The Triton began hosting monthly networking events when we started our newspaper in 2004. Back then, we attracted 25-30 people, and it felt good to bring crew and business together.

Now, our events attract 10 times that many industry professionals, and with the economy the way it is, everyone has been asking for more. So in honor of our sixth year, we will now host two networking events every month.

Join us April 1 (the first Wednesday) from 6-8 p.m. at Radio Holland in Ft. Lauderdale (the northwest corner of State Road 84 and U.S. 1). Parking is tight, but the kind folks at Brownie’s right next door say we can park there.

Until then, get to know Radio Holland and sales rep Tony Rondi.

Q. Tell us about Radio Holland.

Radio Holland Group, a member of Imtech Marine Group, has its main offices in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and consists of 60 service locations worldwide.

Q. When you say "radio," are we talking the old-fashioned, tried-and-true kind of marine communications?

Since being founded in 1916 as the Dutch Telegraph Company Radio Holland and supplying corps of Morse Radio Officers to the marine industry, we have been the leaders in "true marine radio communications."

Q. You do much more than that, though, right?

Yes, besides being able to offer complete navigation and communication packages and maintenance contracts, we have a fully supported 24-hour/7-days-a-week airtime department for all VSAT, Inmarsat and Iridium products, which includes airtime agreements thru Radio Holland Group Worldwide. 

Q. What portion of your business is yachting?

A high percentage. But Radio Holland also has the ability to work in commercial shipping, oil and gas, workboats, fishing, the cruise industry and more. This allows Radio Holland to provide all of its customers with the highest skilled and most service engineers available in the marine industry.

Q. Your company acquired others last year. Do you offer new products or services that yachties need to know about?

Since Radio Holland Group is now part of the Imtech Marine Group, we are in a position to provide the extensive Imtech product portfolio as a true single-source integrator. The portfolio includes (diesel electrical) propulsion, power generation and distribution, platform automation, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), dynamic positioning, electrical installations and integrated electronic navigation communication systems.

Q. You seem to handle everything but the manufacturing. Any chance you’ll be doing that, too?

Our plate is pretty full with keeping up to date on all the new marine electronics that we distribute and install, so manufacturing is not something we plan on tackling in the near future.