Tiara Yachts’ Josh Murphy Named One Of Boating Industry’s 40 Under 40

Tiara Yachts building in Holland, Michigan

Holland, Mich., Mar. 24, 2026 – Tiara Yachts, a family-owned manufacturer of American-made luxury watercrafts, today announced that Josh Murphy, Manufacturing’s Mill Room Group Leader, has been named one of Boating Industry’s 40 Under 40 for 2026.

Murphy is a visionary leader who has been serving as the architect of talent at Tiara Yachts for 10 years. He recently transitioned from his role as Talent Acquisition and Development Lead to his current leadership position in the Mill Room, where he is responsible for leading the team that produces precision-cut parts, while improving production flow, quality, and coordination with other teams. Murphy’s recognition stems from his commitment to professional development, having built foundational training programs that empower hundreds of employees to master their craft and grow within the organization.

"I have always believed that the best way to build a world-class boat is to first build a world-class builder," said Murphy. "I’m honored to be recognized by Boating Industry and to represent the hard-working team at Tiara Yachts. Belonging to an organization that invests so deeply in its people and the local community motivates me to continue developing innovative training processes that push our team to new levels of excellence."

Murphy’s tenure at Tiara is marked by significant milestones, including the implementation of Tiara University, a comprehensive Learning Management System, and the creation of the Navigator Training Program, which utilizes a decentralized network of specialists to provide elite on-the-job training.

“The team at Tiara Yachts is exceptionally proud of Josh. He possesses a rare blend of soft-skill development expertise and the hard-earned technical skills of a master craftsman,” said Tom Slikkers, CEO and President of Tiara Yachts. “Josh’s first-in, last-out work ethic and his dedication to mentoring both our current staff and the local community make him critical to the success of our manufacturing future.”

Boating Industry’s annual recognition program is now in its 10th year. Selected from hundreds of nominees, the 2026 class of 40 Under 40 honorees was chosen for their leadership and passion in the marine industry. Murphy is now the third Tiara Yachts employee to earn the distinction, following Chris Rumsey in 2024 and Whitney Vishey in 2023.

Murphy’s recognition follows numerous career highlights at Tiara Yachts, including:

An 8-year stewardship of the OAISD Workforce Transition Program, providing paid work experience for adult students with special needs - Featured by WOOD TV8
Hosting of over 400 students annually for plant tours and career planning to promote skilled trades.
Successful recruitment and onboarding of over 150 new boat builders to meet premium production standards.

To view this year’s entire list of 40 Under 40 honorees, view the Boating Industry’s March/April 2026 digital issue: LINK.