Cronk and his partner, Gary Rogers, purchased Dreyer's in 1977 from Kenneth Cook, a long-time Dreyer's employee. At that time, Dreyer's was generating annual sales of $6 million while operating exclusively in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dreyer's has expanded its distribution throughout the United States and annual revenues now exceed $2 billion.

Active with many civic and business organizations, Mr. Cronk dedicates much of his free time to the Boy Scouts of America. He completed his term as National President (2006-08) and will continue serving on the Boy Scouts' National Executive Board. Currently, he is the Chairman of the World Scout Committee, the executive body responsible for a 28 million member Scout movement in 170 countries. He is also past Chairman of the World Scout Foundation (2005-07) and will continue serving on the WSF Board.

Cronk is also focused upon dramatically reforming California's K-12 public school education system, to provide educational opportunities to all youth, particularly the disadvantaged.

Mr. Cronk received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Haas Business School at the University of California at Berkeley in 1965. Additionally, he participated in the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1983. Since 1986, he has been a member of the Haas Business School Advisory Board, serving two terms as chairman, and is also a member of the John Muir Health Board (2009).

Honors and awards include the Bay Area Council, Business Hall of Fame Award (2005); the East Bay Leadership Foundation, Citizen of the Year Award (2002); the Junior Achievement of the Bay Area, Inc., Spirit of Achievement Award (1994); and the University of California, Haas School of Business Alumnus of the Year (1993).

The father of three sons, Mr. Cronk lives with his wife Janet in Lafayette, California.

 

Dolan, Chris, Marina Design Engineer
Eaton Corporation - Marina Power & Lighting
149 Warwick Ct.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757.258.6327 fax 757.258.8805
ChristopherLDolan@eaton.com
www.marinapower.com
Chris has worked in the marina industry since May of 2000 after receiving his undergraduate degree from the College of William in Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Beginning in 2000, Chris worked for Marina Power & Lighting as the inside sales and marketing manager. In 2002, he took over as Marina Power & Lighting's design manager overseeing all complimentary marina electrical design work. In 2006, Eaton Corporation acquired Marina Power & Lighting as Chris moved into his current role of Marina Design Engineer. Chris currently overseas approximately 600 marina and RV park designs per year. His duties include the oversight of all turnkey design work, product training sessions, and design work presentations. Chris is currently on the editorial advisor board for Marina DockAge magazine, and holds close ties to the Marina Association of Texas and the Marina Recreation Association. Chris and his wife, Carrie, currently reside in Williamsburg, Virginia.

 

Francis, Alex, Owner
ALX Technology
1919 Clement Ave.
Alameda, CA 94501
510.995.8925
Alex.francis@alxtechnology.com
Alex was born in California and has travelled extensively, spending 8 of his first16 years in South America because my father was involved in the oil exploration industry. He graduated from high school and completed most of his college in California before being invited to join the armed forces during Vietnam, where he served in the Air Force as an instructor of electronics and aviation systems.

After some additional college Alex went to work for General Electric working in the Apollo space program in Houston. He returned to California to work on Air Force satellite systems, followed by numerous projects in Silicon Valley.

Alex spent most of his time developing and managing technical projects and eventually went out on his own as a technical consultant and project manager. He is the founder and owner of ALX Technology, a company that manufactures and sells Access Control (key-less entry) and Wireless products designed for the outdoor environment.

Over the past 30 years Alex has been involved with security issues at many levels and has been focusing on security for marinas, ports and harbors since 1999.

Alex is a pilot, boater and a member of MRA since 2000.

 

Han, Michael
Water Resorts Inc.
22300 Jones Valley Marina Drive
Redding, CA 96003
530.275.7959 fax 530.275.8260
mike@houseboats.com

Michael Han is Vice President of WRI and General Manager overseeing WRI's three marinas on Shasta Lake: Jones Valley, Sugarloaf and Lakeview Resorts. He first started with the Company in 1979 at its Tower Park Marina. He rejoined the Company when WRI purchased Jones Valley in 1989. Since then, he has been responsible for supervising all Shasta Lake Resorts LP operations, including regulatory matters, procurement and design of new vessels and expansion of the business on Shasta Lake. Michael has been instrumental in the design and development of all the marinas on Shasta and their innovative luxury rental houseboat operations. He has acquired specialized training in marina engineering, environmental protection, hazardous waste management, water quality control, customer service and human resources.

Michael had over ten years of boating experience prior to joining WRI, having started in the industry with the operation of his own commercial fishing vessel out of San Francisco Bay. From 1979 to 1982 he worked for Tower Park, and from 1982 to 1989 he pursued yacht sales and sales management in the California Delta, Bay Area, and San Diego where he was consistently the top producer for his dealership.

Michael attended Sonoma State College. He is a licensed California Yacht and Ship Broker, Fire and Casualty Insurance agent, and DMV agent. He is a board member of the Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, co-founder and past-president of the Shasta Lake Business Owners Association, and past regional vice president of the Marina Recreation Association.

Michael is an avid boater, outdoorsman and fisherman. He has coached various high school sports teams over the years. He currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Catholic schools in Northern California. He and his wife of 23 years, Christina, have a son and a daughter. Christina manages the retail stores, human resources and marketing for Shasta Lake Resorts LP.

 

Hayes, Jim, Vice President, Operations
Almar Management Inc.
3001 Peninsula Road
Oxnard, CA 93035
805.985.5003 fax 866.204.7086
jhayes@almar.com
Jim has been with Almar since 1998. Prior to Almar he spent more than 15 years in the hotel/resort business working for companies like Westin and Le Meridian Hotels. The customer services experience gained from the hospitality industry has helped a great deal in understanding how the marina industry should evolve. Almar operates marinas through-out California and Hawaii. Almar is the largest operator of marinas on the West Coast with more than 30 years of experience in developing, constructing and operating marinas.

 

Holmes, Mark D., Esq.
Law Offices Of Mark D. Holmes, APC
2801 West Coast Highway, Suite 210
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.645.0450 fax 949.645.0451
mark@mdholmeslaw.com
www.mdholmeslaw.com
Mark was born in 1960 and raised in Illinois before moving to California in the early 1970's. He obtained an undergraduate degree in English from Cal State University- Sacramento in 1981, and received the Top Twenty Senior Award at graduation.

Mark conducted one year of graduate study in English Literature, and taught for a year at Johannes Gutenberg Universitaet in Mainz, Germany. He then worked as a manager for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service in Germany for four years, during which time he earned a Masters of Science in Business Administration from Boston University.

Mark graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1991 and has focused for the past fifteen years on maritime, business, employment, real estate and maritime litigation and transactions. He has been trial counsel on numerous large products liability, breach of contract and negligence cases at both summary judgment and trial.

Mark is corporate counsel to numerous marine companies, including marinas and yards, vessel repair and service companies, boat dealerships, boat and yacht manufacturers, yacht brokers and boat rental companies. Mark also serves as General Counsel to the Marina Recreation Association.

 

Kourtakis, Christopher, Digital Communications Director
360° Industry Solutions
313.444.2202 fax (586.463.1916
chris@360industrysolutions.com
www.360industrysolutions.com
For the past 15 years, Christopher Kourtakis has been working with marine businesses to improve their sales, marketing and customer service strategies. Chris has also worked with various corporations such as Brunswick, J.D Power and Associates, and the NMMA during his career in the recreational industry.

Chris currently owns and operates one of the Great Lakes' premier charter boat companies and on-water training courses, H2O Limos. H2O Limos has been recognized nationally for their commitment to boating safety.

In addition to H2O Limos, Chris is the Digital Communications Director for 360° Industry Solutions, where he specializes in developing on-line marketing strategies through the use of social and digital media for small to medium sized businesses.

Chris holds an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and a Masters in Business Administration from Tiffin University.

 

Ketchum, Kevin, Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Properties
Principal, California Yacht Marina
P.O. Box 9036
Torrance, CA 90508
310.534.8436 fax 310.534.8670
rkketchum@californiayachtmarina.com
Mr. Ketchum is responsible for strategic planning, analysis and implementation associated with the acquisition, development, and management of a real estate portfolio which includes marina, self-storage, industrial, office and retail properties. California Yacht Marina owns and operates six Southern California marinas with over 2,000 slips located in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties.

 

Krauss, William, Legislative Advocate
The Apex Group
980 Ninth Street, Suite 1580
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.444.9601 fax 916.444.7841
wkrauss@theapexgroup.net
William Krauss, a principal of The Apex Group, is a governmental advocate specializing in issues involving the State Legislature, as well as various state regulatory agencies.

Mr. Krauss began his political career as a Field Representative for Senator Tim Leslie. In that capacity he served as the Senator's advisor on a variety of issues affecting his district with an emphasis on water policy matters. After leaving the Senator's office, Mr. Krauss went into business for himself, founding a political consulting firm specializing in issues surrounding the charter school movement. In addition, Mr. Krauss served as a political consultant and campaign manager on a state legislative race.

After several years in politics, Mr. Krauss took a position in the business sector as a manager with a large manufacturing company. His experience in the manufacturing industry has given him an invaluable understanding of the intricacies of business and the impact public policies have on the economy.

Mr. Krauss returned to political activity by accepting a position with The Apex Group, where he serves as the lead advocate on several clients, including The Association of Settlement Companies, Turlock Irrigation District, Lennox International, all of the firm's recreation-industry clients, and shares responsibility on several other clients of the firm.

Mr. Krauss graduated cum laude from California State University, Sacramento, with a bachelor's degree in Government and a minor in Communications Studies.

 

Leathers, Tim, Regional Vice President
Almar Management, Inc.
tleathers@almar.com
Tim and his wife Linda took off sailing in 1997 and completed the Baja Ha Ha, a race from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Shortly upon arrival in Cabo, Linda was hired by Almar to be the co-manager of Marina Cabo San Lucas. Four years later Tim and Linda became co-managers of Cabrillo Isle Marina in San Diego, another Almar Marina. During that time he became active in the formation of the Regional Clean Marina Program. Since that time the program has grown into a State wide program and beyond. Tim is currently serving on the Clean Marinas board as President and continues working on the expansion of the program in working with up to date Best Management Practices while providing a link between the Marina Industry and Government Agencies to provide the best educational program that helps to improve the waters in which we recreate. Tim has recently accepted a position to join his wife Linda as co-manager of Ballena Isle Marina in Alameda.

All of their children and grand children reside in Northern California with the exception of one son who is on active duty with the US Navy.

 

Levy, Larry, Owner
Employee Relations Management Consultant
458 San Marin Drive
Novato, CA 94945
415.892.1497  fax 415.892.6596
larrylevy@earthlink.net
Larry is an Employee Relations Management Consultant, Mediator and Trainer in Marin County. He has been in private practice for over 19 years and focuses on helping marinas and harbors who are periodically confronted with problems with employees. In a nutshell, he is the on-call H.R. manager to the marina industry. Further, he also assists corporate H.R. Managers when they request an outside consultant to conduct an investigation or present specialized seminars.

Larry specializes in solving problems with managers and employees, mediating conflicts, counseling personally troubled and often non-productive employees; writing employee handbooks and personnel manuals; investigating complaints of sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination; responding to wage and hour questions; interpreting and applying the various state and federal leaves of absence; answering inquires about Workers Compensation, State Disability, Unemployment Insurance and the Americans With Disabilities Act; recruiting hard to find job candidates; and conducting specialized training. He has been retained as an expert witness at sexual harassment trials and mediations involving suspected wage and hour violations.

Larry has completed an exhaustive and thorough program to become an employment mediator. He is now skilled to mediate disputes within your marina to achieve a mutually beneficial resolution.

Prior to opening his practice Larry spent 15 years in a corporate environment preceded by 9 years as a Marin County Adult Probation Officer. He has completed all the graduate work toward a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and he attends 10-12 labor law seminars each year.

Larry is active with the Marin Builders Association, Novato Chamber of Commerce, Business Executives Association of Marin, Sonoma County Executives Association, National Association for Remodelers in Industry, Redwood Empire Remodelers Association, and the Marin Bookkeepers Network. He is the current Vocational Director for the Rotary Club of Ignacio and a former Board of Director with the North Bay Children's Center.

 

McMahon, Shaun, General Manager
Shelter Cove Marina
2240 Shelter Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
619.224.2471 fax 619.224.9117
scmmarina@aol.com
Twenty year ago, in 1990, Shaun McMahon took the helm, as General Manager at Shelter Cove Marina in San Diego's America's Cup Harbor. Shelter Cove has been thriving ever since as one of the most sought after marinas around. Shaun's background is in accounting and finance, having completed her undergraduate work at SDSU and obtaining her MBA from the University of Phoenix. While at SDSU, she served as president of the alumni's Women in Business Association.

While working in the marina industry, Shaun has involved herself with several committees and organizations focusing on issues of environmental pollution and regulations that affect the recreational boating community. From 1998-2000, she served on the San Diego Oceans Foundations Board. Currently, Shaun is spending a great deal of her extracurricular time as the San Diego Regional Certification and Review Coordinator for the California Clean Marinas program. Thanks to Shaun and her colleagues at the CMC program, more than 80 marinas in the state have been certified and marinas are calling daily to schedule reviews. This program is vital to the protection of the natural environment necessary for a healthy recreational boating industry. The program is completely voluntary, and plays an integral role in avoiding costly, cumbersome regulation that might otherwise prove to be a stranglehold on this industry.

Shaun has also ably served on the Marina Recreation Association Board of Directors for the last eight years and is currently Treasurer. When she isn't juggling all of these professional responsibilities, she is a devoted and doting mom, residing in Chula Vista with her eight-year-old, Ryan.

 

Nimoy, Leonard
Leonard Nimoy's success in the "Star Trek" series gained him world wide recognition. Debuting in 1966, Nimoy's character, Mr. Spock, became an icon. His portrayal of the Vulcan earned him three Emmy nominations. He became a successful movie director with "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" , "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home", "The Good Mother", starring Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson and the blockbuster hit "Three Men and a Baby", Credits on stage include "Camelot", "Sherlock Holmes", "The Man in the Glass Booth", "Twelfth Night", "Oliver", and "Fiddler on the Roof". In "Vincent", his one-man play about Vincent Van Gogh, Nimoy toured the United States. The play was broadcast on the A & E Network. On Broadway, Nimoy has starred in "Equus" and "Full Circle". On television he appeared in "A Woman Called Golda", opposite Ingrid Bergman. In "Never Forget" he portrayed a survivor who fought a successful court battle against Holocaust deniers.

Nimoy's fine art photography is in galleries, museums and private collections. His photographic essay on the subject of the feminine presence of God is in publication under the title "SHEKHINA". His photo essay on body image is titled "The Full Body Project". His latest work, "Secret Selves" just opened at Mass MOCA in July, 2010

Nimoy is the holder of a Masters Degree in Education, an Honorary Master of fine Arts and four Honorary Doctorates.

 

Pfeifer, Eric, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing
Marine Travelift, Inc.
49 E Yew Street
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
920.743.6202 fax 920.743.1522
sales@marinetravelift.com
Erich Pfeifer is the vice president of business development and marketing for Marine Travelift Inc. in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The company's founder conceptualized and manufactured the world's first mobile boat hoist in 1945; officially established nine years later, Marine Travelift has a long-standing reputation as a marine industry leader and is recognized for its tradition of excellence on a global scale. The company manufacturers a full line of mobile boat hoists, self propelled transporters, marine forklifts and other related marine lifting products. It also has an extensive U.S. and international dealer network, with more than 3,500 units in service worldwide.

Erich is responsible for all of Marine Travelift's marine, industrial and government sales results, and he oversees all marketing efforts and activities. He began his career as an engineer with Mercury Marine; in 2004, he joined Marine Travelift as a sales manager and quickly worked his way through the ranks. He was appointed manager of the Americas in 2006 and promoted to director of the Americas and director of marketing in 2009. In addition, Erich has earned the Marine Travelift President's Award of Excellence. In 2008, he delivered the first order for a 1,000-ton mobile boat hoist - the largest in the world.

Erich is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recently married, he makes his home in Sturgeon Bay, where he enjoys year-round life in one of the country's top vacation destinations - Wisconsin's spectacular Door County.

 

Sherwood, Bob, Marina Designer & Project Engineer
Moffatt & Nichol
3780 Kilroy Airport Way, Suite 600
Long Beach, CA 90806
562.426.9551 fax 562.424.7489
rsherwood@moffattnichol.com
Bob is an engineer with Moffatt Nichol in Long Beach, CA. He serves as both Project Manager and Project Engineer on both Design/Bid/Build projects and Design-Build projects involving public and private marinas, boat ramps, boatyards, dredging, and other similar waterfront construction. His responsibilities have included above and below water inspections of marinas, master planning facilities, permitting support, and overseeing projects from design through construction. Current projects include the Cabrillo Way and Alamitos Bay Marinas in Long Beach, CA.

Bob is currently the President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the ASCE Coasts, Ports, Oceans and Rivers Institute and his interests include anything around the water: sailing, diving, and most recently kite-boarding.

 

Short, Randy, President & CEO
Almar Management Inc.
3001 Peninsula Road
Oxnard, CA 93035
805.984.3738  fax 805.984.0370
rshort@almar.com
Randy is the President/CEO and a principle with Almar Management Inc. and Almar Marinas. He has designed, developed, constructed and managed marinas of all sizes both domestically and internationally for more than twenty years. The many projects include the renowned Marina Cabo San Lucas in Mexico and the beautiful Ko Olina Marina in Hawaii just to name a few. He is a past president of MRA and many other professional organizations.

 

Sloop, Rob, Senior Coastal and Waterfront Project Manager
Moffatt & Nichol, Engineers
3780 Kilroy Airport Way, Suite 600
Long Beach, CA 90806
562.426.9551 fax 562.424.7489
rsloop@moffattnichol.com

Rob is a Senior Coastal and Waterfront Project Manager with Moffatt Nichol in Long Beach, CA. He has served as both Project Manager and Project Engineer on a wide range of US and international based projects involving public and private marinas, boat ramps, cruise ship wharves, dredging, navigation improvements and harbor design. His responsibilities include water quality modeling, underwater inspection, permit support, design, construction drawings and specification preparation, and construction support. Several of his projects have been located in remote locations in developing countries and required innovative solutions to develop design criteria and construction solutions without the use of typical construction means and materials.

 

Tinghitella, John, Founder
Humble Confidence Inc.
19 Flynn Court
Pine Bush, NY 12566
845.313.7747
johntinghitella@gmail.com
humbleconfidence.com
John is the founder of Humble Confidence Inc., a business training consultancy that focuses on Team Communication, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Growth Management. He is an engaging, inspiring, energetic speaker who delivers change-inducing messages that make a major impact on his audience. Through humor, "Tips from the Trenches" and real-world examples, John helps attendees identify their communication weaknesses and provides proven techniques to help managers reach their professional goals.

John is a self-described "sales guy". His career started in PR, Advertising and Marketing Support where he managed communication programs for both internal and external audiences. It was there that he gained his passion for the customer and moved into Sales Management, first running an OEM division of a major supplier to the marine/RV markets. John was instrumental in building a single brand 5M business into an 82M, multi division, best-in-class supplier. He has a strong sense for the creative solution with a keen focus on building relationships.

John was instrumental in leading numerous merger and acquisition activities throughout his career. John learned his trade in the "trenches". He believes that while battles are directed from 30,000 feet, they are won in the trenches. His Tips from the Trenches series is a family of articles that offer up simple, easy-to-implement ideas for businesses of all sizes. He is currently consulting for clients in manufacturing, internet marketing, logistics services and sales representation.

His most recent corporate position was Vice President, Sales/Marketing for The Marinco Electrical Group. Marinco is known as the leading supplier of electrical products to numerous niche markets including marine, RV, mobility, construction and entertainment.

He is a graduate of Oneonta State University where he received an Honors Degree in Speech Communication, with a concentration in journalism. John has also participated in an Executive Extension program at the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley.

 

Wahlert, Lance , CFM Business Development Manager-West Region, 3M Occupational Health & Environmental Safety
3M Occupational Health & Environmental Safety
3M Center Building 0235-02-W-70
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000
800.982.3839 fax 651.732.7137
email: lwahlert@mmm.com
Prior to his current position, Lance was the 3M Safety Representative in Los Angeles, CA for two years, delivering Safety Solutions to the Refinery, Agriculture and Manufacturing Industries.

 

Weiss, Philip E., Counselor-at-Law
Brodsky, Micklow, Bull & Weiss
2608 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 202
San Diego, CA 92106
619.225.8884 fax 619.225.8801
email: shiplaw@earthlink.net
Philip E. Weiss, Esq. was graduated cum laude by San Francisco State University, where he earned degrees in Political Science and Philosophy. After four years of service in the U.S. Navy, Weiss earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.F. Maritime Law Journal, a leading academic periodical. Weiss is a respected author and speaker on maritime law issues, and has, for 17 of his 20 years of practice, successfully represented hundreds of marina, boatyard and other clients in a broad array of maritime issues, including those involving "necessaries" liens, trespassing/abandoned vessels, vessel arrests, wharfage and other maritime contracts, oil pollution, allisions/other maritime torts, and negotiations with holders of competing liens. For the past decade Mr. Weiss has served (and he currently serves) as an Adjunct Professor of Maritime Law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he teaches a "survey" class. He is also a non-voting member of the San Diego Harbor Safety Committee. Mr. Weiss currently sits by appointment of the California Bar Association as the Chairman of the Commission on Specialization of Admiralty and Maritime Law, which has established standards for formal certification of attorneys practicing in this area of the law.