IMI Certifies Record Number of CMOs

The International Marina Institute (IMI), the training arm of the Association of Marina Industries (AMI), held its award ceremony for new Certified Marina Managers (CMMs) and Operators (CMOs) on February 1 at AMI’s annual International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

A record number of CMMs and CMOs were certified this year, IMI’s largest group of CMOs certified – 11 individuals – since the addition of the certification in 2009. Worldwide there are 35 CMOs and 350 CMMs.

New CMMs and CMOs have completed the Intermediate Marina Management Course (IMM) and Advanced Marina Management Course (AMM). Upon completion of both courses, each marina manager must submit an extensive CMM or CMO application for review and approval by the CMM/CMO review committee.

IMI has seen a steady increase over recent years in training numbers and has trained 115 marina professionals in 2017. “IMI has been working with its affiliate partners to bring courses to new locations, thus expanding our reach and exposure throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Merritt Alves, IMI training coordinator. “Most recently we held an IMM [course] in Seattle, Washington and are headed to Austin, Texas this February.”

This year’s CMM recipients are Kevin Lidgard, Westhaven Marina, Auckland, New Zealand; Desiree Bell, Mears Marina, Annapolis, Maryland; Tom Warren, Westhaven Marina, Auckland, New Zealand; David Isom, Charleston City Marina, Charleston, South Carolina;  Chantal Victor, Crandon Park Marina, Key Biscayne, Florida; Daniel High, Rose Marina, Marco Island, Florida; Daniel Muelhaupt, Miamarina at Bayside, Miami, Florida;  Georgette Jabbour, Tonka Bay Marina, Tonka Bay, Minnesota; and Patrick Kenney, Aqualand Marina, Flowery Branch, Georgia.

This year’s CMO recipients are Jason Tuel, Mears Point Marina, Grasonville, Maryland; Sam Hird, Morningstar Marinas at Eaton Ferry, Littleton, North Carolina; Mark Dryden, Wexford Marina, Hilton Head, South Carolina; Andy Holzem, South Bay Marina, Green Bay, Wisconsin; Aeneas Hollins, The Marina at Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts, West Indies, Eric King, Southport Marina, Southport, North Carolina; Donnie Quinn, Mears Great Oak Landing, Chestertown, Maryland; Rory Jose, The Landings Marina, Savannah, Georgia; Melinda Tasler, Port of Sunnyside Club, Inc. Stillwater, Minnesota; Serena Saunders, Captain John’s Fawn Harbor & Marina, Fawnskin, California; and Ian Wilkinson, Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, Washington.