RBFF names three new board members
The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation announced that Craig Bonds, Ron Christofferson and Joe Lewis have been appointed to its Board of Directors.
“We are excited to have such diverse and experienced members of the fishing and boating industry and state agencies join our Board of Directors,” said RBFF President and CEO Frank Peterson. “Craig, Ron and Joe were introduced at our June Board Meeting and we’re looking forward to the contributions they will be making in our efforts to grow fishing and boating participation.”
Appointed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), Craig Bonds currently serves as Inland Fisheries Division Director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. He is a 17-year veteran of his agency, including prior service as a recreational fisheries management biologist at various levels and locations throughout Texas. He holds a B.S. from Texas A&M (’96) University and a M.S. from Virginia Tech (’00). Craig is a Certified Fisheries Professional with the American Fisheries Society (AFS). He has twice received the Outstanding Fisheries Worker of the Year award from the Texas Chapter of the AFS, an organization in which he has held numerous positions, including President. He was recently elected Vice President of the Southern Division of the AFS, and will progress through successive officer terms, including President.
Ron Christofferson , who was also appointed to the Board by AFWA, is the Boating Facilities Program Manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), where he has been employed for the past 27 years. Ron is a graduate of the University of Arizona (BS Wildlife and Fisheries Science), and is an avid hunter, angler and boater. He has extensive experience managing statewide programs for AZGFD, including evaluating the impacts of construction projects on wildlife, and implementing habitat improvement projects across the state. For the past 10 years, Ron has managed the Arizona Boating Access Program, including all programmatic aspects of the federal Sport Fish Restoration grants related to boating facilities (Boating Access, Clean Vessel Act, and Boating Infrastructure). In addition, he oversees Arizona’s Clean Marina Program and the Aids to Navigation Program. Ron is currently President of the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA), comprised primarily of boating facilities professionals from state agencies across the United States and its Territories.
Appointed at Large by the RBFF Board, Joe Lewis came to the marine industry in 1989 with the purchase of Mount Dora Marina after a 20-year career in the outdoor power equipment distribution business. Since then, he has served as its General Manager overseeing all aspects of operation. Lewis first became involved with industry issues when asked to serve on the board of directors of the Marine Industry Assoc. of Central Florida. He went on to become its president, then became president of the Marine Industry of Florida in 2002. Appointed to the Grow Boating Board of Directors in 2006, he was elected Chairman in 2011 and currently serves in that role. Lewis has also served on the Marine Retailers of the Americas Board of Directors since 2009. He served as its treasurer from 2012 to 2014 and is currently vice chairman. Lewis remains very active in helping to build a stronger marine industry. When not at work chances are you’ll find him boating, scuba diving and spear fishing with his family.
A full list of RBFF board members is available online.
