(NEW ORLEANS) — SAFE Boats International (SBI), a 100 percent employee-owned company, has announced changes to its leadership and organizational structure.
Richard Schwarz will transition from his daily duties as chief executive officer into a consulting and advisory role. This transition allows Schwarz to pursue his personal passion of traveling while continuing to contribute his experience and insight to key strategic initiatives and long-term planning. His continued involvement ensures that SBI will benefit from his leadership and institutional knowledge well into the future.
As the company enters its 30th year, SBI will adopt a new cooperative leadership model, reflecting the collaborative spirit at the heart of the organization. Under this direction, the day-to-day operations of the company will be led by four longtime SBI executives, each bringing deep experience and passion for the mission:
• Rob Goley, chief revenue and customer officer, leading sales, marketing, customer support, training, and product development and sales engineering.
• Christer Bradley, chief operations officer, directing operations, manufacturing, quality, production engineering, and continuous improvement.
• Tom Gumpert, chief financial officer, overseeing financial operations, supply chain, and IT.
• Cindy McFarland, chief people officer (CPO), championing the employee owner/team member experience, professional and workforce development.
As a 100 percent employee-owned company, this model brings shared leadership, shared responsibility, and shared success. For a company whose culture at the core was built on teamwork and collective mindset and commitment of ownership, this approach represents a natural evolution – one that strengthens cross-functional collaboration and empowers leaders closest to the team, the work and the customer.
The leadership team will be guided and supported by a chief executive board led by company founder Scott Peterson, serving as chairman of the board. He is supported by Vice Chairman Bill Hoglund and board members Vice Adm. Dean Lee, U.S. Coast Guard (retired), who contributes in an executive leadership development capacity, and Tom Norton, who serves as treasurer of the board. Together, this experienced group provides deep industry, operational, and governance expertise.
“Our people have always been the heart of SAFE Boats,” said Peterson. “This structure reflects who we are – collaborative, customer-focused, mission-driven, and united by the pride of employee ownership. With this leadership team and this model, we’re positioning SAFE Boats for a strong and innovative future. It honors our history while giving us the agility and shared perspective we need for continued success.”
This announcement comes at a meaningful time, as SAFE Boats prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026 – celebrating three decades of innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication to customers around the world.
– SAFE Boats International
