The Machinery Experts Behind Marsh Master®

The origins of Marsh Master® starts with John B Coast. John began his adventure in 1971 after fellow duck hunting partners challenged him to build a machine that would allow them to hunt marsh areas that were inaccessible. A graduate of LA Tech University in mechanical engineering, he spent his early work career as a mechanical development engineer for companies such as Union Carbide and Ethyl Corporation, then started Coast Machinery LLC in 1971 designing and manufacturing production machinery for the plastics industry. While working in this industry, he built a small, hydrostatic amphibious buggy with chain tracks for personal use. What started out as a hobby project came to life ten years later as a commercial endeavor. Due to the success of that original machine and the potential and need that he saw for the Marsh Master® in the marketplace, he decided to start manufacturing them commercially.  John was granted a patent from the USPTO for the unique design of a rubber belt track system encircling a pontoon and the Marsh Master® brand was born. He began manufacturing and marketing the unit commercially and the first unit was sold in July 1981 to C.H. Fenstermaker, an oilfield surveying company based out of Lafayette, LA. That machine was in heavy commercial use until 2016 and now has come back home to Mr. Coast to be used as his personal hunting buggy—a true testament to the quality of the build. 

Growing up in the family business, John has been around the Marsh Master® since an early age. John grew up playing on the Marsh Master® and learning all aspects of this unique machine. After graduating from Louisiana State University, then excelling for many years in industrial sales, he and John Sr. decided it was time for him to join the family business in 2004.   

John is now the President of Coast Machinery LLC and leads all of Coast’s business units. He is passionate about the family business and all things Marsh Master®. His passion, innovation-driven mindset, and out-of-the-box thinking about how to successfully do jobs using the Marsh Master® in the toughest wetland environments has been of great value to the company and customers. His number one motivator is seeing a customer use a Marsh Master® successfully to complete a seemingly impossible job.

Outside of Coast Machinery, John enjoys spending time with his wife, his two daughters, family and friends. In his free time, you can find him hunting and fishing in the swamps and marshes of coastal LA or involved at his church.

As Chief Financial Officer, Matt is responsible for the accounting, human resources, and business management of Coast Machinery.

Matt joined the Marsh Master® team in 2019 after spending 5 years as CFO with an international mission’s organization. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2009 and became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in 2013.

Outside of Coast Machinery, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys a competitive round of golf with friends. 

Tommy is Coast Machinery’s Director of Product Development. Tommy leads the continual improvement and refinement of legacy designs as well as the design of new cutting edge products for the future.

Tommy grew up on a farm in Northeast LA where he was always helping to keep the machinery operational. This fueled his love for heavy machinery and his passion for problem solving. In 2016 Tommy graduated from Louisiana State University Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering. While at LSU, Tommy was a walk-on free safety and special teams player for the LSU football team under coach Les Miles and a three-year letterman. While there, he earned numerous awards and honors including TAF Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. After graduating, Tommy and his wife moved to Houston where he worked for three years excelling as a rotating equipment engineer for an engineering consulting firm.  Desiring to get back to his home state and work in the machinery design field, Tommy joined the Marsh Master® team in January 2020 and has brought our engineering team to the next level.

When he’s not working on Marsh Masters®, Tommy is spending time with his wife and three children, in the boat fishing, in the duck blind or deer stand, or helping to lead a youth group at his church.

Brett Sanchez, our Rental Manager, has been with Coast Machinery for 7 years. He manages the logistics of renting our machinery for wetland work all over the United States.

Before working for Coast Machinery, Brett and his older brother owned and operated a civil construction company in Baton Rouge for 18 years. His passion for heavy machinery, the knowledge and experience from operating and maintaining that equipment, leading employees and managing multiple job sites and sub-contractors has given Brett a depth of knowledge that is of great benefit to our rental customers.

Outside of Coast Machinery, Brett enjoys spending time with his two kids, working on his property, church activities, and doing some deer hunting in the winter.

Chip Angele, our purchasing manager, works with each of our vendors to ensure the thousands of inventory parts are ordered, in stock, and available for our production, service and parts department. From bolts and washers to diesel engines, Chip works with our vendors to ensure each component’s quality is ordered to the Marsh Master® standard and is here for our manufacturing or customers’ needs.

Prior to joining Coast, Chip worked in the construction equipment dealership arena—his whole working career having roles in parts, purchasing and service management. Chip’s knowledge and personable style has helped Coast Machinery establish and maintain excellent relationships with top quality vendors and bring standard operating procedures to ordering, receiving, and billing inventory shipments.

When he’s not at Coast Machinery, Chip enjoys spending time with his wife and son, fishing, working and hunting on his deer lease, and camping.

Paul McGrew, our Service Manager, oversees our service department and crew of Marsh Master® certified diesel and hydraulics mechanics.

Before working at Coast Machinery, Paul was the service manager for a large mobile equipment company for twenty years. His knowledge of mobile machinery repair, the Marsh Master® brand, and his passion for taking care of our customers is second to none.

Outside of Coast Machinery, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife, two daughters and extended family; fixing things for friends and family; working and hunting on his property; or camping.

Brad is Coast Machinery’s Training Coordinator for new sales. This role is vital to ensure that our customers receive the proper training upon delivery of their new Marsh Master® amphibious track vehicle. Brad teaches our customer’s employees and operators how to safely operate and maintain their new Marsh Master® along with any attachments. Brad is also an accomplished professional country gospel singer with several albums and was nominated as a finalist for the Horizon Country Gospel new artist of the year in 2006.

When Brad isn’t traveling the country delivering and in-servicing Marsh Masters®, he is traveling the south on the weekends guest singing in churches or chasing trophy whitetail bucks in the winter.

Renee, our Office Administrator, is often the first person you will meet at Coast Machinery. She oversees the office, assists the Executive team, and has a role in our Human Resources, Social Media, and IT departments. She is the ultimate team player.

When she’s not at Coast Machinery, Renee enjoys spending time with her close friends, reading, and being outdoors adventuring, biking, or being on the water. She also enjoys spending time with her church family volunteering for the children’s ministry and creative teams.

As Business Development manager for Coast Machinery, James works primarily to assist customers and prospects with their Marsh Master needs.  His efforts are focused on maintaining existing customer relationships while constantly seeking new sales and opportunities within the industry. He communicates daily with new and existing customers to ensure Marsh Master provides applicable ideas relevant to the trade. This lockstep approach is tied to the collaborative efforts of company engineers and managers. His participation in company continuity helps project Coast Machinery as the leading-edge solution for Amphibious equipment.

James is a native of Baton Rouge and has a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University.  He served with the United States Army 82^nd Airborne Division and continues to serve in the National Guard’s 256^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team out of Lafayette, LA.  Prior to Coast Machinery, James worked 14 years as a Sales Engineer and Relationship Manager implementing business efficiencies and operation practices for Lumber Yards across the country. His desire to meet customer needs is where his passion resides.

Off the clock, James enjoys time with his wife and teenage daughter, traveling to Brazil to visit extended family, attending Church, working on projects at the house, and enjoying the great outdoors.