Jim Brown chosen as guest of honor for Resort Holiday Light Show

In the shop at the Hagadone Marine Group, a 1929 38-foot Chris-Craft is being refurbished. The hull is exposed, and the old wood is gone, soon to be replaced with new. 

"It's pretty neat to be able to see this at this point," said Jim Brown. "To look underneath like this doesn’t come along very often." 

Brown easily recites the wooden beauty’s history. 

The watercraft is one of four like it in existence. It originated in New York and was built as a commuter craft to take its owner from island to city. 

Nearly 100 years later, it’s been modernized, electronics long replaced. Now, it’s time for a new hull, a roughly three-month project at HMG. When done, it should live as long as the original hull for its current owners, who plan to enjoy it on Lake Coeur d’Alene. 

“This will last at least another 80 to 100 years before you would even think about doing it again,” Brown said. 

He admires the craftsmanship of the wooden boat. He appreciates all that has gone into it. This is not a job for him. It’s passion. 

This is what he loves. 

“This is good stuff. We love to create and build,” he said. 

HMG's master craftsman and designer was recently selected as guest of honor for Friday's The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Holiday Light Show. He considers it a great honor. 

“I have so much respect for the Hagadone family. They’ve given us so many opportunities,” he said. 

Brown has been with the Hagadone Marine Division for 32 years. He comes from a background of custom home construction and engineering. He laughed as he talked about the early days when he pestered the company to hire him. 

His first job was sanding boats. He learned woodworking and finishing. Come spring and fall, he did mechanical work. In winter and summer, he focused on building and restoring. 

His dedication to detail was rewarded when he was promoted to manage the shop and oversee projects, which, nearly 25 years later, he still does with the same pride. 

It fits him. 

“I love tearing things apart,” Brown said. “I take it apart and put it back together. I’ve been fortunate to have good mentors over the years.” 

He credits his team for commitment and creativity. 

“We can virtually build anything," he said. 

Brown has always loved the water. He recalled joining friends on a wooden boat on Lake Coeur d’Alene for the first time and said the experience changed him. 

Everything — sound, smell, feel — was mesmerizing. 

“I was sold. It was just so fabulous, so wonderful,” he said. “There's something about the wood and the water. It’s just cool.” 

In his career with Hagadone Marine Group, Brown said he’s worked on phenomenal projects for phenomenal people. He’s had some customers for three decades. He’s worked with parents, their children, and soon, their grandchildren. 

“They're not just clients,” Brown said. “They’re family. It truly is a family thing.” 

His contributions and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Brad Hagadone, CEO of the Hagadone Corporation, praised Brown’s remarkable career. 

“Jim Brown embodies the spirit of craftsmanship, dedication, and passion that define the Hagadone Marine Group and our entire organization. For over three decades, Jim has poured his heart and soul into creating works of art on the water, leaving a legacy of excellence that inspires us all. His selection as the guest of honor for The Coeur d’Alene Resort’s Holiday Light Show is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary contributions and the respect he’s earned from colleagues and clients alike. We are deeply grateful for Jim’s unwavering commitment and are thrilled to celebrate him during this special occasion. We wish Jim all the best as he sails into his well-earned retirement,” Hagadone said. 

Brown loves being on the water with his grandchildren but, perhaps surprisingly, doesn’t own a wooden boat. 

But he will. 

“I will build one when I narrow it down to what I want to build,” Brown said. 

Meantime, his moment in the Christmas spotlight draws near when he leads the countdown and throws the switch to light up holidays at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. It promises to be a magical evening for Brown and the thousands on hand. 

“Christmas, the way it is done here, is just over and above. It's very meaningful,” Brown said. “I love the spirit of Christmas and what it truly means.”