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Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky to Speak at Small Giants Summit 2016 in Denver

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In-person events present a great opportunity to meet with and learn from others. Frigibar Industries President Shuly Oletzky will speak to fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders at the upcoming 2016 Small Giants Summit in Denver, Colorado, which will take place June 12-14.

Oletzky, who took over Frigibar Industries after her father passed away in late 2010, will share her experience, insight and advice for others on the important topic of succession planning.

Shuly left her corporate job in real estate to take over the business, but did so unexpectedly and without a clear path due to the lack of succession planning. Although her father Sheldon Oletzky had built a well-respected business and was an admired leader, as Shuly puts it, “he thought he would live forever.” When he fell ill, no plan was in place and Shuly was left to make a tough decision about the business without knowing what her father wanted (until later) and without guidance and time to prepare for the shift.

“Instead of being able to enjoy the last few months of my father’s life, we were scrambling to get as much in place as possible with the business and figure out what to do,” Shuly stated. The business was saved, but at a steep cost. About a year after taking over the business, Shuly learned from a family friend that her father did indeed hope she would take over the business, but didn’t want to put pressure on her, so he decided to keep his wishes a secret.

Unlike Frigibar, many businesses never recover after a business owner leaves behind a company without a plan. Shuly will try to leave summit attendees with sometools they can use to navigate the process of planning for succession. “If I can help even one business forego what I went through with my talk and ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of succession planning, the time and effort I put into it will be more than worth it,” says Shuly.

Founded by entrepreneur and thought leader Paul Spiegelman, the Small Giants Community exists to identify, connect and develop values-driven business leaders. The community was inspired by author Bo Burlingham’s book, Small Giants: Companies that Choose to Be Great Instead of Big. The book profiled fourteen companies that had unique founders and processes that set them apart from the millions of small businesses that do business and management as usual.

For more information and to register for the 2016 Small Giants Summit, visit the Small Giants Community registration page.

Stay tuned for information about Shuly’s talk and a video of her presentation on succession planning. For more from Shuly, visit her blog at ShareIdeasWithPurpose.com.

What I Enjoy Most About Being an Entrepreneur: Shuly Oletzky

Being an entrepreneur is not an easy job, but it is a rewarding one. For Shuly Oletzky, entrepreneurship runs in her family. After taking over the business from her father in late 2010, Shuly has used her outgoing personality and resolve to overcome obstacles, create strong partnerships, and further the Frigibar, and her family’s, legacy.

We asked Shuly what she enjoys most about being an entrepreneur.

“I love ideas. I think everything starts with ideas. Being an entrepreneur allows me to pursue so many different kinds of ideas. Having the platform of my business gives me ideas to pursue certain things and go in different directions with my company, whether it’s new products, assisting a customer, or bringing something to the market that there’s a need for. All of those come from ideas from conversations with people or something I come across myself going “gee, why doesn’t that exist?”

Being an entrepreneur gives me a platform to exercise those. I like to collaborate, I’m naturally curious. So when I have an idea, I kind of take off running. Some people tell me I’m like an advertisement sometimes when I’m sharing things I get really excited.

When you find an idea that works and you talk to people about it and they start to get excited, and then you get the right people together, the things that it can turn into are extraordinary.

Being an entrepreneur allows me to create and to see my ideas come to fruition.”

About Frigibar Industries, Inc.

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Frigibar Industries, Inc. is one of the longest established manufacturers of marine refrigeration. Frigibar was started in 1971 by Founder and President Sheldon Oletzky, a twenty-one year veteran of the United States Navy and experienced aerospace engineer. In 2011, Sheldon’s daughter Shuly Oletzky took on the role of CEO and President of Frigibar and strives to grow the company’s legacy of providing the best in marine refrigeration. These freezers have taken on a secondary meaning; on-deck fiberglass freezers are referred to by boat builders and owners worldwide as Frigibars. Frigibar provides hand-crafted, marine refrigeration systems of the highest quality.

Frigibar President Shuly Oletzky Featured in Huffington Post

Frigibar Industries, Inc. President Shuly Oletzky is a passionate entrepreneur and philanthropist who took over the family business from her father, Sheldon Oletzky, in late 2010. After over 40 years providing quality marine refrigeration products manufactured in America, Frigibar is the most trusted and reliable brand of refrigerators and freezers that travel on-board vessels of all shapes and sizes around the world.

When Shuly isn’t helping customers enjoy their lifestyle out on the water, she’s travelling, learning from others, building relationships, and volunteering in the community, including serving on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals Florida, who are hosting the “Get Down to Business Lunch” on January 20th in West Palm Beach.  Shuly is also a Boat Show Committee Member for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and is an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Businesses program and Leadership Palm Beach County (LPBC).

As an alumni of the program hosted by Goldman Sachs, Shuly has the opportunity to submit articles to the Huffington Post. Over the past four months, Shuly has been featured on the Huffington Post small business blog three times. Here are the featured pieces and a short description of each.

–       7 Reasons to Plan for Succession in Your Business Today

Shuly highlights the importance of succession planning and seven reasons business owners and entrepreneurs should start planning for succession as soon as possible.

When transitioning to President of Frigibar Industries, Inc., our family business for over 40 years, there was no succession plan. Instead of being able to jump into the position and begin working on building the company, several months were spent putting processes into place, organizing documents, and learning how things were done in the past — all of which could’ve been done months or years earlier.”

–       10 Tips to Turn In-Person Events into a Secret Weapon for Your Business

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In-person events have been one of the most beneficial activities to both Frigibar and the growth of Shuly as a business owner. From forming new partnerships to meeting new mentors, each event has brought value back to her and the business. This article covers 10 ways any business owner can turn an event into value.

–       Booth Tips: 9 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Appearance at a Trade Show

Without a retail space, Frigibar relies on boat shows to give customers and partners access to freezer and refrigerator units. Shuly shares her advice to other entrepreneurs and sales professionals on how to get the most value out of appearing at a trade show or conference.

“To help you make the most out of exhibiting at a show without regretting your investment, here are nine ways to get more out of your next event or trade show, created with the help of one of the many valuable connections and friends I’ve made at an Inc. event, Nuphoriq Co-Founder and CCO Jamie Pritscher.”

To connect with Shuly, follow her on LinkedIn, Twitter, or email her at Shuly.Oletzky@Frigibar.com.

8 Custom Boat Building Considerations: What Buyers Need to Know

Deciding to have a boat built for your adventures is a significant decision, but it’s just the start of the rewarding process of having a vessel created of your very own. It’s like accepting a marriage proposal; you’re committed and very excited, but there’s a lot of work and research ahead leading up till the day you get to sail away together.

We interviewed Jeff Rhodes to find out the most important things to consider when deciding to buy a new boat from a builder. Jeff is the founder of Coastal Craft Welded Aluminium Boats Ltd. and has over two decades of experience building boats, including the Coastal Craft 65 Concord yacht. Here are eight important aspects of purchasing a custom-built boat to carefully consider prior to finalizing your purchase

65-Foot Coastal Craft Concord Yacht

  • Intended Use: Boats are made for the water, right? Should it really matter how you’re going to use it? In short, absolutely. According to Jeff, you need to have a firm understanding of how you are going to use the boat. “If someone wants to get to somewhere comfortably and safely, you need to make sure the boat can get them there.” The location where it will be used, frequency of use, and personal preferences will all factor into what boat and features will best fit your adventures.
  • Fully Understand What You’re Buying: Asked what’s the biggest mistake boat buyers of custom vessels make, Jeff said, “Not taking the time to fully understand the product they are considering purchasing. It’s hard to just walk through a boat show and know what you’re getting. You need to carefully go through specifications and what the boat is intended to do.” It’s important not to try to force a fit if what you’re considering buying doesn’t quite match how you plan on using it.
  • Qualify Your Builder: “Take your time and research the companies you’re considering. Do not rush the process of qualifying your builder,” Jeff says. He also cautions that qualifying a builder goes far beyond checking their reputation and seeing what they’ve built in the past. “They may be a great builder with a great reputation, but what they build might not match what you’re looking for and your unique needs. Buyers will gravitate towards a great brand, but want something that doesn’t fit what the builder makes.”
  • Naval Architecture: Coastal Craft specializes in yachts crafted out of aluminum, but the design, size, and intended use of your vessel may require a specific type of material. ”It’s all about the boat first, and then about styling and interior second. You can’t compromise the design.”
  • Communication with the Builder: Buyers need to keep an open and honest line of communication with the boat builder. “I can’t tell someone how they are going to use their boat, but I can use their description to help guide them in this process.” A boat customized for the conditions of Alaska is going to be different than one made for Miami, Florida, or even in Maine. “I need to understand how they plan on using the boat, and that is gained through having an open dialogue with them.” To avoid problems during the building process, make sure your builder is responsive and that you have contacts you can get ahold of when needed. If you are being left in the dark during the early stages of the process, it could be a warning sign.
  • Unique Needs and Preferences: We all have different preferences and needs, but can your builder accommodate them? Coastal Craft recently built a custom 65 Concord that included a wheelchair lift and custom elevator. The Coastal Craft team had to work closely with vendors and come up with innovative designs to give the customer exactly what they wanted. If you have custom needs or preferences, make sure they are presented to the builder at the beginning of the process, and make sure they can deliver. Ask if they have done anything similar in the past and how they would go about problem-solving and building the solution you need.
  • Interior Design: The overall design of the boat is the most important aspect of a build, but you have to be satisfied with the interior to fully enjoy your boat. Don’t overlook the interior of your boat. Take a look at boats similar to what you’re considering and keep track of what you like and dislike from each. Then, meet with who will be doing the interior design of your boat with each builder to see what they have designed in the past and to discuss what you want for the interior of your boat.
  • Maximizing Available Space: When asked “What’s the hardest aspect of a boat to build to a customer’s specifications,” Jeff replied, “It has to do with space. The biggest challenge is working with space (storage, deck) to maximize space. If you want a fast boat, your boat will have a different layout and have different space needs.”

Jeff Rhodes of Coastal Craft
Whatever builder or type of boat you decide to go with, it’s important not to rush the process and make sure that what you want can be delivered by the builder. If in need of help during the process, Jeff recommends talking to other boat owners, doing internet research, and considering hiring a Certified Professional Yacht Broker (
CPYB) to help. For more information on Jeff Rhodes or Coastal Craft boats, visit CoastalCraft.com.

Looking to make the most of your boat’s space? Let Frigibar show you how to better utilize your boat’s space with the best in marine refrigeration.