Appoints Seasoned Marine Executive to Lead the Newly Acquired Company
In keeping with this commitment, The Arnold Transit Company, with its long and storied history in the region, will be revived as HF Companies rebrands MIFC to honor this legacy.
To stabilize and grow the newly branded Arnold Transit Company operation, we are excited to announce the appointment of experienced team members. Veronica Dobrowolski will serve as the President, supported by Dan Musser, Bob Brown and Judge Bill Carmody. They will be backed by their trusted staff members.
“I am honored that the Hoffmann Family of Companies has the faith in myself and those individuals named and those several unnamed others who have agreed to help with this transition,” said President Veronica Dobrowolski. “My goal is to establish a quality ferry service for the cities of St. Ignace, Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island in the time-honored tradition since 1878 of Arnold Transit Company. Our first priority is providing the best possible winter service to our residents and contractors. I appreciate all the well wishes already received and with a host of assistance will work diligently to provide exemplary service to our local constituents and visitors to Mackinac Island. We have a lot of work ahead of us but with the support of others I am confident we will get it done.”
The expert team at Arnold Transit Company, with ongoing support from HF Companies, is dedicated to providing safe, reliable and efficient service to Mackinac Island for years to come.
“HF Companies extends its deepest gratitude to Chris and Billy Shepler and the entire Shepler’s Ferry Service team for their support, dedication and commitment throughout the season, especially following the purchase of MIFC,” said Geoff Hoffmann, Co-CEO Hoffmann Family of Companies. "Chris Shepler will continue to lead Shepler’s Ferry Service and lend his expertise to the Arnold Transit Company rebuilding."
This rebranding marks a new chapter for the company, and we look forward to continuing to serve the Mackinac Island community with the same dedication and commitment to safety that customers have come to expect.
Company History:
Step aboard an Arnold Transit boat and you instantly become part of a rich heritage of Straits ferry service dating back to 1878. Our fleet, the largest and most diverse on the Great Lakes, shoulders the legacy of connecting dreamers, adventurers and families for nearly 150 years. Our journey began in 1878 when George T. Arnold founded Arnold & Coats Ferry Line. The company changed its name to Arnold Transit Company in 1890; was acquired by former US Senator and ‘Father of the Mackinac Bridge’ Prentiss M. Brown in 1935; and merged with Island Transport Company after WWII—adding its St. Ignace service.
In 2016, Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry, founded in 1978 by 5 Local Families with the acquisition of the Argosy Line, acquired the assets of Arnold Transit and repositioned the new company under the umbrella of Mackinac Island Ferry Company. The acquisition included an impressive Fleet, the largest Dock in Mackinac City, and Historic Dock #1 on Mackinac Island.
In 2024, Hoffmann Marine, a division of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, acquired Mackinac Island Ferry Company and will operate under the familiar name of The Arnold Transit Company. Today, The Arnold Transit Company, proudly represents these local pioneers that created Great Companies and all the incredible employees who helped earn your customer loyalty over the years. We WELCOME you onboard and THANK YOU for helping continue our commitment to providing a truly authentic, local Mackinac experience.
About Arnold Transit Company:
Formally Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet® Ferry, The Mackinac Island Ferry Company rebranded in 2022 to consolidate its diverse suite of brand assets, including the Star Line Mackinac Island Hydro-Jet® Ferry fleet, which began in the 1970s, the esteemed Arnold Line Ferry fleet, operational since 1878, and the Mackinac Marine Services (MMS) shipyard, founded in 2019. These valuable assets now come together seamlessly under the Arnold Transit Company Brand.