MTA/NJ Elects Board and Celebrates 50 Years

On April 28, the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (MTA/NJ) held its Annual Dinner & Elections at The Lobster Shanty in Point Pleasant Beach and elected its 2022-2023 officers and directors. The event also included a celebration of the Association’s 50th Anniversary and Top Sponsor Awards.

Greg Wright of John B. Wright Insurance Agency will continue the role of president of the Association. George Fuller of George Fuller’s Marine & Machine will remain the first vice president, and Colleen Blake of All Points Marine Services will continue as second vice president. Ed Harrison, III of Baywood Marina remains the treasurer and Raymond Bogan of Sinn, Fitzsimmons, Cantoli, Bogan, West & Steuerman continues as secretary.

Ed McCarthy of McCarthy’s Marine Sales remains on the board as immediate past president. The following directors were re-elected to serve another two-year term: Jerry Bench of Win-Tron Electronics, Aaron Held of Octopus Yachts: Marine Electrical Systems, Brian Houf of MESCO, and Eric Traber of Pier 47 Marina. Tom Micai of Margarita Yacht Sales, Mark Cassidy of Cassidy’s Breton Woods Marina, Karen Gruppuso of Coastal Environmental Consulting, Debbie Mooers of Grassy Sound Marina, and Pat Salinas of Morgan Marina will all continue their terms as directors.

The active past presidents that will continue to serve on the board include Jim Cerruti of Fair Haven Yacht Works, Don Ditzel of Comstock Yacht Sales & Marina, Fred Brueggemann of Statewide Marine Services, Ed Harrison, Jr. of Baywood Marina, Tom Leaming of Leamings Marina, Paul Terzian of Causeway Marine Sales, and Rick Traber of Pier 47 Marina.

The MTA/NJ held its Sponsor of the Year Awards at the Annual Dinner. The MTA/NJ established this award 18 years ago to show its appreciation and to recognize the leading sponsors and supporters of the Association. This year, the MTA/NJ was pleased to be able to award three very deserving and supportive companies. The Top Sponsor of the Year awards went to John B. Wright Insurance Agency, Lockwood Boat Works, and Travelers Ocean Marine Insurance.

The highlight of the evening included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the association. The MTA/NJ is now stronger than ever as a powerful organization that affects real change. In her association update, Melissa Danko, MTA/NJ executive director, highlighted the work of the association over the years including successes such as the reduced boat sales tax, public access, two highly successful boat shows, and the work in helping members navigate through difficult times like the luxury tax, recession, Hurricane Sandy and most recently a pandemic.

The association has worked hard to protect New Jersey’s waterways by ensuring they are clean, safe, and navigable. In addition, it has provided thousands of dollars in scholarships and training dollars to help support and grow the boating industry’s workforce, helped grow the industry by bringing new and younger boaters on the water, created partnerships, and forged valuable relationships with state agencies, legislators, and organizations across the nation.