The Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) has announced its new board of directors for 2018-19. Dean DuToit of National Marine Suppliers and Walter Duke of Walter Duke + Partners have both been re-elected for a term that began on July 1.

Newly-elected members, each serving a two-year term, are Andrew Doole of Informa, Aaron Leatherwood of RMK Merrill-Stevens, and Garnett Byrd of Marquipt Inc.

Bert Fowles of IGY Marinas and Gail Ellis of Land N Sea have both retired from the board.

“We are looking forward to working with our new directors, who join a dynamic team of executive officers and leaders in the marine industry who continue to drive our progress,” says Phil Purcell, MIASF CEO and president, in a statement.

“The MIASF board is critical to the planning of annual events and activities, like the Plywood Regatta, the Broward County Waterway Cleanup, and of course the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, but beyond that they help us protect and promote the marine industry’s regional $11.5bn economic impact and its 136,000 employees,” he adds.

The MIASF also presented its annual Golden Anchor Award to Andrew Cilla of Luke Brown Yachts for his more than 45 years of dedicated experience in the marine industry as both a yacht broker and owner of a major yacht brokerage firm.

Karen Reese, business outreach and FTZ administrator for the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, was a recipient of an Award of Excellence for her diligence in partnering with MIASF to secure the first recreational marine Foreign Trade Zone in the country, as was Bill Walker of the Water Taxi for his community and industry support and sharing his vast knowledge and expertise to educate the next generation.

The member companies that joined MIASF in sponsoring a second home build with Habitat for Humanity Broward were each recognised with a Project of Excellence Award. They are: High Seas Yacht Services, Frank & Jimmie’s Propeller, Ward’s Marine Electric, Advanced Mechanical Enterprises, Maritime Professional Training, and Neptune Boat Lifts.

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