Launch Watersports Staff
Owners
Braylen Sykes
Owner
Name Braylen Sykes
Title Owner
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
3. What do you love most about your job?
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
5. Where are you from?
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
Brittany Sykes
Creative Director
Name Brittany Sykes
Title Creative Director
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
I am the Creative Director, based in Great Falls, but I oversee both dealerships. I dabble in a lot of different areas including helping design stock inventory, running all social media channels, marketing and helping organize events for the dealerships.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
I have been a part of the company since my husband purchased the business in July of 2019.
3. What do you love most about your job?
It offers me an outlet to express my creativity – I am a very sociable person and I love connecting with our customers. Promoting the Launch brand and the value of the products we carry motivate me to be the best I can be.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
I didn’t! My husband and I owned a boat before his purchase of the business, and we have always enjoyed spending our time out on the water (when the weather permits). It makes my job so much more enjoyable when the lifestyle we’re selling is already one of our hobbies.
5. Where are you from?
Born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. Proud graduate of CMR High School and the University of Montana – GO GRIZ!
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I grew up playing soccer and was a fourth-grade teacher for three years before my husband purchased Launch!
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
This makes me laugh – I have several, but I would have to say not being punctual, dishonesty and loud chewing would be at the top of the list!
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
Greece, or Italy. In fact, I would love nothing more than to eat and drink my way through Europe, as I’m a huge “foodie”!
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
When I’m not working, you can find me “momming” and chasing around our son, Kidder! I love being in the kitchen and cooking – finding new recipes to try, or creating my own is one of my favorite things. When time allows, traveling and exploring new places is also something I enjoy.
Sales Department
Matt Kittel
Director of Sales
Name Matt Kittel
Title Director of Sales
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Director of Sales. I oversee negotiations, inventory management, trade valuation, and customer deliveries.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
I joined in the summer of 2020.
3. What do you love most about your job?
I love working with the clientele and hearing their stories.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
I grew up wakeboarding behind a Malibu and so I knew this was the best product if I wanted to sell boats. Also, it helps that Flathead Valley is the most beautiful place in Montana!
5. Where are you from?
Victor, Montana. Graduated with a class of 22 kids.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I published a poetry book in 2013 and I spend a lot of my free time writing fiction.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Not sure I have one. Pretty laid back and easy going.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
I’ve heard a lot of great things about surfing in Bali, I think it would be great to get out there and try it!
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
I love spending time with family, traveling, health and wellness, big CrossFit junkie since 2020. In the winter I like to snowboard.
Steven Cantalupo
Product Specialist - Kalispell
Name Steven Cantalupo
Title Product Specialist - Kalispell
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Sales associate/product specialist. Help provide a friendly atmosphere and help customers choose a boat they want to buy.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
May of 2023.
3. What do you love most about your job?
The people I work with and the fun atmosphere of the boat world.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
Around March of 2023. I thought boats would be a fun thing to get into!
5. Where are you from?
Manhattan, Montana.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I filmed for the MSU football team.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Chewing with your mouth open.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
New Zealand. Snowboard and surf in the same day.
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
I love golfing. snowboarding, surfing (both ocean and lake), a good game of chess, passionate about most sports and the Gut Buster at BBQ3 in Belgrade.
Jake Knudson
Sales Manager - Great Falls
Name Jake Knudson
Title Sales Manager - Great Falls
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Sales Manager. Networking, Assisting Product Specialists, Promoting the Brands, Follow-up and sale supervision.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
May 2023
3. What do you love most about your job?
Being surrounded by my passion of boating and water.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
My family has always owned a Malibu since I was a kid. What better way to experience and enjoy that passion more than being surrounded by it every day.
5. Where are you from?
Great Falls, MT
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
Thoroughly enjoy everything about classic/muscle cars.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Being late for ANYTHING.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
The Maldives. Between the crystal-clear water and the total serenity, I have always wanted to visit.
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
Spending time with my wife Carley and daughter Rylee, Waterskiing, Snow skiing
David Birkholz
Product Specialist - Great Falls
Name David Birkholz
Title Product Specialist - Great Falls
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
3. What do you love most about your job?
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
5. Where are you from?
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
Service Department
Ryan Hobart
Service Advisor - Kalispell
Name Ryan Hobart
Title Service Advisor - Kalispell
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Service Advisor. I schedule and sell repairs.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
October of 2023.
3. What do you love most about your job?
Getting paid to do what I love.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
I knew I wanted to be in the repair industry at 14 years old. It's all I've ever done. I was inspired by the positive customer reviews and positive team attitude at Launch.
5. Where are you from?
Seattle, Washington.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I can complete a Rubix cube in less than 3 minutes.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Hissing air hoses and people who don't use turn signals.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
Greece. Warm and sunny with lots of history!
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
Boating, fishing, hiking, snow skiing, restoring classic cars.
Travis Byrd
Technician - Kalispell
Name Travis Byrd
Title Technician - Kalispell
Andrew Westfall
Technician - Kalispell
Name Andrew Westfall
Title Technician - Kalispell
Kevin Knauss
Service Manager - Great Falls
Name Kevin Knauss
Title Service Manager - Great Falls
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Delegating and directing service tasks, monitoring the progress of current projects, and managing service team members to ensure the team's objectives and sales goals are met. Handling customer complaints or concerns quickly and professionally to maintain good customer relationships and ensure repeat customers. Assisting with or performing administrative tasks, such as managing and updating invoices, processing new orders, and tracking inventory. Setting up and maintaining a service desk and evaluating its efficiency. Resolving service desk problems and improving service methods to increase the service desk's productivity and customer service. Monitoring department issues and client complaints to create methods to lessen recurring issues. Auditing work and customer service to ensure the company's high standards, efficiency, and productivity goals are met. Maintaining strong relationships with manufacturers, dealers, and sales representatives. Helping to train new employees in company procedures. Maintaining a strong working knowledge of industry regulations, restrictions, and laws, ensuring the company's adherence to these regulations, and remaining current on the industry's standards and new innovations, materials, tools, and processes.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
September 2023.
3. What do you love most about your job?
Making a good reputation for myself and the company I work for.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
I was raised in a shop and after college I decided to go back to working in a shop. I chose to join this company because I feel we have the same values and I feel this is the company that can bring the best out in me and I feel I can bring the best out in the company.
5. Where are you from?
Montana.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I play the drums and read a lot.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
People chewing with their mouth open.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
Ireland because I’m half Irish and have always wanted to go there.
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
I enjoy reading, riding my motorcycle, playing the drums, going to the gym, hiking, working out and walking.
Trevan McNees
Technician - Great Falls
Name Trevan McNees
Title Technician - Great Falls
Jason West
Technician - Great Falls
Name Jason West
Title Technician - Great Falls
Zachary Kishbaugh
Technician - Great Falls
Name Zachary Kishbaugh
Title Technician - Great Falls
Detail Department
Chris Rassmussen
Gel Coat Specialist - Great Falls
Name Chris Rassmussen
Title Gel Coat Specialist - Great Falls
Jaiden Pierce
Detailer - Great Falls
Name Jaiden Pierce
Title Detailer - Great Falls
Parts Department
Bryan Knutson
Parts Manager - Kalispell
Name Bryan Knutson
Title Parts Manager - Kalispell
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Parts Manager. Inventory, retail sales, parts ordering, invoicing and parts procurement for service and sales.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
April of 2024.
3. What do you love most about your job?
The environment and team members.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
Ever since I first started wakeboarding. I wanted to change careers and a fresh start!
5. Where are you from?
Tri-Cities, Washington.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I am a stand-up comedian, health and life coach and horse trainer.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Dishonesty.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
Ireland. I love the history!
Colin King
Parts Manager - Great Falls
Name Colin King
Title Parts Manager - Great Falls
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
3. What do you love most about your job?
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
5. Where are you from?
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
Administrative
Kenneth Merrell
Controller
Name Kenneth Merrell
Title Controller
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
Controller. I handle everything accounting related and look for processes to fix.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
February of 2024.
3. What do you love most about your job?
I enjoy solving problems and streamlining processes.
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
I really enjoyed my accounting classes in college. I worked for an accounting firm that helped people with Lightspeed and found the opportunity to work for Launch in a dealership setting.
5. Where are you from?
Mapleton, Utah.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
I speak Spanish.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Half-hearted efforts.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
I want to take a hunting trip to Alaska.
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
I enjoy hunting and running. I ran in college which was a blast. Much of my time outside of work is spent doing something hunting related.
Melissa Sanders
CSR - Kalispell
Name Melissa Sanders
Title CSR - Kalispell
1. What is your job title and what duties do you perform?
I am a Customer Service Representative in Kalispell. I am in charge of generl bookkeeping, greeting customers as they enter the dealership, answering customer questions, answering phone calls, cashiering and inventory.
2. When did you join the Launch crew?
I have been a part of the company since August of 2023.
3. What do you love most about your job?
I love learning about all of the wakeboards and boats, talking to our customers and being involved. I am very passionate about customer service!
4. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in this industry? What inspired you to join the team here?
Just this year. I spent a year and a half in Alaska and just got back to Montana in August. All of the lakes in Alaska and Montana make me want to be spending more time on the water. It's something new for me!
5. Where are you from?
High Sierra Mountains of California.
6. What's something surprising that most people don’t know about you?
My family owns a resort in the High Sierras of California, Mono Hot Springs, which is where I grew up and was raised. If you're ever in California, definitely check it out!
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
When I am on the highway - when the person behind me passes only to slow back down once they're ahead.
8. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
The Caribbean because I love the clear ocean waters and warmth. This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid.
9. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? What are you passionate about?
I enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking, cooking, skiing, fishing, swimming, spending time with family and friends and traveling - I plan on traveling the world in my lifetime!