Michigan Business Network

Vic Verchereau welcomes Chris Shepler, who is the President of Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service. The Shepler’s motto is specific and meaningful – give the best possible service with a smile, use modern equipment and employ a well-trained staff. From the early charter boat days to today, Shepler’s approach to transporting people to Mackinac Island has been one of class and value. You may have ridden the ferry boats to the Island, but do you know the whole story of how the company was founded and how they survived throughout the years? Meet the organization's President, Chris Shepler and join us on this edition of the Leadership Lowdown to hear the engaging and thorough picture of how a family-owned business developed, overcame challenges and interacted with the rich context of the northern Michigan tourism industry. It is a very rare story of a three-generation family-owned and family-operated business that has had to fight for survival for 70 years. Fierce competition from other ferry lines, treacher