Liam Gove
2017 LRCC Graduate
Master Certified Marine Technician and Instructor
All through high school, I knew I wanted to work with my hands. I spent two years in my high school’s automotive program, convinced that it would be my career. But everything shifted during the summer of my junior year when I took a job at a local marina. What started as a summer gig quickly turned into an apprentice position—and a new direction for me. I knew right then that I wanted to learn everything I could about fixing boats.
That’s what led me to Lakes Region Community College. LRCC offers a Marine Technology program, and, at the time, that was all I needed to know. I didn’t have a backup plan or a list of other schools. I just knew this was what I wanted to do and I would find a way to make it work.
My journey wasn’t always smooth. Before discovering hands‑on programs like automotive and marine technology, I struggled as a student. Sitting still in a traditional classroom and staying focused all day was tough. But LRCC’s marine program is different. It’s built around hands‑on learning, and my instructors understood that many of us learn best by doing. They kept us engaged, challenged, and excited about what we were learning.
Of course, earning an associate degree meant tackling subjects outside of my comfort zone—like algebra. Math never came naturally to me, and I had a professor who told me the only way forward was “soul‑crushing repetition.” She wasn’t wrong. But sticking with it and passing that class to earn my degree made it all worthwhile.
I graduated from LRCC and spent the last eight years as a marine technician on Lake Winnisquam. Along the way, I became Master Certified for Mercury outboards and had the chance to learn from some of the best mechanics in the Lakes Region. Factory training programs across the country introduced me to even more technicians and broadened my understanding of the industry. If you choose a path that you’re passionate about you’ll want to keep learning.
Recently, I returned to LRCC as an adjunct instructor for the Mercury factory training program. Getting to pass on what I’ve learned, while continuing to grow alongside other instructors and the technicians who come through our training, has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
Looking back, one of the best parts of the Marine Technology program was the people. Many of the students I met at LRCC became lifelong friends. Being part of a community that shares your interests opens doors—not just professionally, but personally.
Choosing LRCC’s Marine Technology program set the course for my career and my future. And now, getting to help the next generation of marine technicians find their path feels like coming full circle.