Confluence Watersports hired Dean Youngblood as Vice President of Operations. Youngblood joins Confluence from HP Pelzer Automotive Systems, where he served as Vice President of Engineering, Research, and Development. In addition to Youngblood’s hiring, Confluence has also announced the additions of Keith Austin, Process Engineer, Larry Delano, Production Supervisor, Eric Phillips, Distribution Center Manager, Duffy-Marie Ebel, Creative Director, and Chris Hessman, Graphic Designer.

“Dean and the rest of the team bring a wealth of experience and skills that will be highly valuable in providing our dealers with the best quality boats and service in the market,” said Kelley Woolsey, Confluence’s SVP of Marketing and Sales.

Youngblood has over 17 years of experience in operations management including tenures at Siemens Energy & Automation, Marley Electric Heating, and Takata Restraints. While at HP Pelzer, Youngblood has trained with Toyota and Porsche in the practice of the Toyota Production System and was integral in the implementation of the system in multiple foreign and domestic manufacturing plants he was responsible for.

Keith Austin joins Confluence from UST Technologies where he worked with Lockheed Martin and lead lean initiatives for a new aircraft processing design for the U.S. Navy. Austin has a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt certification, which he completed while at Yamaha Motors as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer.

Larry “Danny” Delano, Production Supervisor, comes to Confluence with over 13 years of experience in logistics, management and manufacturing. He was most recently a Group Leader & Assistant Supervisor at Sonopress, a leading provider of digital content production and delivery solutions for the music, entertainment, video game and software industries based in Duncan, SC.

Confluence’s new Distribution Manager, Erik Phillips, was most recently the Warehouse Manager with Contec Incorporated, of Spartanburg, SC. Phillips has over 10 years of experience in operations and warehouse management with tenures at Jaxovson Companies, Intex Corporation, and Roadway Express.

Duffy-Marie Ebel joins Confluence as the new Creative Director. Ebel will be responsible for all Confluence collateral, advertising, and creative work. She was most recently the Art Director at Ambrosi, an advertising agency in Atlanta, GA. Supporting Ebel in the creative services department will be Chris Hessman. Hessman joins Confluence from Greenville Magazine where he was a graphic designer.