GRADY-WHITE BOATS: Eddie Smith, owner.

Greenville's Grady-White Boats is celebrating its 60th year in business and its 51st year with Eddie Smith, as owner. At 26, Smith purchased the company from Glenn Grady and Don White, the founding partners. Originally crafting wooden boats to withstand coastal waves and weather, Smith transitioned the boats into fiberglass, eventually becoming the leader in premium offshore sportfishing boats.

"Eddie's strong values and principles guide the business every day," says President Kris Carroll, 43-year-team-member. "Most important of which is exceptional care of the customer, which he learned from his father. Being privately owned has allowed the team to stay focused on his passion for customer satisfaction. One example of this focus is we call every customer to ask how they art doing, and what we can do better. When you listen to your customers, you create exceptional products they love and incredible long-lasting relationships."

The company has grown to building 28 boat models ranging from 18 to 45 feet. Grady-White Boats has received every Customer Satisfaction Award ever given in the Marine Industry.

Instilling these beliefs to every team member happens every Friday when all work stops for the Friday Focus meeting, where the vision and values of Grady-White are reinforced, customer reviews are read, quality information is shared and...