ABYC Elects Board and Honors Awardees

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) marked its 70th anniversary, welcomed new board members, and honored award recipients at its January 8 annual meeting in Annapolis, Maryland. The event is a highlight of ABYC Standards Week, where experts from various sectors of the marine industry review and update safety standards related to the design, construction, and repair of recreational boats.

ABYC Board Chair Jeff Wasil and President John Adey briefed attendees on ABYC’s initiatives and acknowledged the volunteers dedicated to boating safety. Capt. Amy Beach, director of inspections and compliance for the U.S. Coast Guard, also addressed the gathering.

The 2024 board of directors was elected, including Scott Croft of BoatUS, Sean Hatherley of Navico Group, and Randall Lyons from the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association.

The meeting concluded with ABYC’s annual award ceremony, where the following recognitions were presented:

• Lisa Esposito of IYRS School of Technology and Trades received the Bolling Fortson Douglas Memorial Award.
• Jason Stimmel from Suzuki was honored with the ABYC Service Award.
• Mike Jendrossek, retired USCG, received the Horizon Award.
• Craig Scholten from ABYC was awarded the Skip Moyer Award.

Additionally, Tom Marhevko from National Marine Manufacturers Association was acknowledged for his contributions to the ABYC Technical Board. Augusto “Kiko” Villalon received an Industry Icon Award and an Honorary Past Chairperson Award.