Lee Spiva - Marine Electric, LLC

05/22/2026

05/14/2026

This past week, Lee & Virginia had the opportunity to attend the annual VIP Summit in Key West hosted by Raymarine USA and FLIR Marine.

It was an incredible week spent collaborating with some of the industry’s top engineers, oceanic cartographers, professional fisherman, industy leading dealers, software teams, and product developers from around the world — all focused on one common goal: continuing to bring the best technology, innovation, and user experience possible to the marine industry.

From advanced navigation and sonar technology to thermal imaging and evolving user interfaces, it’s exciting to be part of the conversations helping shape the future of marine electronics.

We’re thankful for the opportunity, the relationships, and the continued commitment from Raymarine & FLIR to support dealers who are passionate about this industry and our customers.

It truly was a great week in Key West! ⚓️🌴

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing moms out there — especially our very own Virginia Danner Spiva and Audrey Combs Schmidt!

05/07/2026

MEET THE CREW: Virginia Spiva

Meet Virginia — the driving force behind Marine Electric and the one who keeps everything running exactly the way it should.

Virginia has been a partner at Marine Electric since 2012 and brings over two decades of experience in the local marine industry, including her time with Howell Tackle. She’s a graduate of Florida State University and holds certifications from NMEA, Raymarine, FLIR, and Garmin, with a deep understanding of today’s marine electronics, product lines, and real-world applications on the water.

Born and raised in Panama City, Florida, Virginia is a true local who knows the Gulf Coast boating community inside and out.

She’s also Lee’s wife — partners in marriage for 17 years and partners in business for 14 and a big part of what has helped Marine Electric grow into what it is today.

If you call the shop and expect to be transferred to “one of the guys”… think again.
Virginia knows this industry, these systems, and these boats inside and out — and chances are, she already has the answer.

She also knows more about fishing than most and can tie a bimini twist or splice a rope faster than Lee can zip a zip tie. And if there’s a trailer to be backed down a ramp, she’s probably the best one at the shop to do it.

Behind the scenes, she’s the one keeping everything organized, on schedule, and making sure every job runs smoothly from start to finish.

Outside of work, Virginia is a mom to Elizabeth (16) and Harrison (13). When she’s not at the shop, you’ll find her fishing, chilling at the island, gardening, making their annual trip to the Exumas, or cheering on the kids at a sailing regatta.

05/06/2026

Meet Rick — one of the guys who makes the impossible installs happen.

Rick came to Panama City when he was just two years old and has been here ever since. He grew up fishing the flats and, as he got older, made his way offshore — building a lifelong connection to the water along the way.

Rick has been with Marine Electric for over 12 years, bringing experience, consistency, and a willingness to take on the toughest jobs.

He’s married to his wonderful wife, Chrissy, and they’ve got three dogs that keep things interesting at home.

Rick holds certifications from NMEA, Garmin, Raymarine, and FLIR, and is known around the shop for taking on the jobs others might shy away from. If there’s a tough wire to be pulled or a tight, challenging run, Rick is always up for it — and his wire-pulling skills are pretty magical.

A lot of what we do every day runs smoother because Rick is behind it — he’s a big part of keeping things moving and getting jobs across the finish line.

He’s a mounting machine — clean installs, solid mounts, and done right the first time. Everything is placed with precision, like a piece of artwork. When Rick finishes a boat, it shows.

And if you’ve met Rick, you’ve probably noticed his signature sideburns — they’ve become his trademark over the years.

When he’s not at work, you’ll most likely find him on the water. Floundering is his thing, but you might also find him at the creek.

05/05/2026

Meet Lee — the backbone of Marine Electric.

Lee is celebrating 30 years in the marine electronics industry this year, bringing a level of experience that’s hard to match. After Hurricane Opal, he founded Marine Electric in 1995 and has been serving the Gulf Coast ever since.

Born and raised in Panama City, Florida, Lee comes from a long line of Bay County mariners. His grandfather and great-grandfather were St. Andrew Bay harbor pilots — with his great-grandfather being the first — and both were charter members of the St. Andrew’s Bay Yacht Club.

He holds certifications from NMEA, ABYC, AIRMAR, Garmin, Raymarine, FLIR, and Simrad, and has built his reputation on real-world experience — not just reading manuals, but truly understanding how these systems work on the water.

Marine Electric was honored as Raymarine & FLIR Dealer of the Year for the United States and Canada in 2021, a reflection of the expertise, service, and reputation Lee has built over decades.

When it comes to troubleshooting and complex issues, Lee is the one you call.

Problem cases aren’t a headache to him — they’re a challenge he enjoys solving. His depth of knowledge and ability to figure out what others can’t is what sets Marine Electric apart.

Lee also serves as an ambassador for Raymarine and FLIR, staying on top of the latest technology while bringing decades of hands-on expertise to every job.

Behind the scenes, his wife Virginia helps keep him organized and on track — a partnership that’s been key to the company’s success.

Outside of work, Lee enjoys spending time on the boat with his family — Harrison (13) and Elizabeth (16). You’ll often find him scalloping in St. Joe Bay, cooking, story telling, enjoying music, tending to his two chickens, and traveling — especially a good road trip with the fam.

02/02/2026

We don’t care what Punxsutawney Phil says….