Center for Coastal Conservation Honors Grady-White Boats

Press Release May 28, 2012

Kris Carroll Receives the Award: Photo credit Center for Coastal Conservation

Center for Coastal Conservation names Grady-White Boats the 2012 Manufacturer of the Year, presents award to company president

Grady-White Boats President, Kris Carroll, has received an antique sextant commemorating the inaugural Eddie Smith Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Center for Coastal Conservation in recognition of her commitment to the preservation of America's fishery resources.

The Eddie Smith Manufacturer of the Year award was established by the Center to honor extraordinary commitment to conservation by manufacturers. An icon in marine manufacturing , Smith served on the boards of National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA); Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation; International Game Fish Association, Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; National Association of Boat Manufacturers; American Boat and Yacht Council, and the Sport Fishing Institute. He was instrumental in founding the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina. Smith received the first-ever ASA Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the NMMA Hall of Fame.

Kris Carroll continues in active leadership roles throughout the industry. She is an 18-year member of the NMMA board; former chairman of the Boat Manufacturers Board, and active on the Advisory Council of Boat Owners’ Association of the United States (Boat U.S.). She was named president of Grady-White Boats in 1993. Carroll’s ability to assemble and inspire the best managers, her steadfast beliefs, and her hard work continue to set an example for the entire industry.

Established in 1959 in Greenville, NC, Grady-White currently builds 27 models of high quality center console, dual console, express and walkaround cuddy cabin sportfishing and coastal family boats from 18 to 36 feet. Grady-White say they are historically renowned for being highest rated in customer satisfaction in its category by every third party study ever done in the marine industry. Eddie Smith and the Smith family have owned the company since 1968.