If you were to follow Jason Stewart around for a day at Vexus® Boats in Flippin, Ark., somewhere between watching him manage logoed apparel inventory in the company lobby and test-driving a boat on Bull Shoals, you might find yourself a tad confused as to what the heck the former Air Force veteran’s job truly is.
Fact is, for the last six years, Stewart has served as the relatively new boat brand’s Swiss Army knife, the jack-of-all-trades, who’s had a heavy hand in managing everything from Vexus’ social media posts to proofreading catalog and website copy — a task he’s more than capable of, given the fact he’s authored four fiction novels of his own, including White River, which is set in the Ozark Mountains he now calls home.
Speaking of mountains, Stewart grew up fishing in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. He bought a used bass boat before he bought his first truck and spent many hours chasing smallmouth bass on Fontana Lake.
Inspired largely by his grandfather, a WWII Navy veteran, he joined the military right out of high school. “My grandfather had a deep love for his country and helping others, and his influence played a big part in my decision to serve in the military. It was an honor to serve alongside so many great Americans for 20 years,” he reflects.
He served America at several stateside bases and overseas in Honduras and South Korea. His time in South Korea set the stage for the most enjoyable job of his two decades of service to our country, where he worked in the Air Operations Center at Osan Air Base as a mission weather forecaster.
However, it was time spent at Little Rock Air Force Base where he discovered the greatest love of his life, Janice, his bride now of 27 years.
“Military life can be tough on spouses and kids. So, I’m proud of my wife and daughter for putting up with all the moves around the globe and the time we spent apart. There’s no way I could have had a successful military career without their support and understanding,” says a grateful Stewart.
After he retired from the Air Force, Janice’s family ties to Arkansas, as well as the couple’s desire to live somewhere rural with plenty of bass fishing opportunities, led them to Flippin, Ark., near Bull Shoals Lake. And there are a lot of folks at Vexus who are certainly glad they did.
“Our company is blessed with talent, not just experience. Jason is a great example in that he wears many hats, executes flawlessly and does it with a personality that is truly enjoyable to be around. I suspect it’s the result of a strong Christian family upbringing, coupled with his willingness to serve our country. What I am sure of is that we’re lucky to have him,” says Vexus leader Keith Daffron.
Job titles don’t matter much at Vexus, but getting the job done the right way matters a bunch. So, Jason Stewart’s heart for service, whether serving his country for two decades or test-driving a treasured customer’s boat to assure optimal performance, is indeed a perfect fit for the premium boat builder’s culture.
Frankly, he’s a guy everybody at Vexus is grateful to have in their squadron.
To learn more about the top-quality boats the former Airman lends his best efforts to each day, please visit vexusboats.com.