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McGill’s career spans more than 50 years and is defined by entrepreneurial vision, industry innovation and a deep commitment to the boating lifestyle. Raised on a farm, McGill’s professional journey began outside the marine industry. After earning a degree in mechanical engineering, he worked as a test engineer on the SR-71 aircraft, contributed to the development of life-support systems for NASA and held manufacturing engineering roles at Colgate. Those early experiences shaped a disciplined, systems-oriented approach to leadership that would later define his success in marine retail.

In 1973, McGill entered the recreational boating industry with the purchase of Gulfwind Marine on Florida’s west coast. Over the next 25 years, he expanded those operations into one of the nation’s largest marine dealership groups. In 1998, he merged five independent dealerships to form MarineMax, taking the company public later that year on the New York Stock Exchange.
As chief executive officer and later chairman, president and director, McGill guided MarineMax’s growth into the world’s largest recreational boat, yacht and superyacht services company, serving more than two million customers globally.

Beyond his business achievements, McGill has played an active role in industry leadership and advocacy, serving on numerous councils, including Florida’s Council of 100, and has been a consistent advocate for the positive role boating plays in strengthening families and communities. Throughout his career, he has received multiple honors, including lifetime achievement recognition from Sea Ray, and helped lead MarineMax to repeated top dealer accolades and induction into Boating Industry magazine’s Hall of Fame.

Central to McGill’s leadership philosophy is what he calls “relentless caring,” an approach grounded in empathy, accountability and long-term relationships. Under his direction, MarineMax helped pioneer a customer-first “pull” model that redefined marine retail by focusing on individual customer needs rather than traditional sales-driven strategies. That philosophy influenced service standards across the broader boating industry.

“Bill’s career reflects the very best of this industry,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of NMMA. “From redefining marine retail to championing a people-first approach to leadership, Bill’s impact reaches well beyond the companies he built. His vision, integrity and commitment to ‘relentless caring’ have helped shape the modern boating industry and inspired countless leaders along the way.”

In 2024, McGill published his first book, Relentless Caring, sharing his leadership philosophy and perspectives on values-driven business. Since retiring from MarineMax’s board in June 2024, he has remained active in pursuits beyond boating, including work on hydrogen energy initiatives focused on long-term sustainability and innovation.

The Marine Industry Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual whose contributions have made an enduring impact on the recreational marine manufacturing industry. McGill’s leadership, innovation and commitment to people have helped shape modern marine retailing and advance boating’s role as a catalyst for family connection and community growth.

To learn more about past Marine Industry Lifetime Achievement Award in Memory of Charles Chapman honorees, visit the NMMA Industry Awards page.