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Dr. Clarissa Anderson |
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Shelly Anghera, PhD Shelly has more than 20 years of experience conducting field and laboratory studies related to eco-toxicology and water and sediment quality characterization. Her expertise centers on field study design, water and sediment testing and analysis, implementation strategies for dredged material management, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) compliance, and application of California’s Sediment Quality Objectives (SQOs). She has supported the City of Newport Beach, City of Long Beach, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Port of Los Angeles, and Port of Long Beach in the development of unique water quality compliance strategies. Education |
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Captain Timothy J. Barelli Captain Timothy J. Barelli assumed command of Coast Guard Sector San Diego in June 2019. As Sector Commander and Captain of the Port of San Diego, California, he is the senior Coast Guard Officer in the Southwest region of the United States. He is responsible for leading maritime operations to ensure the safety, security, law enforcement, and environmental protection from the U.S. – Mexico Maritime Border northward to Dana Point, CA, and east to the Colorado River, and inland navigable lakes of Arizona and southern areas of Utah and Nevada. |
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Beau Biller With nearly 30 years of experience in state and federal government, Mr. Biller spent the last 20 years working in the transportation arena. He ran the California Trucking Association’s (CTA) Government Affairs/Public Relations operation from 1997-2004 and, upon joining Platinum in 2004, is the lead lobbyist for the world’s largest trucking company – United Parcel Service (UPS), as well as the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Biller’s interface with state government allows him access to staff and appointees from the Governor’s Cabinet level transportation leads all the way down to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) where he advocated for the CTA on diesel toxic air contaminant regulations that would have subjected diesel users to Proposition 65. Mr. Biller acts as the lead lobbyists for numerous clients with transportation interests, ranging from Design-Build and Performance-Based Infrastructure (formerly Public Private Partnerships) to highways/local streets and roads and High-Speed Rail. In 1990 he served United States Senator Pete Wilson in the Defense and Foreign Affairs Department. Once Senator Wilson won election as California’s Governor, Beau returned to his home state and began working for Assemblyman Bill Filante (R-Marin). In 1992, Beau served as Legislative Staff and Committee Consultant for the Minority Ways and Means Committee specializing in budget appropriations. In 1995, Biller served as Committee Consultant for the Chairman of the Banking and Finance Committee. In addition, Beau served as campaign manager for the successful Assembly and Senate Campaigns for Bruce McPherson (Assembly 1994 and Senate 1996). Beau then joined the California Trucking Association in 1997 as Director of Legislative Affairs and in-house Lobbyist. Beau specialized in goods movement issues and helped re-write the commercial weight fee law, saving the industry hundreds of millions of dollars. Beau received a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, San Diego. |
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Jim Blaze Mr. Blaze, a 6th generation Californian and lifelong boat owner/enthusiast, joined Freedom Boat Club in 2020 as a Franchise Development Manager, working with existing club locations as well as finding new operators and marinas to partner with in the western US/Canada. Previously, he worked at Polaris Industries in a wide variety of roles from regional manager for the west, to launching their commercial business, and most recently as a Business Development Manager helping grow their network of distribution channels and consumer experience locations in the US/Canada. Jim is excited to grow the recreational boating industry and champion an increased level of diverse participants who have never experienced the boating lifestyle.
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Jamie Clark Jamie Clark grew up around Chris-Crafts and smallmouth bass on Minnesota lakes, but for thirty years has lived in the Los Angeles area, where he adjusted to the ocean by buying a 33" cabin cruiser, a 1973 Coronet from Denmark, and helping the local club, Pierpont Bay Yacht Club (PBYC.org) run sail races. He is a past commodore of PBYC and the Association of Santa Barbara Channel Yacht Clubs, and a director of Recreational Boaters of California (rboc.org). PBYC's home is in the Ventura Isle Marina, where they happily collaborate with local management (Safe Harbor Marinas) on promoting boating. When he is not on the water, Jamie is an Internet lawyer (https://twitter.com/jamiexml). |
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B. Otis Felder Otis Felder has substantial trial and appellate experience in state and federal court, and has represented various London Market insurers in a variety of coverage disputes. From his role as a partner in a firm specializing in representing the cruise industry, Otis accepted a position managing litigation as in-house counsel for Princess Cruise and Cunard, focusing on crew and passenger cases. He acted as a 24-7 resource for legal advice to all departments, including ongoing ship operations in a variety of legal jurisdictions. He later was engaged as general counsel for a company forming various theme cruises involving commercial transactions in promoting well-known national brands. Otis also served as a Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney, successfully prosecuting hundreds of criminal violations, from arraignment through jury trial. He clerked for the Honorable Wallace Douglass in the San Francisco Superior Court, Criminal Division while in law school, and subsequently took a year’s sabbatical to volunteer to try cases, achieving a 98 percent conviction rate. In addition to advocating on behalf of crime victims, Otis volunteered to train cadets with the Los Angeles Police Department at the Ahmanson Recruiting Center in testifying for various court proceedings. He also volunteered with the Valor Citation Clinics for Veterans program, most recently at the Midnight Mission. Otis works with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in supporting its Threat Interdiction Unit (TIU) team in the annual Baker to Vegas relay. Otis represents various cruise lines, vessel operators and owners as defense counsel in a wide range of assignments. His understanding of the costs of overseeing and managing claims has helped clients significantly reduce litigation expenses through engaging claimants in alternative dispute resolution. He also defends other matters involving marine employers, tugboat companies, commercial trucking, stevedores, commercial fishing vessel owners, and ports and terminals. Otis has given presentations on a variety of marine environmental issues and other topics, including as a guest lecturer at the Udayana University in Bali, Indonesia. He has spoken on employee disputes, marine safety and security, and given updates on marine legal developments at venues such as the ABA Annual Convention, the Lloyd’s Maritime Academy in London, and the NPR radio show “Your Legal Rights,” KALW 91.7 FM. |
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Bryce Fisher Bryce Fisher joined Bellingham Marine in 2016 as a member of the company’s sales team. His focus is on helping clients navigate marina and commercial dock construction projects. Bryce’s expertise is in permitting support, feasibility analysis, market development, evaluation of site-specific design criteria, engineering management and project coordination. Bryce’s regional territory includes California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Baja California and the west coast of Mexico. Bryce has a long history in the marine industry. His 20 plus year career includes marina management, marine construction, and the development and sale of custom products to major boat manufacturers. He also holds a USCG 100-Ton Master Near Coastal Captain License. |
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Barbara Galgiani Barbara, a native of Wisconsin, has more than 25 years of insurance industry experience. She began her marine insurance career with an agency specializing in recreational business operations. She later expanded her knowledge and experience focusing on commercial marine-related risks. Prior to joining LP Insurance in 2018, Barbara led CAPAX Marine Providers, a subsidiary of the CAPAX Companies. Currently, she utilizes her extensive knowledge in marine exposures to support her clients through insurance solutions and risk mitigation. She is experienced in both Jones Act (maritime crew) and US Longshore and Harbor Workers exposures. Barbara is known for her ability to look at operations from a variety of different perspectives to offer both insurance and non-insurance solutions to her clients. Barbara is committed to the highest level of expertise possessing several professional designations including: CPCU (Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter), CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor), CRM (Certified Risk Manager) and CWCA (Certified Work Comp Advisor). She is an active member of the community and is dedicated to supporting the ongoing operations of the Hospice of San Joaquin which is committed to providing end of life care to the terminally ill and their family members. |
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Alexander (Sasha) Gershunov Sasha’s research focuses on interrelated aspects of weather, climate and society. His professional interests include understanding the links between regional weather extremes and large-scale climate variability and change, long-range climate prediction, the atmospheric water cycle, precipitation and drought, heat waves, cold snaps, marine layer clouds, atmospheric rivers, Santa Ana winds, extreme weather and climate impacts on wildfire, energy, ecosystems, water resources and public health, climate influence on society and human influence on climate. Sasha received formal education at the University of California (UC). He holds a BS in mathematics from UC Irvine, MS in applied probability and statistics and PhD in geography, both at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB). Sasha is affiliated with, NOAA’s California and Nevada Climate Applications Program (CNAP), Department of the Interior’s Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SWCASC), and with the Center for Water and Weather Extremes (CW3E) at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, all focused on regionally-relevant climate research with benefit to society ranging from education to resource management. He leads the Weather Extremes, Climate, and Impacts Analytics (WECLIMA) research group. Sasha has authored over 90 peer-reviewed research articles in professional journals and various other documents for decision makers and the public. He enjoys working with colleagues and friends across borders and disciplines. |
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ALAN GIN, Ph.D. Alan Gin is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Diego. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and his Master’s of Arts and Ph.D. degrees, both in Economics, from the University of California at Santa Barbara. His work experience includes stints with the Community Development Department of the County of Fresno and the Public Works Department of the City of Oxnard. Professor Gin came to the University of San Diego (USD) in 1988, after having previous taught at Loyola Marymount University and the University of California at Santa Barbara. He has taught undergraduate courses in Principles of Economics, Statistics, Intermediate Microeconomics, Urban Economics, Public Finance, Environmental Economics, Industrial Organization, Managerial Economics, and the Economic Development of Asia. Graduate-level courses taught include Statistics, Quantitative Methods, Managerial Economics, the Business Environment of Asia, and Doing Business with China. In 2001, he was awarded the USD Parents' Association Award of Excellence after being nominated by one of his students. He was voted "Professor of the Year" by the graduate business students at USD for the 2002 - 2003 academic year. Professor Gin is one of the faculty members in the USD School of Business Economic Research Center. His research interests include local public finance, urban transportation, and the economy of San Diego. On the latter subject, he is best known for developing and publishing the University of San Diego’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators for San Diego County, a monthly report on the outlook for the local economy. Professor Gin’s insights on the local economy have made him a popular source for interviews, and he has given over 1,000 interviews to local and national media sources. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, the San Diego Union-Tribune, and other publications. He has also been interviewed by numerous radio and television stations, including KPBS, Univision, and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). For his work on forecasting the local economy, he has been named to the San Diego Business Journal's "Who's Who" list. |
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Shelley Griffin Shelley is the Director of Marina Operations at the Bay Club Hotel and Marina and has been there since 2006. She has been very actively involved in the marina industry regarding regulatory, legislative, and environmental issues. In 2011 and 2020, she was elected President of the San Diego Dockmaster’s Group. She was also elected to the Board of Directors for the Marine Recreation Association in 2012 and 2020 and currently sits on the MRA Board. She is also an active member of The Port of San Diego’s TMDL stakeholders committee, The San Diego Port Tenants Association’s (SDPTA) Environmental Advisory Committee, the SDPTA’s Marina Recreation Group, and she works very closely with the Port of San Diego on legal and environmental issues. Prior to her 15 years in the marina industry Shelley lived on her 34’ sailboat and was in the comedy business for 15 years. She was the Vice President of Operations at the World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood and the General Manager at several Improvs around the country training new incoming GM’s. Shelley focuses on making her marina the most desirable marina in San Diego by creating a strong sense of community and offering superb customer service along with an extremely well-maintained marina. She has worked closely with maritime attorneys and marine insurance agents to create the most impenetrable marina wharfage contract on the west coast. After discovering over the years, the many unknown loopholes vendors try to use to avoid proper insurance coverage while leaving marinas at risk, she partnered with Doug K. Smith maritime insurance agents (along with ongoing guidance from the State of California and a maritime attorney) in 2020 to provide insurance training seminars up and down the west coast for marina management. |
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Becca Gross Becca Gross is the current Assistant Marina Manager at Cabrillo Way Marina in San Pedro, CA. With her degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism from San Francisco State University, she has spent the past 6 years developing her career in the marina industry. Beginning with a Maritime Internship with the Port of San Francisco in the commercial fishing harbor at Fisherman’s Wharf/Hyde Street Harbor, she has continued to gain experience in a variety of Bay Area Marinas. In both public and private sectors, her experience ranges from commercial fishing harbors, recreational marinas, and dockominiums. She has a passion for environmental stewardship, and marine biology, and has helped introduce a number of green initiatives in throughout her career. She is a current Director and Lead Reviewer for the Clean Marine organization, and a Director for the California Association of Harbormasters and Port Captains. |
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Bill Gross Bill Gross was named General Manager of The Lodge at Torrey Pines on March 31, 2014. He joined Evans Hotels in 2006 as Director of Food and Beverage at the Lodge and was promoted to Hotel Manager in 2009. Gross, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology form Emory University (GA), spent 18 years with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts prior to working at Evans Hotels. He started at the Sheraton Tucson El Conquistador Resort and was promoted through various disciplines within F&B at several properties. Then in 1999, under the Starwood umbrella, he opened the Westin La Cantera as Director of F&B. A Certified Meeting Professional, Gross relocated to Southern California in 2001 and worked with Interstate Hotels and Resorts as Lead Director of F&B for the Independent/Luxury Division and simultaneously as Director of F&B at the Laguna Cliffs Resort in Dana Point. Gross has a Yield Management Certificate from San Diego State University’s L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is an avid cyclist and a supporter of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Pedal the Cause, which benefits cancer research. |
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Jim Hayes 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. Almar operates marinas though 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. |
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Callie Hoyt Callie Hoyt joined the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) as Director of Federal Government Relations in February 2018. In here role at NMMA she represents the marine industry and broader recreational boating community at the federal level on the most salient issues facing the recreation economy including infrastructure, recreation access, climate sustainability, business environment, and fuel policy. She has more than 10 years of experience in conceptualizing and developing impactful policies, and delivering issue-based advocacy campaigns Previously, Callie managed policy and government affairs for the Motorcycle Industry Council, where she coordinated the organization’s policy agenda on a wide range of issues, including infrastructure, transportation, public lands access, and fuel policy. Callie came to the recreation space from the transportation sector, previously working at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America advocating for advanced adaptation of smart surface transportation solutions in federal transportation policy. She also worked at the Trucking Alliance, a Washington, D.C. based coalition of freight transportation and logistics companies, serving as the organization’s principal point of contact for stakeholders and policymakers, and managing the development and implementation of the organization’s policy agenda dedicated to improving the safety and security of commercial truck drivers and the American motoric public. Callie grew up in Fairfax, Virginia and has a B.A. in History with a Minor in Art History from George Mason University, where she played Division I lacrosse. As an undergrad, she served as an intern in the offices of then-U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (WY-00) and former Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman John Mica (FL-07). Callie and her family spend most of the boating season in Washington, D.C. out on the Potomac River and are passionate about the boating lifestyle. |
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Gary Jones Mr. Jones was appointed Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors (DBH) in 2014. With a staff of over 300 employees, DBH maintains 19 beaches across of 24 miles of the County’s coastline and manages Marina del Rey Harbor. |
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Kevin Ketchum 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, and office and retail properties. California Yacht Marina owns and operates five Southern California marinas with 2,000 slips located in San Diego and Los Angeles counties. Kevin is also a past president of the MRA. Member of California Boater Card Technical Advisory Group. |
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Andrea K. Lueker Andrea has worked for Port San Luis Harbor District as Harbor Manager for the past six years as well as taught at California Polytechnic State University both finance and grant writing classes, as an adjunct professor. Prior to that she spent two years as the Executive Director of a newly formed, non-profit organization that is instrumental in securing historic fishing privileges to the Central Coast of California the Morro Bay Community Quota Fund. Andrea began her career with the City of Morro Bay, spending 27 years with that city, including 7 years as City Manager. |
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Steve Meckfessel Steve holds an MBA from U.C. Berkeley. He is a CPA, a licensed general contractor and real estate broker. In 1980, Steve started as a project controller for Vintage Properties, a mixed use real estate development firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He became an operating partner with Vintage in 1987 in its Marina Village development in Alameda. In 1992, Steve formed his own development/management/investment firm, SRM Associates, which grew to become one of the most active development firms in the Bay Area. SRM developed or redeveloped over 4 million square feet of commercial office and R&D buildings. SRM also became a leader in the green building field. SRM’s projects included the $300mm University Circle office project in E. Palo Alto, the Ascend/Lucent and Zhone campuses in Alameda and Oakland, Pixar campus in Emeryville and the Peets Coffee and VF/Outdoor campuses in Alameda. SRM’s projects have won numerous design and industry awards. Steve is a frequent lecturer at the Haas Graduate School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley. In addition to his commercial real estate holdings, and the marina, Steve also has vineyard investments in Lodi, California. |
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Malcolm Morgan Malcolm Morgan is a marine electrician with over 40 years experience in marine electrical, corrosion control, and shock hazard mitigation. He offers corrosion testing services, and electrical inspections for boatyards, harbor facilities, and boatowners. He also offers seminars and lectures on Marine Corrosion & Shock Hazards for marina managers, yacht clubs, surveyors, and marine professionals. Malcolm offers clear, easy to understand explanations of the often – misunderstood topics of corrosion, shock hazards, and potential liability for Harbormasters and Marina Managers. His long career in the boating industry includes affiliations with ABYC, NFPA, as well as NAMS and SAMS surveyor associations. His client list includes nearly every harbor and boatyard in the SF Bay Area, the US Coast Guard, several America’s Cup campaigns, and many State and Federal agencies. He is a licensed yacht salesman with the State of California. |
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Robert Newsome Robert Newsome is the Senior Vice President of Operations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), responsible for the development and implementation of organizational operations and strategy to support the recreational marine industry, overall membership activities, the Marine Industry Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) program, and product certification (NMMA Certified) programs for boats, yachts, PWC and boat trailers. Robert serves on the Board of Directors of the National Safe Boating Council and the Technical Board of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), and represents the marine industry in standards development and technical issues through numerous technical committees of ABYC, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Robert has authored and presented on numerous industry, safety and technical topics prevalent to today’s recreational marine industry and boater safety, and additionally serves as a spokesperson for the Discover Boating program. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame. Robert is an avid power boater, fisherman and a life-long sailor on Lake Michigan and the lakes of the Midwest.
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Matthew Oakley Matt brought his extensive mechanical and construction knowledge and experience to the Harbor Police Department in 2012. Through hard work, dedication to the department, and his commitment to professionalism he excelled in his patrol assignments and quickly obtained the respect of his peers and those he serves. Matt holds the rank of Corporal and represents the department as a Dive Team member, a Field Training Officer (FTO), vessel instructor, instructor at the Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center (MLETC) in Long Beach, and lead instructor on the Fire Team. Through these responsibilities and experience leading a 140-hour Fire School, Matt set himself apart as the departments subject matter expert in Marine Firefighting. Matt was selected as the Harbor Police Training Coordinator in 2019. In this assignment his responsibilities include facilitating and providing ongoing department-wide training, ensuring successful completion of recruits in the regional police academy, and building and maintaining relationships with our regional partners. In his free time Matt enjoys recreation boating, recreation off-roading, metal fabrication, construction, and spending time with his family and friends. Matt’s service-focused attitude is often displayed in that he is always helping friends with their projects and passions. In fact, Matt is often seen as the “go-to” guy for anyone looking for help. |
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James R. Oberg Jim has been in the Marine Insurance discipline for (18) eighteen years, and has been involved with boating and vessel ownership for over (40) years. His extensive experience involves working on yachts as a shipwright, working as a deckhand on yachts, delivering boats from Northern California to Southern California, and deliveries from Florida and Mexico to California. Jim was the operator of a successful Commercial Swordfishing boat as well. Born and raised in the community of Point Loma, in San Diego. Prior to the Marine Insurance Industry, Jim was a Program Manager in the Aerospace Industry for over (21) years. Jim continues to compete in One Design Sailing events in the Starboat Class, and Pacific Class (PC) with his wife and children. Annually Jim and family make the trip to Catalina and the other Channel Islands to continue the boating experience. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University. |
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Freya Olsen Freya Olsen is the Director of Industry Relations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association. In her role, Freya oversees the funding, member engagement and stakeholder ROI of Discover Boating and travels to various events to help educate marine industry groups and stakeholders on the strategic vision and marketing tactics of the Discover Boating campaign. Additionally, Freya serves on the Board of Directors of Sail America. A life-long sailor and power boater, Freya comes from a family of sailors, including her grandfather who started Olsen Marine Products where he built the Annapolis 30, in 1960. She grew up on the west coast of Florida, spending countless hours sailing, power boating and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, while spending summers doing the same on a small lake in northern Michigan. Freya coached youth sailing in Optimist Prams and 420’s at Lake Forest Sailing during her summers in college. She graduated from Lake Forest College in 2002 with a BS in Communications and was Captain of the LFC Sailing Team. Outside of work, Freya volunteers at Lurie Children’s Hospital where she has spent the last 19 years providing play-time support to terminally ill children and their families. She resides in Chicago a few blocks from Lake Michigan and spends her free time sailing, power boating and cycling on the lakefront. |
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Kate Pearson Ms. Pearson, an Australian native and bluewater sailor, joined Safe Harbor Marinas in 2015 as Regional Vice President for the west coast region, charged with the onboarding of operational initiatives across the western portfolio. Before this, she managed Shelter Island Marina, San Diego’s largest superyacht facility, and was the Vice President of Business Development for Knight & Carver Maritime, the west’s premier superyacht refit yard. Currently, Ms. Pearson is in the Business Development role for the company, focusing on acquisitions and opportunities for growth and expansion. A proponent for the greater boating industry, she is the Chairman of the Superyacht Association, sits on the Marine Recreation Association board, and advises various counties and cities on maritime operations. |
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Geoff Raymore A 25-year industry veteran, Geoff has held multiple leadership positions within West Marine. In his current role as Vice President of West Marine Pro, he embraces a customer centric culture. He believes cross-functional partnerships motivate results and influence change to both company operations and end-user experiences. From his early youth, Geoff’s passion for boating originated in the suburbs of Chicago sailing on Lake Michigan and mentoring youth sailors. He and his family are active members of their local sailing communities and active racers throughout the US. When he is not racing sailboats or mountain biking, he enjoys fishing and cruising with his wife and daughter. |
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Scott Robertson Scott is the CEO/President of Emerald Cove Marina, Inc., the sole concessionaire on Bullards Bar Reservoir in Northern California. Emerald Cove Marina has 70 private houseboats moorages and 80 slips for smaller boats. They rent houseboats and small boats in addition to marketing and booking the 105 campgrounds. Scott was a founding partner of Robertson, Woodford & Summers, LLP - a CPA firm located in Grass Valley, California. He is the President of Nevada County Broadcasters, Inc - a FM/AM radio combination located in Grass Valley, California. Scott lives in Nevada City, California, with his wife of 40 years. He has three grown children. |
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Ken Seipel Ken has over 35 years of retail experience serving 8 years in the role of CEO. His background includes experience in public, Fortune 100 retail companies as well as private equity backed ownership companies. His passions are delivering an exceptional value to customers, optimizing business performance, and creating a culture of growth and development for employees. He has a strong track record of developing competitive strategies, enhancing the customer value proposition, implementing efficiency opportunities, and accelerating growth in sales, profit, and cash flow. Ken joined West Marine in December 2018 as CEO and co-investor. Since then, the company has refocused on serving the core boaters, establishing a strong infrastructure and is now positioned for growth and expansion with the partnership of L.Catterton. Highlights so far include: Prior, Ken served as CEO and co-investor of Gabriel Brothers Inc. AKA "Gabe's". Under Ken's leadership the company; re-branded, defined "white space" product value proposition, integrated operational improvements and improved the customer experience through remodels and digital shopping tools. Following profit growth of 3X, the company completed a transaction to strategic sponsor. In addition to Gabe’s, Ken has successfully optimized two privately held retail companies and more than doubled profit during his engagement. Ken’s early days were on a farm in the Midwest prior to taking a job with JCPenney as a stock clerk and janitor where he rose to senior buying and store roles before joining Target. As a senior level leader during the 90’s, he led the development of their Supercenter concept. Ken then served as the EVP of Operations for Gap Inc.’s, Old Navy Specialty store. During that time, revenues grew from $1B to $7B and the brand developed into the value specialty brand known today. Ken holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. |
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Robert Smith An experienced safety professional with a diverse background across manufacturing operations, management, business development, regulatory compliance, employee training and development, and marine and boatyard safety, Robert brings valuable skills to any organization looking to enhance their safety compliance programs. His familiarity with OSHA regulations coupled with a results-oriented approach to safety program management makes him not only a strong executive director for Fisher Phillips Safety Solutions, but an active participant in our clients' success. |
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Travis W. Vance Travis counsels employers and owners on all aspects of employment law and the development of preventive policies and procedures to avoid employment and workplace safety and OSHA related claims. Travis handles litigation in both federal and state courts and claims pending with state and federal agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor. Travis has represented clients in numerous matters pending in either state or federal courts in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. He has also assisted clients in OSHA matters pending in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Travis is "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and was selected as one of the Legal Elite by Virginia Business Magazine in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Travis is a frequent lecturer at seminars on safety and OSHA related topics. He also speaks frequently at Rotary International events concerning the growth of membership within that civic organization. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte, an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Rockingham County, Virginia, and serves as the Membership Chair of Rotary District 7680. He also serves on the board of directors for the Blue Ridge Safety Association, a trade group for safety professionals. In 2014, Travis was honored as one of the "10 Under 40" by The Daily News Record in Harrisonburg, VA. Each year the publication honors 10 rising business stars under the age of 40 in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia area. |
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Michael G. Wales, Esq. Michael Wales graduated from the Sandra Day O’Conner School of Law at Arizona State University in 1991 and has been practicing law in California for almost 30 years. Mike is a former prosecutor, former judge, and trial lawyer who assists his clients, both locally and nationally, with all things maritime-related. Mike’s office is located at Sunroad Resort Marina on Harbor Island Drive, in San Diego, California. Mike is a frequent author and speaker on topics of interest to recreational boaters, marina owners, yacht clubs, maritime service vendors, yacht brokers, and others in the maritime industry. Mike resides in Coronado with his wife Leilani. They are both avid boaters and are active members of the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, San Diego Sail and Power Squadron, and California Yacht Brokers Association. Mike also holds multiple American Sailing Association Certifications. Mike also owns AGL Yacht Sales, Inc., a San Diego yacht brokerage, with his wife Leilani Wales, a Certified Professional Yacht Broker. |
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Philip E. Weiss, Esq. After four years of service in the U.S. Navy and receiving an Honorable Discharge, Philip E. Weiss was graduated cum laude by San Francisco State University, where he earned degrees in Political Science and Philosophy. He thereafter earned a Juris Doctorate at the University of San Francisco, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.F. Maritime Law Journal, a leading academic periodical. After law school he founded and served for five years as Editor-in-Chief of The Maritime Law Practitioner, which provided to law libraries and maritime lawyers (nationally and internationally) a monthly summary of developments in maritime law distributed. Mr. Weiss is a respected author and speaker on maritime law issues, and has served at trials as a maritime law expert. He has, for 28 of his 30 years of practice, successfully represented hundreds of marina, boatyard, banks, municipalities, Port Districts and other clients in connection with a broad array of maritime issues, including those involving maritime “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 10 years Mr. Weiss has served as an Adjunct Professor of Maritime Law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he periodically taught a “survey” class. He also serves as a voting member of the San Diego Harbor Safety Committee. Between 2008 and 2010 Mr. Weiss sat by appointment of the California Bar Association as the Chairman of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Advisory Commission, which established the examination and standards for formal certification as a Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law. During these years he also served as a voting member of the California Bar Association’s Board of Legal Specialization, which certified him as a Certified Specialist in Admiralty and Maritime Law. |
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Bill Yeargin Bill Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft, a 96-year-old company with global operations. Correct Craft’s subsidiaries include eight boat brands, three engine brands, three water sports parks and an entity devoted solely to innovation. The company has manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and distributes into about 70 countries. Under Bill’s leadership, Correct Craft has developed a unique culture of “Making Life Better.” They have won all their industry’s major awards and were recognized as Florida’s “Manufacturer of the Year.” One publication recognized Correct Craft as the boating industry’s "Most Innovative Company" each of the last two years and another described the company under Bill’s leadership as being “on an aggressive improvement path, the likes of which the marine industry has never seen.” A passionate lifelong learner, Bill has earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and an MBA. He has also completed post-graduate studies at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Villanova University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Bill is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and is certified in both Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and DISC. Bill has served on numerous for-profit and non-profit boards. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Florida Council of 100. Bill served both the Obama and Trump administrations on cabinet-level advisory councils and actively represents both his company and industry on national and state issues. He was also appointed by Florida’s Governor to serve on the board of the University of Central Florida. Bill has been recognized with many of the marine industry’s top awards including Boating Industry's “Mover and Shaker of the Year.” Florida Trend magazine has recognized Bill as one of “Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders” and he is an Orlando Business Journal “CEO of the Year.” Bill was also presented the “Governor’s Business Ambassador Medal” by the Governor of Florida. A prolific writer, Bill has been published hundreds of times and has authored four books including the best seller Education of a CEO: Lessons for Leaders. He has traveled to over 110 countries and is a sought-after conference speaker. |