The Business of Rowing: Inside RITA’s Vision for the SPort
Think of all the companies represented in your boathouse. Maybe it’s boats manufactured by Vespoli, Pocock, or Hudson, and ergs and oars by Concept2. Maybe your coach keeps communications going using iCrew, or you open up the ErgZone app for training workouts. All of these companies – and nearly 20 others – are members of the Rowing Industry Trade Association.
On this episode we talk with two founding members of RITA – Michael Naughton, the COO of Nielsen-Kellerman; and Glen Burston, the Owner and Operations Manager of Hudson Boat Works. We’ll talk about how the association has opened up communication with World Rowing; about rules and regulations that impact companies and clubs; about what it would take to get more young kids into rowing, and more adults working in the rowing industry.
GUEST:
Michael Naughton, COO of Nielsen Kellerman
Glen Burston, Owner and Operations Manager of Hudson Boat Works
Instagram: @nk_rowing / @BEASHARK
This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons
QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Episode intro and welcome
03:19 - Rowing Week on a scale of 1-10
04:25 - The Huddle
06:25 - Hot Seat Q&A
11:23 - Michael and Glen’s rowing origin stories began in high school after turning away from other sports
17:35 - Finding profession in the rowing industry
22:03 - How RITA came to be and the vision for the association
24:48 - Balancing the needs and interests of RITA members
29:22 - RITA’s relationship with NGOs
30:44 - RITA members and member benefits
39:00 - Acknowledging three major disciplines: traditional, coastal, and indoor
41:38 - Considering ways to make rowing more accessible
47:24 - RITA at HOCR, sparking innovation, and industry job shop talk
51:02 - Steady State Network news and notes
Episode Mentions
🎧 = Listen to a Steady State Podcast episode
BOAT MANUFACTURUERS
Fillipi
Fluid Design
Hudson Boat Works
LiteBoat
Next Boat Works 🎧
Swift Racing
CAMPS & TRAINING
Rowing the World
CLOTHING
JL Racing
CLUBS
Mt. Baker Rowing and Sailing
Undine Barge Club
London Western Rowing Club
REGATTAS
Henley Royal Regatta
Head of the Charles 🎧
ROWERS
Sir Matthew Pinset
Duncan Spencer
SCHOLASTIC & YOUTH PROGRAMS
LaSalle College High School
UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Cal Berkeley
University of Miami
University of Western Ontario
VENUES
Nathan Benderson Park
WORLD ROWING
Rules Book
Steady State Podcast is hosted and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara provides additional audio engineering, books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and e-newsletter, and manages the website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.
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