We are approaching a turning point as an industry. To put a round number on it, the modern marina industry is about 50 years old, a half century of explosive growth in which the number of marinas and slips parallels the growth in boat ownership.

By Robert Wilkes

Few “original” marina industry pioneers are still on the job and Randy Short is one of the West Coast’s most prominent. In February, 2014, the governor of California appointed Short to the state’s Boating and Waterways Commission. The board addresses issues relating to recreational boating and plays a role in managing grants to develop boating infrastructure.

Short is a hands-on marina guy. He has more than 30 years building and managing marinas with Almar Management. The company operates 17 marinas throughout California, Hawaii and Mexico. Short was instrumental in building their properties at Ko Olina Marina in Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas in Baja California and many projects up and down California.

At Almar Short helped create the art and science of operating a quality marina with high standards of service, cleanliness and safety that has served as a model for marina operators around the world. Short was Almar’s Chief Operating Officer for many years and is now President and CEO.

Nearly everywhere you look on the West Coast Short has taken a leadership role. He is on the board and a past president of the Marine Recreation Association.  He is on the boards of the Channel Islands Harbor Lessees Association, where he serves as President, and the Channel Islands Harbor Foundation, and he is a member of the Recreational Boating Leadership Council.

Randy Short now lives in Bishop, California, not far from Mammoth Mountain and his roots in the ski resort industry. It was there he learned many of the operational and hospitality skills he brought to the marina industry.

We caught up with Short just prior to this year’s MRA conference.

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