we have here and seeing the things we’ve made together is truly remarkable,” said Bob Slikkers, Senior Vice President of Operations.

“We strive to create the highest quality American Made boats that provide a lifetime of experiences out on the water,” Tom Slikkers continued. “When approaching a new model, we focus on one goal: elevating our current product portfolio. We have some amazing things coming up stream in terms of design, technology and innovation. This is just the beginning.”

Tiara Yachts officially kicks off its 50 th anniversary celebration today at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. The year-long celebration will feature monthly highlights of the company’s 50 years of inspired luxury.

Multimedia: 50 Years of Excellence (video)

For more information regarding Tiara Yachts, visit tiarayachts.com.

About Tiara Yachts   

Tiara Yachts, headquartered in Holland, Michigan, is one of the oldest privately held boat manufacturers in the United States and celebrates their 50 th Anniversary in 2024. The Tiara Yachts model line includes inboard vessels from 39 to 60 feet in the Coupe and EX lines. Outboard powered Tiara Yachts models range from 34 to 48 feet in three distinct Series: Luxury Sport (LS), Luxury Crossover (LX), and Luxury Express (LE). For more information, please visit tiarayachts.com.

Media Contacts:

Alysa Kirn [email protected] 586.354.4669

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60c90c7c-51ab-422f-b1af-cd5149553c92

HOLLAND — Charlie McConkey went from the automotive industry to boat building, and he's never looked back.

Although others at work didn’t enjoy wiring boats, McConkey, a 30-year-old Cedarville, was always intrigued and eager to solve their problems.

“When I realized how much I enjoyed working on boats, I started researching boat building as a possible career,” McConkey wrote in a release. "I found the Great Lakes Boat Building School and haven’t looked back since.”

His hard work has paid off. McConkey was recently awarded $15,000 in scholarship funds from Holland’s Tiara Yachts. He'll also spend a year working at Tiara, receiving pay and benefits. A second student was awarded the scholarship, but wished to remain anonymous.

The scholarship is a partnership between Tiara Yachts and GLBBS and comes following Tiara's $75,000 gift to GLBBS in 2022.

The scholarship at $15,000 covers almost 70 percent of a student’s tuition. The remaining $45,000 donated helped expand instructional infrastructure at the school, more than doubling its annual graduation capacity to 50 students per year.

More: Tiara Yachts faces worker shortage head-on with donation to boating school

“We are proud to partner with the Great Lakes Boat Building School and help the future generation of boat builders gain practical, real-world experience in the industry,” said Tiara Yachts CEO and President Tom Slikkers.

"For nearly 50 years, our company has been committed to producing the best boats possible for our customers. Investing in future generations of boat builders is just one of the many ways we aim to deliver on that promise.”

McConkey said he's had plenty of practical experience at Tiara.

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“Tiara Yachts has developed some of the greatest and highest quality boat builders in the world,” he said. “I’m honored to be able to work alongside and learn from them.”

McConkey hopes to continue his education and, one day, go into boat building as a profession.

— Contact reporter Austin Metz at [email protected].

CEO.CA Chairman's Briefing

HOLLAND, Mich., Feb. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tiara Yachts , a family-owned manufacturer of American-made luxury watercrafts, is celebrating its 50 th anniversary today, February 18, 2024. Founded by Leon Slikkers under the parent company S2 Yachts Inc., Tiara Yachts embarked on a mission to handcraft the highest quality boats in 1974.

In the 50 years since, Tiara Yachts has remained a family-owned business and has stayed true to its mission; designing and delivering a legacy of quality, innovation, and unrivaled customer experiences that have withstood the test of time and continue to evolve with the needs and desires of their customers.

“My father’s story is the American dream come true. He started out by himself with his dream and a vision, and catapulted our company off into the stratosphere,” said Tom Slikkers, CEO and President of Tiara Yachts. “Seeing how far the company has come – all while remaining true to our values and principles and commitment to superior craftsmanship – leaves me excited to see how we continue to grow in the years to come.”

“This was more than just a job for my dad, there’s an unmatched passion here that permeates every facet of the business,” remarked David Slikkers, Director of Government Relations.

The most recent example of Tiara Yachts’ continued commitment to excellence is the all-new EX 54, which made its public debut at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. A perfect combination of flexible luxury built for endless exploration, Tiara Yachts continues to develop top-of-the-line yachts that combine traditional luxury with timeless design, impeccable craftsmanship, unmatched performance quality and innovative options to enable virtually any water-based adventure, making it ideal for every type of boater.

“There is a huge sense of pride for what we, collectively, have created here at Tiara. Hundreds of people make up the family we have here and seeing the things we’ve made together is truly remarkable,” said Bob Slikkers, Senior Vice President of Operations.

“We strive to create the highest quality American Made boats that provide a lifetime of experiences out on the water,” Tom Slikkers continued. “When approaching a new model, we focus on one goal: elevating our current product portfolio. We have some amazing things coming up stream in terms of design, technology and innovation. This is just the beginning.”

Tiara Yachts officially kicks off its 50 th anniversary celebration today at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. The year-long celebration will feature monthly highlights of the company’s 50 years of inspired luxury.

Multimedia: 50 Years of Excellence (video)

For more information regarding Tiara Yachts, visit tiarayachts.com .

About Tiara Yachts   

Tiara Yachts, headquartered in Holland, Michigan, is one of the oldest privately held boat manufacturers in the United States and celebrates their 50 th Anniversary in 2024. The Tiara Yachts model line includes inboard vessels from 39 to 60 feet in the Coupe and EX lines. Outboard powered Tiara Yachts models range from 34 to 48 feet in three distinct Series: Luxury Sport (LS), Luxury Crossover (LX), and Luxury Express (LE). For more information, please visit tiarayachts.com .

Media Contacts:

Alysa Kirn [email protected] 586.354.4669

A video accompanying this announcement is available at  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60c90c7c-51ab-422f-b1af-cd5149553c92

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Tiara Yachts Debuts Largest Model in its “Luxury Express” Series, 48 LE September 06, 2023

HOLLAND, Mich.  (September 6, 2023)  -   Tiara Yachts , the family-owned manufacturer of American-made luxury watercrafts, has unveiled its newest and largest addition to the Luxury Express series, the  48 LE , which is available in the marketplace. Previously announced in December 2022, the 48 LE provides all the social elements and thrilling performance of its counterpart, the 43 LE, while also supplying amenities ready for extended excursions with full glass enclosure.

Designed with entertainment and adventure in mind, the vessel boasts a rotating lounge module with power actuation that offers rotating adjustable seating; guests can position their seating towards the terrace, aft, and anywhere in between. Outdoor entertainment amenities include a portside terrace for easy, expandable access to the water alongside a high-gloss teak table and electric grill.

The interior greets customers with a well-appointed galley and sophisticated dining area with an expandable seating option located on the portside. Below deck, comfortable sleeping accommodations for four await which include an owner’s stateroom as well as a guest stateroom that includes two twin berths that convert to a queen. 

The 48 LE features three Mercury ®  600 V12 Verado ®  engines with joystick piloting. The craft also features Garmin ®  Marine integrated electronics. 

“The 48 LE certainly stands tall as the flagship of our LE Series. It was important for our team to create something that was equal parts high-performance and luxurious, and not compromise the practicality that our customers have come to expect from our brand,” said Tom Slikkers, CEO and President of Tiara Yachts. “We designed the 48 LE with our customers at the front of our minds and we are excited as hits the marketplace.”

The 48 LE will be available for viewing at the  Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show  beginning October 25 at the  Bahia Mar Yachting Center   within the  Green Zone, C/D Docks .

For more information about the 48 LE model and to experience the virtual flythrough of the model, please visit  tiarayachts.com/48-le.