Officers elected to Grow Boating Board of Directors
CHICAGO — The Grow Boating Board of Directors elected Joe Lewis, president of Mt. Dora Boating Center in Mt. Dora, Fla., Chairman last week, and three others were also named to officer positions. Lewis replaces D. Scott Deal, president and CEO of Maverick Boat Company, as chairman.
The Grow Boating Board of Directors also elected the following board members to officer positions to serve for the 2011-2012 term: Vice Chairman: Marcia Kull – Vice President, Volvo Penta of the Americas; Secretary: David Witty – Vice President of Operational Excellence, MarineMax; Treasurer: Bill Watters – President, Syntec Industries. Officers will serve one-year terms but may be reelected after their terms expire.
“The newly elected officers represent all segments of our industry with a united goal — to grow boating,” says past chairman Deal. “Since the Board’s inception in 2005, we have led this industry-wide initiative with a firm commitment to building interest and participation in boating that will ultimately lead to increases in boating related sales and services.”
Discover Boating launched a new U.S. and Canadian campaign in May, titled Welcome to the Water, to tap current boat owners to help engage new boaters. The campaign aims to increase traffic to DiscoverBoating.com
“Given the challenging economic environment we have faced in recent years,” says newly elected Board chairman Lewis notes, “the Grow Boating Board of Directors looks forward to continuing to reignite Discover Boating and returning to a unified, consistent and long-term effort to drive more consumers to dealers and manufacturers around the country.”
In addition to the four officers, Carl Blackwell, chief marketing officer for the National Marine Manufacturers Association, was elected president of Grow Boating, Inc., and Phil Keeter, president of the Marine Retailers Association of America, was elected vice president.
The Grow Boating Board of Directors is comprised of:
Boat Manufacturer Representatives: John Dorton, MasterCraft Boat Company; D. Scott Deal, Maverick Boat Co., Inc.; Maurice Bowen, Tracker Marine, LLC; Jeff Behan, Bayliner Boats.
Engine Manufacturer Representatives: Larry Vandiver, Suzuki Motor Corp., American; Mike Shedivy, Mercury Marine; Chuck Thurman, Pleasurecraft Marine Engines; Marcia Kull, Volvo Penta of the Americas; Ben Speciale, Yamaha Group.
Dealer Representatives : Joe Lewis, Mt. Dora Boating Center, Mt. Dora, Fla.; Rod Malone, Sail & Ski Centers, Austin, Texas; David Witty, Marine Max, Clearwater, Fla.
Accessory Manufacturer Representatives: Bill Watters, Syntec Industries; Michele Goldsmith, Mastervolt Inc.
Discover Boating Canada Representative: Scott MacCrimmon, Ed Huck Marine Ltd, Rockport ON.
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