The lake has always been a part of Austin's life. From his first time on skis at 2 1/2 years old, to buying his first marina in 2009- all of his favorite memories have taken place on the water. By quitting his job in real estate to jump whole-heartedly into the marina business, Austin's only plan has been to share his love of the lake and help others get the opportunity to make their own lifelong memories there.

Not just a business owner, Austin has been there for every step of marina operations: cleaning toilets, scuba diving 80 ft underwater to do dock repairs, working on insurance policies, and everything in between. He believes marinas are a hands-on business and the owner should be knowledgeable and involved in each community- not just show up for the pay check.

"Customer service and building a community where people feel comfortable and form their own families, that's what all of VIP marinas are about. Every member has my cell phone number, and they know I'm available 24/7 for anything," Austin says about his ideals for his business. "My dad always said this, and I say it to my staff all day long: We have one job- and if the customer asks us to jump, the only thing we say is 'how high?'"