From Favorite Place to Best Job Ever

What happens when the place that served as the backdrop to great boating days becomes home to a new career? Barry Hadlock, CEO of Nine Marina in Eufaula, Oklahoma, found out.

In 2021, after closing a collision repair business that had sustained him for more than 40 years, Hadlock was ready for a change and talked about options with his friend Jake Nossaman. Careers in service and a lifelong love of boating pulled the pair toward the marina where they’d spent hundreds of hours. A discussion with the owner soon led to a purchase and a brand-new role for Hadlock, who, under the vision of Nossaman, spent just three years completely renovating the property and turning it into Nine Marina, the 2025 Large Marina of the Year.

Advancing Customer Amenities
When Hadlock was boating and not running the marina, he found he’d spent a lot of time waiting for fuel. The three pumps the facility had couldn’t keep up with the demand from a busy lake. He said the ship’s store was also just a small shack with minimal offerings, and the entire property seemed worn out. Knowing what was already there and recognizing the potential, Hadlock dove into a complete renovation.

“A lot of the vision came from Jake. He saw the colors, layout and design, and, as a passionate boater, the needed structure. He built the property and handed me the keys and told me to run it,” Hadlock said. Many of the ideas for the property came from the pair’s many trips to marinas across the country. “We took bits and pieces from what we’d seen. We’d take the best from each place and incorporate it. We have that south Florida feel here,” he continued.

The first month in, the ship’s store was addressed. The original store was essentially taken down to the studs to create a brand new two-story, 6,000-square-foot ship’s store with six offices upstairs. The merchandise selection was greatly expanded to entice both boating and non-boating customers. “We pride ourselves on fresh inventory and lots of products you don’t see elsewhere,” Hadlock said. To add to the amenities aimed both toward boaters and the public, a taco restaurant with cocktail lounge was added to the platform of the ship’s store, and an existing building next door was repurposed as an ice cream shop.

The next priority was to replace the three existing fuel pumps with eight double-sided ones that allow for 16 vessels to fill at one time. Hadlock jokes that his customers refer to the marina as “Buc-ee’s on the water,” in reference to the chain of convenience stores and fuel stations known for the high number of fuel pumps.

Addressing Boater Demands
Thirty-four slips were added onto an existing boathouse to help meet demand, and seven new dry storage buildings holding 180 vessels were constructed to increase available services. The goal is to eventually have 450 wet slips and a 240-boat capacity in dry storage.

In January 2024, boat sales were introduced and quickly expanded to carry seven different lines. A second off-site sales office opened last year.
A new, climate-controlled service department also expanded on-site capabilities, with the hiring of six technicians to join the solo technician who’d been there previously. Now customers, both slip holders and other boaters on the lake, can find year-round repairs and service.

The work happened quickly, and Hadlock proudly said the service department was able to keep all customers serviced throughout the renovation. The first project, the ship’s store, broke ground in October 2022 and was completed by Memorial Day Weekend. Hadlock said the marina had planned a soft opening, but word spread, and lines of people were waiting to get in when the doors opened.

Well-Trained Staff
A property of this size requires an efficient staff, and Hadlock said he’s been fortunate in finding a good team, but he also ensures they know what they’re doing. Every season starts with an employee training day for the 25 seasonal employees as well as the 20 or so year-round staff.

“We make sure the customer experience will be world class, and when a boat shows up, someone is there to help. We teach them what to do, how to handle an incoming boat and to have a smile on their face. The seasonal help is all locals, and we’ve been fortunate to have smart and engaged kids. We interview about 50 each year and replenish as they graduate and move on,” Hadlock said. “Our customer service skills from each employee are the foundation of building that relationship. With great customer service, our customers continue to come back and enjoy spending time at the marina.”

Environmental protection through safe fueling and cleaning practices is also part of training, as well as a regular part of day-to-day operations. Hadlock said the marina strives to have zero negative impact on the lake using non-toxic cleaners and products both inside and outside the buildings. The marina has hired a company to spray essential oils to reduce spiders and deploy rodent bait boxes for safe removal of the rats and sometimes even beavers that get onto the property. Hadlock said state-of-the-art pumpouts and fuel pumps also help ensure hazardous materials never make it into the lake.

Rewarding Hard Work
Nine Marina has become a destination where boaters and non-boaters of all ages stop by for a weeklong stay, a weekday boat ride or just for an ice cream cone. Hadlock said that winning the Marina of the Year award is rewarding for his entire crew. who have been proud to see the transformation of the property that many of them put their hearts and souls into, and it’s been exciting for the boaters who are proud of their homeport and happy to be a part of it.