At last night's company celebration aboard the Winnipesaukee Belle, we gathered to reflect on a season of growth, celebrate our hard-working team, and look toward the future. We concluded the evening with a very special announcement—one that speaks to the heart of our company's values. Below is an excerpt from those remarks, focused on leadership, perseverance, and honoring our newest Captain.
Remarks from Jared Maraio, General Manager
Tonight has been about leadership—the trials, the setbacks, the different styles people bring to the table, and the courage it takes to grow. Great organizations don't succeed because everyone leads the same way; they succeed because different leaders bring different strengths to the helm.
Some lead with charisma, some with intellect, others with empathy. But the most vital trait a leader can possess—the one that drives real, lasting growth—is pure, unyielding perseverance.
It is my absolute privilege tonight to promote Evan Clinton to the highest rank in our fleet: Captain of the M/S Mount Washington.
Evan started in our organization in as a dishwasher in the galley. He was 16. In the years following, he moved around the organization. He was a member of the deck crew, spent some time in the parking lot, and for a number of seasons he was the company mascot, Monty the Mallard.
In an organization like ours, stepping out from the shadow of your youth can be exceptionally hard. People who know you as a teen can sometimes have trouble seeing you as an adult. And it can feel even harder when you don't fit the traditional, rigid mold people might expect.
I’m sorry to say that there may have been times that Evan was overlooked, counted out, and doubted.
But while others saw who he was, Evan did something extraordinary. He did the deliberate work of developing into who he could be. He tuned out the noise, ignored the naysayers, and focused on knowing himself and mastering his craft. That is his greatest asset. Authenticity, resilience, and steady resolve make a modern leader, and Evan embodies all of these traits.
Too many of us face adversity or criticism and our first impulse is to retreat. Evan’s is to overcome. And year by year, from deck officer to small boat captain to pilot, you overcame. Your journey to the wheelhouse mirrors the story of our company: taking on the hard work, overcoming doubts, and coming out stronger on the other side. You have earned every one of these stripes.
Your parents, who are also both former members of the crew, are here today to share this moment with you. You’ll now be presented with your stripes by your mom Sue, and your aunt Etta.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in honoring the 26th Captain of the M/S Mount Washington, Captain Evan Clinton.