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Posted By Gail Kulp,
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
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Press Release
Sea Tow Foundation Appoints Seven New Members to North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council
The Sea Tow Foundation has appointed seven new marine industry stakeholders to serve on its North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council which was established in 2019. This new slate joins a dozen inaugural council members and will collaborate on a variety of strategies and tactics to promote greater awareness and adoption of boating safety initiatives and messages both within the recreational marine industry and the boating consumer space.
“We couldn’t be more pleased about the overall composition and the depth of experience in our newly appointed council members,” said Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail R. Kulp “We were very impressed by the quality of the nominations and the resulting expanded representation that embraces new segments of the marine industry including insurance, podcasting, personal watercraft and sailing.”
New inductees were voted in by the North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council and will serve a two-year term beginning June 1, 2020. Appointees are listed below in alphabetical order:
· Adam Fortier-Brown, Government Relations Manager, MRAA
· TK Krumenacker, CEO, Admirals Insurance Corp
· Tyler Mehrl, Category Manager/Steering and Controls, Mercury Marine
· Mark Pillsbury, Editor, Cruising World Magazine
· Angie Scott, Podcast Host, The Woman Angler & Adventurer
· Eric Shepard, Retired (30 years in the marine and aviation safety industries)
· Leslie Zlotnick, Advertising Manager, Yamaha Watercraft Group
About the Sea Tow Foundation North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council
Launched in 2019, the North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council now includes 19 members representing multiple sectors of the recreational boating industry along with an executive task force. In its first year, the council organized and debuted its first National Boating Industry Safety Awards to recognize the outstanding work of recreational boating organizations in promoting boating safety. The council is actively engaged in supporting a variety of safe boating initiatives including the Sober Skipper Program which encourages boaters to be or to designate a Sober Skipper before leaving the dock. The ultimate goal of the Sober Skipper Program is to eliminate the number of boating accidents and deaths related to Boating Under the Influence on North American waterways.
For more information about the North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council, please visit: www.boatingsafety.com/nassac
To learn more about the Sea Tow Foundation’s Sober Skipper Program, please visit soberskipper.com.

Tags:
2019-20
Boating Safety
Boating Under the Influence
NASSAC
North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council
Sober Skipper
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Posted By Michael Wesolowski,
Monday, December 2, 2019
Updated: Friday, March 6, 2020
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Sea Tow Foundation Announces Inaugural Winners of National Boating Industry Safety Awards
The Sea Tow Foundation announced the winners of its inaugural National Boating Industry Safety Awards at the Elevate Summit in Orlando. The awards were sponsored and judged by the newly established North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council and funded through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The awards were established to recognize the best boating safety work in the for-profit sector of the recreational marine marketplace occurring within the United States.
The National Sober Skipper Advisory Council and the Sea Tow Foundation were very pleased by the caliber of candidates and the submissions received for our first awards recognition. We are all delighted to see the great work being done by recreational boating industry organizations and look forward to continuing to support and bring well deserved recognition to outstanding achievers and safe boating champions throughout the recreational marine industry.
Top Marine Manufacturer Award for Boating Safety – Sea Ray Boats
Top Marine Retailer Award for Boating Safety – MarineMax
Top Marine Media Award for Boating Safety – Bonnier Corporation
Top Marine Marketing and Boating Safety Outreach Award – Yamaha Outboards with their spokesperson, Hunter Bland
Newly established Sober Skipper Award presented to Freedom Boat Club in recognition of its outstanding adoption and promotion of the Sober Skipper program.
For more information about the North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council and the National Boating Industry Safety Awards, please visit https://www.boatingsafety.com/page/STFBSAC
A copy of the press release is available here.

All winners from the 2019 National Boating Industry Safety Awards pictured. From Left to Right: Gail Kulp (Sea Tow Foundation), Hunter Bland (Yamaha), Kevin Falvey (Bonnier Corporation), John McEver (Bonnier Corporation), Barry Slade (Freedom Boat Club), Nic Thomas (Freedom Boat Club), Sarah Fahy (Sea Ray), Capt. Keith Lake (MarineMax).

Tags:
MarineMax
NASSAC
national boating industry safety awards
Press Release
Sea Ray Boats
Sea Tow
Sober Skipper
sober skipper advisory council
Yamaha Outboard
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Posted By Michael Wesolowski,
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Updated: Thursday, March 5, 2020
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Sober Skipper Advisory Council undertakes new safety, award initiatives
The Sea Tow Foundation’s recently appointed North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council held its first meeting in early May to finalize its mission and to establish short-term priorities.
According to Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director Gail Kulp, the purpose and mission of the new council has been reviewed and adopted by its executive task force and the 13 key stakeholder members representing the recreational marine industry.
“We created this new organization to help bridge the gap between the non-profit recreational boating safety community and the for-profit industry,” said Kulp. ”Our council represents the for-profit segment of the recreational boating industry and our desire is to discuss and address general boating safety issues in addition to our Sea Tow Foundation’s signature programs including the Life Jacket Loaner Program and the Sober Skipper Program. By collaborating with council members, we hope to work together to help strengthen overall industry messaging, awareness and adoption of boating safety initiatives.”
To that effect, top on the agenda was a council-wide introduction to National Safe Boating Week May 18-25. While many were well aware of the annual push and promotion for boating safety messaging prior to the busy Memorial Day weekend, Sea Tow Foundation encouraged active support and engagement through individual and corporate social media initiatives. In addition, Sea Tow Foundation provided a marketing support toolkit for council member to access including relevant content and imagery reflecting boating safety themes.
“The more the recreational boating industry gets on board promoting boating safety, the stronger and more impactful the message will be to general boating public,” said Kulp. “We’ve also invited our council members to share their own company boating safety initiatives and have been very impressed by the good work many of these organizations have already initiated.”
Besides National Safe Boating Week, the council discussed and is underway in the development of a new national boating safety awards program directed to the for-profit segment of the marketplace.
“While there are already boating safety award programs in place in several pockets of the industry, many are sponsored by or recognize the great work of the not-for-profit community and governmental/non-governmental boating agencies,” said Kulp. “Because our effort is targeting the for-profit sector, our awards program will pay tribute to the outstanding work of companies, organizations and individuals within the recreational for-profit boating space.”
The council has formed subcommittees and is currently working to further develop award program plans, parameters, categories and criteria for judging, with the goal to announce and launch the initiative later this year.
“Our executive task force is very enthusiastic by the positive energy and high level of support for boating safety among our council members,” said Kulp. “We look forward to further building upon a strong foundation of boating safety and helping to expand and enhance recreational boating safety efforts moving forward.”

Tags:
Boating Industry
NASSAC
Sober Skipper
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Posted By Michael Wesolowski,
Monday, April 8, 2019
Updated: Thursday, March 5, 2020
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Sea Tow Foundation names North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council
The Sea Tow Foundation has organized a North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council to collaborate on current and future boating safety messaging, as well as future boating safety messages and initiatives primarily involving its popular Sober Skipper campaign.
Launched in 2015 through a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund, as administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, the program encourages boaters to be sober or to designate a sober skipper.
It now has partnerships with more than 130 organizations in 32 states.
"The Sea Tow Foundation is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the non-profit recreational boating safety community and the for-profit boating industry with the launch of the Sober Skipper Advisory Council,” said Executive Director Gail R. Kulp in a statement. “The highly qualified group of individuals that were nominated and subsequently appointed to serve on this inaugural council bring extremely valuable insight and unique perspectives which will help us to strengthen industry messaging, awareness and adoption of boating safety initiatives.”
Members of the inaugural Sea Tow Foundation North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council include: David Connolly, Partner, TH Connolly & Sons Inc.; David Dickerson, VP State Government Relations, NMMA; Jim Emmons, Non-Profit Outreach Grants Director, Water Sports Foundation, Inc.; Kevin Falvey, Editorial Director, Boating Magazine/Bonnier; Mike Hankins, Operations Director, Crevalle Boats; Will Higgins, Public Policy Manager, MRAA; John Jost, Director of Marine Solutions, Ken Cook Co.; Captain Keith Lake, Delivery Captain, MarineMax; Dave Marlow, Director, Product Integrity/Government Affairs, Brunswick Corporation; Captain Frank Stoeber, Team Development Manager, Regal Boats; Nic Thomas, Corporate Director of Dock Operations, Freedom Boat Club; Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior VP Marketing & Communications, RBFF; and Annamarie Worrell, Boat Club & Marketing Manager, Emerald Coast Marine Group.
The group’s executive committee includes Gail R. Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director; Michael Wesolowski, Sea Tow Foundation Director of External Relations; Kristen Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow Foundation Board President; and Wanda Kenton Smith, President, Kenton Smith Marketing.
“Our executive committee was extremely pleased by the high level of interest and the positive response when we announced plans a few months ago to establish this council,” said Kulp. “While our new council membership represents broad segments of the boating industry, everyone involved shares a strong passion for and commitment to boating safety. Our executive committee is very excited to get underway and to collaborate with these industry stakeholders in this important effort.”

Tags:
NASSAC
Sober Skipper
Trade Only Today
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Posted By Michael Wesolowski,
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Updated: Thursday, March 5, 2020
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Sea Tow Foundation appoints 13 members to serve on inaugural North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council
The Sea Tow Foundation selected 13 marine industry stakeholders to serve on its newly launched North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council, with the goal to collaborate on current and future boating safety messages including its popular Sober Skipper campaign.
"The Sea Tow Foundation is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the non-profit recreational boating safety community and the for-profit boating industry with the launch of the Sober Skipper Advisory Council,” said Executive Director Gail R. Kulp. “The highly qualified group of individuals that were nominated and subsequently appointed to serve on this inaugural council bring extremely valuable insight and unique perspectives which will help us to strengthen industry messaging, awareness and adoption of boating safety initiatives.”
Members of the inaugural Sea Tow Foundation North American Sober Skipper Advisory Council will serve a two-year term. Appointees in alphabetical order include:
• David Connolly, Partner, TH Connolly & Sons Inc.
• David Dickerson, VP State Government Relations, NMMA
• Jim Emmons, Non-Profit Outreach Grants Director, Water Sports Foundation, Inc.
• Kevin Falvey, Editorial Director, Boating Magazine/Bonnier
• Mike Hankins, Operations Director, Crevalle Boats
• Will Higgins, Public Policy Manager, MRAA
• John Jost, Director of Marine Solutions, Ken Cook Co.
• Captain Keith Lake, Delivery Captain, MarineMax
• Dave Marlow, Director, Product Integrity/Government Affairs, Brunswick Corporation
• Captain Frank Stoeber, Team Development Manager, Regal Boats
• Nic Thomas, Corporate Director of Dock Operations, Freedom Boat Club
• Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior VP Marketing & Communications, RBFF
• Annamarie Worrell, Boat Club & Marketing Manager, Emerald Coast Marine Group
In addition, an executive committee of four will direct and facilitate advisory council efforts including Gail R. Kulp, Sea Tow Foundation Executive Director; Michael Wesolowski. Sea Tow Foundation Director of External Relations; Kristen Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow Foundation Board President; and Wanda Kenton Smith, President, Kenton Smith Marketing.
“Our executive committee was extremely pleased by the high level of interest and the positive response when we announced plans a few months ago to establish this council and extended the nationwide call for nominations,” said Kulp. “While our new council membership represents broad segments of the boating industry, everyone involved shares a strong passion for and commitment to boating safety. Our executive committee is very excited to get underway and to collaborate with these industry stakeholders in this important effort.”

Tags:
Boating Industry
Brunswick
Crevalle Boats
Emerald Coast Marine Group
Freedom Boat Club
Ken Cook
Kenton Smith Marketing
MarineMax
MRAA
NASSAC
RBFF
Regal Boats
Sea Tow
Sober Skipper
TH Connolly & Sons
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