Xtratuf welcomed Taylor Strout, who joins the company as territory sales manager for the New England region. A lifelong commercial fisherman and the CEO and founder of Rugged Seas, Taylor brings deep on-the-water experience and connection to the working waterfronts the brand has served for decades.
As Strout steps into his new role at Xtratuf, his Rugged Seas company will remain in the family, led by his wife, and will continue to support the fishing communities it serves.
Strout grew up fishing with his father off the coast of Maine, first climbing aboard at just eight years old. From hand-hauling lobster traps as a kid to serving as a mate on a 150-foot midwater trawler out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Fishing the Bering Sea, he has spent his life on the water and wearing Xtratuf footwear.
In his new role, Strout will focus on growing Xtratuf’s presence across New England while staying true to the brand’s commercial fishing roots.
“I grew up with this brand and depended on it every time I hit the deck,” shared Taylor. “It was the first thing I grabbed before heading out the door, and it still is. “My goal is to continue our tradition of supporting the men and women of our working waterfronts and to expand that support into other industries across the region that now rely on the Xtratuf name.”
Mike Roundhouse, general manager and vice president of Xtratuf, stated, “We are really excited for Taylor to deepen Xtratuf’s connection to outdoor communities where the brand continues to gain traction season after season.”
Image courtesy Xtratuf
