- Nestegg Marine was opened on June 10, 1991, by Jon & Sue Kukuk, owners/operators.Jon grew up on Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan and Sue grew up in Detroit and went boating on Lake Erie at her grandparents summer home in Canada. When Jon was 10, he borrowed $100 from his mother to buy an aluminum boat from Sears and Sue, on the other hand, built rafts out of logs to get on the water. By the age of 11, Jon put a 5 horsepower outboard on his boat - and both of them have been boating ever since!
- As a young man, Jon was in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and taught several Auxiliary courses.His parents bought their first "big" boat when he was 15 and made him "first mate" in charge of upkeep and repairs. Sue moved to the Marquette area in 1972 and joined the Auxiliary shortly thereafter.
- Jon graduated from Northern Michigan Universitywith a degree in Industrial Design and then went on to get a Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University; Sue graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in graphic design. In 1980, they moved to the Marinette/Menominee area and Jon took a job at Marinette Marine where he became Quality Assurance Manager and Sue stayed home to raise their two daughters, Kristy and Becky. Jon joined the M & M Power Squadron in 1983, taught boating safety classes and became Commander in 1988 & '89. When the Power Squadron dissolved, the Coast Guard Auxiliary started up again and Jon rejoined the Auxiliary. Every spring they teach Auxiliary Safe Boating Classes here at Nestegg.
- In 1991, Jon and Sue had the opportunity to purchase the marinawhere they docked their Egg Harbor boat, "Nestegg"...and for the lack of a better name and since all their savings went toward the purchase, they named it NESTEGG MARINE.
- The business has expanded in both sales and serviceand today Nestegg is one of the world's top 16 Catalina Yacht dealerships and their ship's store is one of the finest privately owned stores in Wisconsin. The award-winning service department has received top honors from Mercury Marine, Raymarine, and Interlux Paints, just to mention a few.
- Together Jon and Sue have navigated all of the Great Lakes and brought two boats up the river systems from the Gulf of Mexico.Their goal is to provide boat owners a safe harbor with clean facilities, good service and reasonably priced merchandise...and to HAVE FUN ALONG THE WAY! Nestegg Marine 300 Wells Street P.O. Box 405 Marinette WI 54143 Phone: 715-732-4466 Fax: 715-732-4448 Toll Free Phone: 1-888-5NESTEGG
- Meet Nestegg Marine's dedicated staff!
- Jon & Sue Kukuk, Owners/OperatorsJon & I have enjoyed being on the water from an early age so buying a marina was a logical decision. So, here we are, 23 years later still "living the dream"! We didn't set out to sell boats but today through our sales and service we've made life-long friendships. I hope we can continue the dream & friendships for many years to come.
- Judy Walters, Office ManagerKnown as "Cookie" to her friends, she has been with us since the beginning. Without her our bills wouldn't get paid, our check book wouldn't balance and we wouldn't get our pay checks. In other words, she runs this place and with out her we'd be "up the river with out a paddle". I knew Judy from the Piggly Wiggly where she was the head cashier before it closed in 1991, the same year we opened Nestegg Maine. With two small children at home we offered her flexible hours and she came to work part-time as our bookkeeper, little did she know what she was getting into! Never having owned a boat or really been on the water, Judy entered a whole new market place not at all like the meat & potatoes of the Pig. But she was a quick learner and soon knew the bow from the stern. She took some accounting classes and as the kids grew became a full time. When we need something done we ask Judy, if we're out of town and need someone to feed our cat Judy is right there. When we need help for a special party she's the first one there to help and stays until it is all cleaned up. She is the most honest, caring person we have ever known. So, if you have any questions just ask Judy.
- Aric Chaltry, Material ManagerAric is our son-in-law, and the boy next door who married our youngest daughter, Becky. He started working at Nestegg when he was in high school, after his day job he cut grass here until it got dark. In 2005 he graduated from Northern Michigan University with a bachelor's in business management, got married and spent the summer building new docks in the hot summer sun (bet he didn't learn about that in business school). After all the yard work we put him in the service department so he could learn the mechanics of how that part of the business ran. And run he did, he was in charge of meeting and greeting service customers, listening to their concerns and getting their work scheduled. While doing that he had to get parts from the store or from around town and help lift & launch boats. Over the past few years he has taken courses through Mercury Marine, Raymarine and Lowrance. In November, 2013 Aric was awarded a Duane Spader Development Scholarship by the MRAA (Marine Retailers Association of America) Educational Foundation. This is an eighteen month business education program that will greatly enhance our business practices. Aric is the purchasing agent for Nestegg and attends all the fall buying shows, so, if you need a part or product, Aric is the guy to contact. You can certainly say, "He has learned the business from the ground up".
- Mike Kushman, Service AdministratorMike is the newest member of the Nestegg "crew", joining us in July of 2013. Mike's experience in the marine industry comes from Cruisers Yachts/Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts, starting in manufacturing as a Critical Systems Technician and eventually moving into the sales department as Senior Sales Coordinator. He also spent several years as Assistant Harbor Master at the Menominee Marina. Mike is the one to see when you bring your boat or motor in for maintenance. He will write up your work order and get you into the schedule, track the progress of your work and call if any questions arise during the course of repairs. With the additional responsibility of overseeing the summer dock help, he is dedicated to insure assistance is available when you need it at the gas dock or your slip and that the facilities & grounds are top notch. He enjoys being on the water, whether sailing, kayaking or rowing. Mike has also built two wooden kit boats and has been instrumental in forming a local team-rowing club which Nestegg is helping to sponsor. Above all, he is a real asset to our crew!
- Brian Sislo, Service ManagerBrian heads up our award winning service department. He has been on & around boats from an early age; at 12 he was first mate on a charter fishing boat on Lake Superior. He came to Nestegg after completing a two-year marine technical school since then he has gone on to become certified with: Mercury Marine, Mercruiser, Yanmar, Raymarine, Harken and Marineair Air Conditioning, just to mention a few. Brian has completed & passed his Electrical & Systems Certification with ABYC (American Boat & Yacht Council). When Nestegg became a Catalina sailboat dealer in 1993 Brian learned to sail, rig and maintain the smaller diesel engines. He can step masts, adjust rigging, install electronics & fix your engine all at the same time! His true passion is fishing, some of the tournaments he has placed in include: Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit World Championship Qualifier in 2006 & '09; Top ten finish in World Championship on Lake Erie in 2009; 2008 Central Division points to 5 and Family Team of the Year. Midwest Walleye series 2007 Championship Qualifier and top ten finish, 2008 Cabela's National Team Championship Qualifier, 2008 Midwest Walleye Circuit Championship Qualifier and 3rd place finish in that Championship on Green Bay. So, if you want to sail or fish, Brian is your man! He and his wife, Tiffany, have a "hobby-farm" near Marinette where they raised three children (one now married with a daughter of his own) along with horses, dogs & cats.
- Dennis Colburn, TechnicianDennis joined Nestegg for the second time in 2008. He works on a variety of jobs, which is necessary in this industry, but usually he installs electronics per the customer's instruction. He has completed and passed the Electrical & Systems courses from ABYC (American Boat & Yacht Council) and has certification with Mercury Marine, Yanmar and Raymarine. When needed he can also do a good job of gelcoat repair. Dennis and his wife, Kelly, have three children (and a dog for each). Being civic minded, he ran & won a seat on the Marinette City Council. He is one of the first people to step up and say, "can I help", in any situation. We are happy he decided to return to Nestegg!
- Travis Newlin, TechnicianTravis, aka "Buzzard" because he eats everything & anything yet stays skinny, joined Nestegg as dock & yard help in 2009. A graduate of Stephenson High School, he had worked several jobs including some farming and is now part of the full-time "crew" at Nestegg. After doing many jobs his first year he wanted advancement and began taking Mercury training toward his certification. He took and passed the ABYC (American Boat & Yacht Council) Marine Systems and has completed an Interlux Paint awlgrip training school in Ft. Lauderdale. Travis and his wife, Tasha, have three sons and another baby on the way so he's a very busy guy! And, like the little engine "that could" he gets the job done.
- Jeff Thanos, Boat SalesJeff is a "sailing tactician" and takes care of new, used & brokered boat sales at Nestegg. He graduated from UW at Whitewater with a bachelor of science in zoology and then attended the University of Kentucky where he earned a degree in applied dental technology. He owned his own dental lab for several years but decided to follow his dream and has been at Nestegg since 1997. Jeff doesn't race any more but enjoys the ride and will help you learn how to sail any day of the week.
- Mark Van Donsel, Lift & launchMark is our "lift/launch" guy, he is semi-retired so only works spring & fall. He own a 36' Catalina and loves to sail, whether with family or friends, or alone he is usually away from the dock. He has been in the building trade all his life and is a wonderful carpenter; he & Jon remodeled the service department & shop and are working on making our buildings more weather-tight. When he isn't sailing, lifting or launching he is with his wife, Carolyn, or babysitting his twin granddaughters. They enjoy their 5th wheel RV during the winter months and have seen a lot of the American countryside. As Mark said, "old sailors never die, they just get a little dinghy."