Neal Harrell - President
neal@brooksmarinegroup.com  

A fourteen-year veteran of the search and recruiting industry, Neal’s first clients were North Carolina-based furniture and textile manufacturers. In 1997, he helped open one of the top performing management recruiting firms in the country. That office eventually grew to 20 associates, placing talent into industries including automotive and capital equipment manufacturing, pharmaceutical, IT, publishing,biotech and venture capital.

In 1999, Neal recognized the need to create a recruiting niche specifically tailored to the recreational marine sector. Borrowing on many of the world-class manufacturing methodologies he learned in the automotive industry, Neal has assisted OEM boatbuilders, boatyards, tier I marine industry suppliers and boat dealerships in the selection of key personnel in areas including design & engineering, manufacturing management, quality, operations, purchasing, sales & marketing, HR and finance.

In January of 2002, Neal relocated to Ft Lauderdale, FL to open Brooks Marine Group. A second BMG office was opened in Newport, RI in 2004, and a third in Wilmington, NC in 2006. To date, Brooks has coordinated retained search assignments for marine industry leaders such as Hinckley, EdgeWater, Bertram, Newport Shipyard, Fairline, Chris-Craft, Rybovich, Westport and Grady-White.

Outside of his day-to-day recruiting responsibilities, Neal has been responsible for the training and development of dozens of recruiters across the country. He has consulted with hundreds of employers on the art of how to identify, attract and retain top talent.

A native of Chapel Hill, NC, Neal attended Virginia Military Institute and later earned a 1995 BS from Greensboro College (NC). A NCAA lacrosse player, he continues to stay close to the game by serving as the head lacrosse coach at New Hanover High School in Wilmington. Other hobbies and personal interests include sailing, hunting & fishing and college athletics.

Neal is an active volunteer with the Wilmington Boys & Girls Club, a board member of the American Boatbuilders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) and a photoboat driver for the annual Key West Race Week Regatta.