Building Boats and a Greater Purpose

How Regulator Marine Is Living Out Business as a Ministry in Edenton, NC

Tucked away in the historic town of Edenton, North Carolina, just an hour from the Outer Banks, is a company known for crafting some of the world’s finest offshore sportfishing boats. But if you ask the leadership at Regulator Marine what truly defines them, they won’t start with hull design, engine performance, or coastal craftsmanship.

They’ll start with purpose.

“We build the finest in offshore sportfishing boats, from 23 feet all the way up to our 41-foot center console beauty,” says Keith Ammons, Vice President of Operations. “But what really excites me is how we’ve used this business as a platform to serve our people, our community, and the Kingdom.”

From Excellence to Eternal Impact

Founded in 1988 by Joan and Owen Maxwell, Regulator Marine has long been known for integrity, innovation, and quality. With more than 225 employees and a growing fleet of premium vessels, the company has built a national reputation. Yet what happens behind the scenes in their Edenton facility speaks even louder.

Since 2014, Regulator’s founder Joan Maxwell has been a part of C12, the nation’s largest network of Christian CEOs and business owners. C12 members gather monthly in confidential forums to integrate faith and business, challenge one another with biblical counsel, and sharpen leadership for impact that lasts. In 2021, Keith joined a Key Player Forum, a C12 format designed for senior leaders under a member’s leadership umbrella.

“In the last 11 years, we’ve been partnering with C12,” Keith shares. “It’s helped us cultivate our culture, grow closer to our employees, and really develop stronger relationships with our associates.”

And that impact is showing up in tangible ways.

Ministry Starts at Work

What does it look like to run a business as a ministry? For Regulator, it starts with people. The team launched an internal ministry care initiative to confidentially support employees facing life’s most challenging moments: financial crisis, family loss, or emotional strain.

“We’ve been able to partner with employees who are in need. We keep those situations confidential, as you would expect, but it’s exciting to see how our associates appreciate it and how they grow through it.”

In addition to internal care, the company has also turned its attention outward, investing in local outreach through the Boys and Girls Club, local high school athletics, and other community initiatives.

“We’re reaching into our community in new ways. Partnering with the high school, working on facilities, and even getting involved with athletic teams. It’s part of our calling as a company to serve.”

Equipping the Next Generation

One of the company’s most inspiring recent initiatives is called IMPACT, which stands for Improving My Personality and Character Traits. It’s a workforce development program aimed at providing a second chance to young men who struggled to find employment elsewhere.

“We took five young men, literally off the streets, who couldn’t get hired anywhere else. We put them through an apprenticeship program, and today all five of them are full-time employees here at Regulator.”

The company isn’t just building boats, it’s building people. It’s a powerful example of how Christian-led businesses can be engines of both economic and spiritual renewal.

A Culture Worth Building

Keith says that the influence of the community in C12 has contributed to the growth they’ve experienced, not just in profitability or production, but also in purpose.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without the partnership with C12 and the great things they’ve taught us. We’ve come back from our monthly Forums and implemented things that have changed the way we lead.”

Through its Tri-Value Operating Framework and tools such as the Ministry Matrix and Strategic Planning Model, C12 equips business leaders to lead with excellence and achieve eternal significance.

“We have a great group of craftsmen. They build beautiful boats — works of art, really. But more than that, we’re building a culture where people know they matter.”

Want to See It in Action?

If you're ever in Edenton, Keith invites you to stop by.

“We’d love to have you visit. And who knows, maybe we’ll see you out on the water sometime.”

Want to explore how your business could be a platform for greater purpose? Visit www.c12midatlantic.com or reach out for a conversation with a local Chair.