Meet The Team

Ask Manny Pardo, boat sales manager in Gainesville, Florida, what he likes most about his job and the answer is universal among his colleagues at any Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Boating Center.

What Manny likes most about his job mirrors the customer experience that makes doing business with us different than other boat dealers. It’s called the NO HAGGLE NO HASSLE sales process that eliminates the stress of going back and forth to find the price you will pay for a boat.  

Everything is transparent, from the consistent nationwide pricing to what’s included in the price. There is no hidden agenda. The process is enjoyable, stress-free and easy. Isn’t that what boating should be all about? At our stores, the fun begins when you walk into the door. There, you will meet sales consultants like Manny, who look forward to coming into work every day. And it’s no wonder that he and his coworkers simply enjoy coming to work, where they can talk about fishing, boating and sharing their passions for the outdoors with customers.

Meet Manny and find out what he likes about his job and a few other personal surprises.

I started with the company in 2011. I have been in the boat sales side of the business since 2015.

I was in construction before coming to work for Bass Pro Shops at the Miami store, then I moved to Gainesville.

I have loved working for Bass Pro Shops since I started. It’s like working with your family. I love working with my coworkers and meeting the customers. There are no two days alike. I talk about boating and fishing with coworkers and customers all the time. I mean, who wouldn’t love to do that for a living?

In 2016 back in Miami, at my first boat show, I came into it wide open, and wasn’t sure what to expect. I think I sold quite a few boats that first time. It was exciting and I caught the bug from then on.

About three years ago I got contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They had a young teenager wanting to buy a TRACKER boat. I got with them, got the boat and we rigged it out with the trolling motor and electronics—everything he needed to go fishing. It was a big surprise that he did not expect, and I got to be there to see him take ownership of the boat.

I like spending time with my fiancée and my puppy. I love attending sporting events like University of Florida football games. And reading. I really like to read. I guess that makes me a pretty boring nerd, actually.

I like spending time with my fiancée and my puppy. I love attending sporting events like University of Florida football games. And reading. I really like to read. I guess that makes me a pretty boring nerd, actually.

Oh wow. That’s like asking about your favorite movie. There have been a ton of them. One book that I really like, and was told about while working here, is “Start with Why.” It’s a pretty neat book about what makes different companies more attractive over others. And the Harry Potter books. I’ve read them all.

It’s because of the experience and the attention we give our customers. We always first listen to them about their needs and wants. Listening is important. You can’t sell anything like a boat unless you listen to what the customer is looking for in their ideal boat. From there it’s all about giving them the experience of which they are dreaming. We want to be there for them, hold their hand from the beginning until the end and beyond. The sale is just the beginning of what we want to be in a relationship with them for the life of their boat. 

Today’s well-built boats are made to last. That means repowering—or updating the engine—will eventually need to happen if your boat is a long-term investment. What is more, preowned boats need repowering sooner than new boats. In either case, repowering extends the life of a boat regardless of age. That’s a good thing, and so are the choices that can make your boat perform even better.

Taking delivery of a new boat is just the beginning, not the end, of doing business at a Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Boating Center. Here, the experience continues at the service department for as long as you own the boat.