Norfolk company manager reaches double milestone
September 24, 2019
A Norfolk dad has reached two major milestones at a company that gave him a new career….. and a wife.
Not only is Steve Pierce marking 20 years with boat builder Goodchild Marine, he is also celebrating a decade of marriage to wife Lisa, who he met when she joined the family-run business 17 years ago.
The couple, who have two daughters, now make up half of the management team at the Burgh Castle based business, alongside Managing Director Alan Goodchild and his wife Sue.
Steve, who is General Manager, trained as a furniture maker after spending his childhood scavenging for odd pieces of wood to turn into various creations.
His skills translated to work as a bench joiner and boat builder until he joined Alan’s expanding team in 1999.
For several years Steve took the lead on the company’s local lifeboat contract before he became general manager.
Office manager Lisa joined Goodchild Marine as a receptionist in 2002, after delivering her CV by hand and writing on the envelope that it was from ‘a nice lady’.
Initially friends, the couple’s relationship grew and they married at Sprowston Hall in 2009, with staff members taking key roles in the proceedings.
Alan made a speech at the wedding and carried out the photography, Sue organised the flowers and her daughter Tessa was a bridesmaid.
Lisa said: “We drive in separately and we never discuss work at home. Having two husband and wife teams running the business may seem like an argument waiting to happen but we all give our opinion and have our say. It just works.”
Some of the company’s work includes building ABP Lowestoft’s latest pilot boat Kingfisher and the UK’s first Hybrid pilot vessel Leader.
Steve said: “This year’s Seawork exhibition and conference in Southampton was our best yet, a lot of people were talking about Goodchild Marine, which made me really proud.
“We are very fortunate to operate locally, nationally and internationally, and over the years we have continued to keep challenging ourselves and diversifying. We never do the same thing, the company constantly evolves and we always strive to respond to developing technology.
“That’s what drives me, and I am of course very lucky to have my wife by my side.”
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Media Contact: Produced and distributed on behalf of Goodchild Marine by TMS Media. For more information, call 01493 782301, steve.pierce@goodchild-marine.co.uk or Louisa Lay, 01493 662929, louisa@tms-media.co.uk
Picture Caption: Steve Pierce is celebrating 20 years at Goodchild Marine, where he met his wife Lisa. They have just celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. Credit TMS Media.