Marine Mover – PWIA brings on new state affairs manager

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) has selected Aaron Castelo as the lead advocate for the association’s state and local government relations program, it reported in a statement yesterday.

As state affairs manager, Castelo will promote boating safety and fair access to public waters at the state level.

Castelo comes to PWIA after five years at the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS), where he was director of state legislative analysis. Working with the association’s regional lobbyists in all 50 states, Castelo worked to successfully expand market access and defeat tax increase attempts around the country, PWIA reported.

“Aaron is a strong addition to the PWIA team and no stranger to the state and local regulatory environment,” said Maureen Healey, PWIA executive director. “Aaron is the right person to help the industry promote its message of safe boating and fair access for all motorized boats.

“In addition to stopping discriminatory restrictions on PWC use,” Healey continued, “Aaron will be actively working state legislatures to implement PWIA’s model legislation, which promotes mandatory boating safety education for all PWC users, a minimum age of 16 to operate PWC, daylight-only usage restrictions, and prohibitions against reckless operation.”

An Indiana native, Castelo has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Ball State University. Prior to joining DISCUS, Castelo managed state legislative activities at the American Academy of Otolaryngology, did state legislative research at a consulting firm, and was a staff member for a member of Congress from Indiana. His interests include baseball, camping and boating.

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