Merced, CA–Centurion & Supreme Boats hosted their first culture driving PD&E Partner Summit on May 8-9, 2025. The two-day event brought together nearly 70 of their marine industry vendors from around the country to Merced, CA. This wasn’t a typical supplier meeting, it was an intentional investment in culture, connection, and collaboration—one that set a new standard for how product partner relationships can be approached in the marine industry.
The idea for the summit had been circulating internally for years. Shane Stillman, VP of Product Development & Engineering, had long envisioned an event focused not on parts, pricing, or timelines, but on people.
“Our vendors aren’t just people we buy parts from; they’re true partners in what we’re building. This Summit gave us a rare chance to pause, connect on a deeper level, and really focus on the relationships that keep our business moving in the right direction. With 2025 being such a big year for us, the timing couldn’t have been better. The connections we made over these two days will help drive the next wave of ideas and progress for our brands,” Daniel Indelicato, President of Centurion & Supreme Boats shares.
From the start, the team emphasized that this would be about more than just business. The PD&E team wasn’t simply inviting product partners to talk about product specs; they were welcoming them into the Centurion & Supreme Boats culture. The focus was on relationships and making lives better as well as building trust, sharing values, and fostering the kind of collaboration that fuels real innovation. Product partners were invited not just for their role in the supply chain, but because of the partnership they represent in the bigger picture of building Centurion and Supreme boats.
One of the pivotal moments in planning was selecting a keynote speaker who could anchor the day with a message that mattered. After weeks of searching, a product partner made an introduction that led to a game-changing conversation. A quick discovery call with Mark Patey, an entrepreneur, STOL Drag flying World Champion, and an expert in mindset and leadership, turned into a 90-minute conversation so compelling that Mark’s wife joined halfway through and declared, “You’re in—I already made our flight plan.” His talk at the Summit did exactly what the team hoped: it set a tone of unity, leadership, product mindset and cultural alignment.
“There was a lot of learning that came from the speaker that was brought in, Mark. It was great how cohesively the vendors worked together to create the boats that we produce,” said Ben Lizardo, Exploration Manager at GatorStep LLC.
Lizardo was particularly inspired by the moment when Patey said, “The distraction to do something cool can be more important than the core mission.”
The event took place at The Vista Ranch just outside Merced, run by a family with deep roots in the boating world themselves. The location allowed the team to create a rich experience for attendees, including a farm-to-fork lunch that underscored the event’s intentionality. But the real magic happened in the conversation between partners and engineers, between supply reps and boat designers, and between people who had worked together for years but never met face to face.
“What struck me right away was the breakdown of the culture pyramid. I love the way Shane and the company gives glory to God and that is a value that I’d love to see come back into corporate culture,” Tony Valiente, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at The Yacht Group (EZDrive) shares. “When I got back home, I shared with Shane, I have a diamond and within that is my mantra, 5 critical aspects of how I run my business, and the first one is God. I carry my spiritual principles in my business as well.”
Ryan Taffet, Product Manager at Lenco, shared, “I enjoyed seeing the company culture in person. Talking to factory employees, learning about their methodology and their thought process into how boats are built is something that I really enjoyed.”
One of the most memorable moments from the Summit was the team bonding exercise that blended boating, problem-solving, and a touch of physical fitness. The activity was designed by Steve Freitas, PD&E Manager at Centurion & Supreme Boats, who wanted something fun, engaging, and on-theme with the boating world, while also sneaking in some movement to get everyone up and active.
Drawing inspiration from his personal training routines, Steve designed a game that evolved into a 30-minute scenario-based challenge that included untying boat ropes, solving a boat-themed puzzle, and racing to carry out a final task as a team.
“I built it like I would a workout—with a plan, structure, and then just jumped into coaching mode,” Steve explained. “Everyone was moving, engaged, laughing—it came together easier than I expected. I wish I had a video because it was honestly cool to watch.”
In the afternoon, attendees headed to nearby Lake Yosemite to ride behind the very boats they help bring to life. Two boats ran back-to-back, giving product partners a chance to see and feel the product in action. For many vendors, it was the first time they’d been on the boats they contributed to with their product. It was a powerful reminder of how every component, every material, and every decision feeds into the final experience for the customer. Some vendors surfed for the first time, others just rode along, but everyone left with a deeper understanding of the role they play in something bigger.
The next day was spent at the factory. Partners were given a full tour of the production line, the PD&E shop, and the areas where testing and innovation happen every day. This wasn’t just about showcasing the product, it was about building understanding and camaraderie. One highlight was seeing a vinyl supplier tour the lamination department for the first time, finally connecting dots that had long remained abstract. These kinds of cross-functional insights were exactly what the PD&E team hoped to create.
Tony Valiente was struck by the family values and family feeling that the Centurion & Supreme Boats factory instills in its employees and customers.
“I have toured factories of every OEM builder in the market and there is nothing like the wholesome feeling we get from being at Centurion,” Valiente shared.
Looking back, the PD&E Partner Summit was more than just a successful event, it was a turning point. It proved that when a company invests in culture and connection, the ripple effect reaches far beyond its own walls. The boats may be built in Merced, but the relationships powering them now stretch even deeper across the industry.
As Shane Stillman put it, “When you build culture, you build commitment. And when vendors are this aligned with your vision, incredible things happen.”
About Centurion Boats: Creating the World’s best waves, wakes and ride since 1976, Centurion is a towed water sports boat manufacturer built on innovation and commitment to excellence. As a Correct Craft Company, we are charged with “Making Lives Better”. We embody this phrase with the boats we build along with the lives we live on and off the water. Centurion Boats is the perfect ride every time. To learn more about Centurion Boats, visit http://www.centurionboats.com.
About Correct Craft: Celebrating 100 years of excellence in the marine industry, Correct Craft is a Florida-based company with global operations. Focused on “Making Life Better,” the Correct Craft family includes Nautique, Centurion, Supreme, Bass Cat, Yar-Craft, SeaArk, Parker, and Ingenity boat companies, Pleasurecraft Engine Group, Indmar Marine Engines, Velvet Drive Transmissions, Mach Connections, Merritt Precision, Osmosis, Watershed Innovation, and Aktion Parks. For more information, please visit www.correctcraft.com