Pontoon manufacturer moves production to Indiana

Vanderbilt Luxury Pontoons says it is moving production to a facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Operating under its own corporate structure of LLC, Vanderbilt has also assembled a new management team to move the company forward.

Vanderbilt is focused on developing and producing its 700 Series, a 27-foot twin engine pontoon available in several configurations, and also in development is a new single engine 500 Series model.

“Vanderbilt, and the excitement behind our future, is what drives me,” says general manager Tavid Markarian. “We’ve assembled a well-respected team, and we’re currently working on new model development and dealer representation that accurately reflects our brand. While still being under the Marathon Acquisitions umbrella, the freedom our own LLC and production facility brings us will allow us to launch Vanderbilt into the luxury pontoon market effectively.”

The company currently has dealers in place in South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Markarian comes to Vanderbilt Luxury Pontoons with over 25 years of manufacturing experience, focusing on engineering and operations as well as a Lean Six Sigma approach to eliminating waste on the production value stream. Markarian’s most recent experience was at TWE Group where he focused on automotive and commercial customers. He has a Bachelor of Science in Technology and an MBA from Indiana State University, a Six Sigma black belt from Purdue University MEP and a certification in Lean Manufacturing from Kentucky University.

David Hegel is stepping into the role of vice president of commercial sales & marketing with decades of experience in the marine industry. His previous work includes time at Sea Ox Boats, Outboard Marine Corporation, Genmar and Marathon Boat Group. Hegel has a Bachelor of Science from the school of Engineering and Technology at East Carolina University, concentrating in technical sales.  

“Having been involved since the start of Vanderbilt Luxury Pontoons, I am elated that we have decided to build this amazing and elegant pontoon boat in Indiana,” says Hegel. “We’re excited about our 700 Series and have already had incredible response from customers and dealers alike.”