Marine Mover – Schultz to step down at LEMTA
CLEVELAND — Norman A. Schultz, president of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association (LEMTA), will step down next April as the organization’s CEO, according to a statement today from the Cleveland-based trade group.
In a letter to all LEMTA members, Dave Gerber, chairman of the Board, announced that Schultz has asked to retire after 32 years at the helm of the organization.
“But I assure you he won’t be disappearing from the scene any time soon,” Gerber wrote. “I am pleased to report that your Board has acted to insure we will continue to benefit from his long experience and industry leadership. Effective May 1, 2006, Schultz will become President Emeritus and he has agreed to serve in that capacity for 18 months thereafter.
“This agreement,” continued Gerber, “insures that LEMTA can continue to look to Schultz for oversight in such areas as our 4 boat shows (Cleveland Mid-America Boat Show; Michigan City In-Water Boat Show; North American Sail & Power Boat Show; VIP Yacht Show), the BAO lobbying efforts and our member programs. It will also give us a seamless transition in personnel,” he predicted.
Schultz joined LEMTA in 1973 and is credited with developing the organization into one of the most active and successful trade groups in the marine industry, LEMTA said. Membership includes 125 dealers, marina operators and service firms located throughout northern Ohio. LEMTA’s active legislative relations program is conducted through the Boating Associations of Ohio (BAO), a statewide organization which Schultz founded in 1988 to increase the political influence of boating.
The LEMTA Board has appointed a 3-member search committee to review possible successors, with a target for accomplishing that by late November, the association reported.
