Hello, my name is Dom Forte, owner of Forte’s Inboard Connection.  The Forte Family has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 1956 when my parents opened Forte’s Auto Repair, a very successful auto repair business built on the four principles of:  HONESTY, FAIRNESS, HARD WORK, and CUSTOMER SERVICE.  I grew up in the business, took over in the 70’s, and adhere to those same principles today. 

I was first introduced to boating in 1957 when my Father purchased the first of a string of Chris Crafts ranging in size from 28’ to 32’, all with Commanders or 327 Chevy engines.  His last boat was a 43’ Pacemaker with twin 653 GM diesels.  My Father taught me the importance of  proper care of a boat’s power plant and exterior to ensure worry-free hours of enjoyment, as well as a higher resale value in the future.  I spent many an hour cleaning and maintaining our boats and that experience has proven invaluable.

Skiing is my passion.  While some people like just one form of water sport, I love them all:  slalom, kneeboard, wakeboard, barefoot, and show skiing.  As long as I am in the boat, or on the water, I am happy, content, and relaxed.

            My wife, Clide Forte (pronounced Clee’-day), and I have been married for 29 years.  She has a degree in mechanical engineering, and has worked in the power industry for 28 years.  She also skis, wakeboards, and kneeboards with our family.  She is quite capable---she has to be in order to juggle a career involving travel, and a family of four.  Both of us realize the importance of “family play time” which is why we both devote our weekends to “playing with the kids” on the water.  Also, being members of the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team enables us to be involved in our children’s lives.

Above center- Chris Mom Tony and some of the awesome skiers at Sea World of San Antonio where Chris Skis during his summers

             Our two boys, Chris and Tony, 19 and 15 respectively, are both very talented skiers.  You may have seen Chris in the Cypress Gardens ski shows and both he and Tony at the Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team shows in Oldsmar, Florida having a blast testing their skills and hamming it up in the shows. In our research and testing of boats, they have been a valuable source of information as to the wake shape, turbulence on the table, and the overall performance of the boats.  

  Above Right -  Tony (on Left) winning the Southern Region Barefoot Endurance                              

Don directs the timeless Cypress Gardens ski shows

             Hi, my name is Beth Heim, and I  handle Forte’s Inboard and Auto Connection’s office management.  I have worked for Forte’s Auto Repair for 26 years scheduling appointments, estimating, purchasing, and overall bookkeeping. 

Larry, my husband of 32 years, grew up with Dom so our families go way back, actually to the late 40’s, after WWII when Larry’s Grandfather first had Mr. Forte Sr. work on his vehicles.  Larry has been in law enforcement for twenty eight years, and we have two grown girls, Aimee-26, and Peggy-23.  Aimee and her husband, Dan, live in Tampa and have two children.  Peggy has finished up her undergraduate work, and working on a PHD in physical therapy.  Both girls used to come to work with me when they were just toddlers.  My, how time flies!

Hello, my name is Steve Dollenmayer and I am a financial advisor and consultant for Forte’s Inboard Connection.

The best thing about waterskiing is the relationships! Relationships with family, from my Father teaching my brother and I how to ski on the chain of Lakes in Winter Haven behind the family outboard to the recent years of my brother helping me buy my first inboard ski boat and the time we have been able to spend together on the water. Relationships with friends, from church ski parties to teaching someone how to ski for the first time has been so rewarding. It is amazing how people just relax and enjoy an afternoon at the lake. Those times and relationships are priceless. I am looking forward to helping you share some of those times with your family and friends.

My love of watersking started when I worked at Cypress Gardens during High School and College. Since then I have spent many hours skiing behind Nautiques, Mastercrafts, a Moomba & and now Tige’s. Breaking glass on Slalom is still my favorite but I also enjoy Trick Skiing, Wakeboarding, Wakeskating, Kneeboarding, Shoe Skiing and Barefooting. I am also a member of the Tampa Bay Waterski Show Team.

       Hello, I am Kevin O’Connell, the lead Technician for Forte’s Inboard and Auto Connection.  I have thirteen years of power train experience, five of which for Dom, at Forte’s Auto Repair. I grew up on Lake Keen in Lutz, FL, and have done my fair share of skiing over the years behind such boats as Tige’s, Master Crafts, Nautiques and various outboard boats. My wife, Leslie, and I have been married for ten years and have a beautiful daughter, Kaitlyn, who is 5 years old.    

We are enjoying raising Kaitlyn to respect and enjoy the water as much as we do. We have recognized what a great family sport this is and have been spending time on the water kneeboarding and skiing. I am looking forward to helping you share that experience.