Interviewer(s): Jason Theriot

Affiliation: University of Houston

Vance Breaux is president and part-owner of Breaux Brother's Enterprise. He and his brother, Ward Breaux, broke away from their father's shipyard, Breaux's Baycraft, and started their own business in 1982. They have carried the tradition of custom built aluminum crew boats for the offshore oil and gas industry. Breaux began working with his father at a very young age. He learned to build boats, sell boats, and operate a ship yard. He and his brother opened up their own ship yard in 1982, building non-oil field related boats.

Company significance/history: Started in 1982 during the economic downturn in the oil industry, Breaux Brother's immediately diversified into other markets, such as East Coast fishing boats, ferries, and catamarans. They survived the "bust" of the 1980s and in 1987 built their first crew boat for the offshore industry. Through experience and quality craftsmanship, Breaux Brothers has kept a long list of customers in non-oilfield related boat work. When oil field slows down and day rates soften off, Breaux Broth turn to their customers on the East Coast to build yachts, fishing boats, ferries, and catamarans. With 65 personnel working 55 hours a week building 5-7 boats a year, Breaux Brothers Enterprise are a major player in the crew boat market. The majority of the office staff and management are family members.