Boating Industry Canada August 2016 - 11

GLENN SPARTZ isn't someone who's afraid of hard work. In marine business, and I promised myself that if I was ever given his role as Volvo Penta's regional sales manager for Western the opportunity I would try to remedy the situation." Canada he'd typically be away on the road 200 to 250 nights That opportunity came in 2005 when Glenn's boss at the of the year, logging 70 to 80 flights annually and putting in 12- time, Volvo Penta Canada president Christopher Goulder, hour workdays, starting at 7:00 a.m. and not wrapping up suggested that Glenn should get involved on the board of until he finished his call reports at 7:00 p.m. directors of the BC Marine Trades Association (BCMTA, Born and raised in Vancouver, Glenn started with Volvo Penta back in 1974, still fresh from Vancouver City College, where he'd enrolled in a sales and marketing program after MMT Instructor Bruce Thompson, in the red coat, explains some of graduating from high school. "I'd done various jobs after col- the key systems on one of the outboard engines donated to lege," he says, "and one day I walked in the door of the local the program by industry. Volvo Penta distributor, where I started as a shipper/receiver." Despite having no mechanical background or knowledge of marine engines at the time, Glenn's strong work ethic soon saw him rising through the ranks, moving to parts controller, then parts manager, and into the sales side. There he did stints in inventory control and as a warranty rep before eventually becoming a sales manager. Throughout Glenn's career growth, it was the mechanics working for Volvo Penta who helped educate him about all things marine. "They showed me the ropes and helped teach me," he says, "and eventually it got to the point where I was able to pick up some tools and do some warranty work." While some people might resent the long hours and gruelling workload that Glenn put in on the job, Glenn remains grateful to Volvo Penta and the marine industry for the opportunities they provided him. "I never expected when I walked in that door that it would be a life-long career, or that it would take me to the places it has," he explains. Glenn also remains loyal to the mechanics who helped show him the ropes, and it was partly this loyalty that led to his eventual involvement with Boating BC and the MMT (Marine Mechanical Technician) training program. "My father was from the prairies, and worked as a carpenter," Glenn explains. "He wasn't highly educated - he had a grade three education - but he had loads of skills and knowledge. I'd tag along with him on the job, and he got real respect from his co-workers. They'd tell me 'He's the best'". Glenn saw a little bit of his father in the marine mechanics who helped him out, but he didn't see them getting the respect he felt they deserved. On the flip side, Glenn saw a tremendous need for qualified mechanics. "Wherever I travelled on business, marine dealers would ask if I knew where they could find a trained technician," he says. "I realized the important BCIT's Annacis Island campus is home to the new Marine Mechanical Technician role that technicians play in the health of (MMT) program that Glenn Spartz helped create. www.boatingindustry.ca 11 "%$%!&%& BY SIMON HILL http://www.boatingindustry.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Boating Industry Canada August 2016