AkzoNobel renames yacht paint application center in memory of Stephen Smith

AkzoNobel announced that it is renaming its yacht paint application center in Cocoa, Fla., as the Stephen Smith Yacht Paint Application Center in honor of Sales Representative Stephen Smith.

Smith passed away Friday, Feb. 4, after a battle against cancer. He was 65 and is survived by his wife Lynn, sons Stephen Jr. and Ryan, daughter Michaela LaBrie and a grandson.

Smith represented AkzoNobel’s Awlgrip for more than 30 years and was a respected manufacturer sales representative, as well as an active member in the local and national marine community.

“Stephen’s dedication to Awlgrip and his exemplary service to his customers for over three decades is a fundamental reason the Awlgrip brand has the global recognition it has today,” said Matt Anzardo, AkzoNobel marketing manager. “He spent his career with AkzoNobel educating boatyards, applicators, manufacturers and distributors in the knowledge and proper application of yacht coatings.”

The company said Smith was instrumental in the creation of the Florida YPAC in 2010. The center offers paint applicators, boatyards and distributors the opportunity to learn about AkzoNobel products, systems and applications, in both a hands on and classroom experience.

A wake was held on Feb. 7 in Rhode Island and a funeral was held on Feb. 8 in Massachusetts.