Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Kersey.
Hi Todd, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
After 9 yr. stint with another industry, consolidation, and mergers created an opportunity to exit. As a native Floridian, I always had a passion for the outdoors which pulled me in that direction. After a few years of traveling, competitive and fun fishing. I saw one recurring thing at every location I visited. Fishing charter captains, sitting and waiting not knowing when and where their next trip was going to come from. Why the saltwater industry had some organization the freshwater was abandoned to survive on its own. After interviewing hundreds of captains, the same repetitive items would repeat themselves. No consistent work, with a failure rate after 3 years of 75+% and a divorce rate of 60+% among other things.
The original idea and still stands today, was to create a platform to provide stability, longevity, and more time for the captains to focus on times other than fishing.
We have done that, 20+ years later staff of 200+ in over 100 cities, supporting many rural communities and the average captain now has been with us 10+ years.
Not originally in our goal, but has equated to many industry positives. A customer service level that has made space age changes, providing an experience today that was not available just 5 short years ago. Converting a passion for many into a real full-time career option utilizing technology and teamwork.
Florida will always be our home, but because of success, we have been able to expand as far north as Pennsylvania, with Georgia and Alabama opening Q2, which will be followed by Q3 to texas and Q2 to California.
The outdoor industry is full of passion and giving people, we have been fortunate to create an event side of the business that largely focuses on companies wanting to raise money for charities.
It started out small, just helping a few others to do events, then lead to many fortune 500 companies and amazing charities. Through our fishing and events, we have raised more than 15 million dollars for things like back-to-school backpacks for kids, scholarships for families of DUI victims to helping with spinal cord research, and providing motorized wheelchairs to the youth that insurance companies deny.
Make no qualms about it, our staff, captains, and customers have done all the heavy lifting, I have simply been the lucky one to hold the steering wheel. I consider myself a validation there is truth in doing something that you love and you will never work another day in your life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always hurdles in a road not traveled, in our case we have had to pave many of those roads. But in that comes many struggles and some of the biggest successes you will ever have!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I believe in the balance balanced approach to all things. Were just not selling fishing trips and activities. Were participate in life. We support charity, support, or local retailers and service centers to give back to the communities, I am involved in local and statewide conservation efforts, everything from saving boat ramps to helping keep our waters clean, to control the spraying of our lakes to very poor laws not supportive of the industry. Which is a political nightmare even at this level.
You can’t do it all, but you have to try. You won’t win all the battles but you have to participate to have a chance.
In the end, you have to realize and recognize the world, and business is about people. What I do reflects positively or negatively on them, and that means a lot to me!
Contact Info:
- Email: fishing@bassonline.com
- Website: https://bassonline.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassonline/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bassonline
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bassonline
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/bassonline
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34227-d2165046-r157871753-Bass_Online_Fishing_Guides-Fort_Lauderdale_Broward_County_Florida.html
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