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CHICAGO (July 24, 2011) – The Grow Boating Board of Directors has elected new officers to serve for the 2011-2012 term.  Joe Lewis, president of Mt. Dora Boating Center in Mt. Dora, Fla., was elected Chairman, replacing D. Scott Deal, president and CEO of Maverick Boat Company.

The following Grow Boating Board members will serve as officers during the 2011-2012 term:
Chairman: Joe Lewis – President, Mt. Dora Boating Center
Vice Chairman: Marcia Kull – Vice President, Volvo Penta of the Americas
Secretary: David Witty – Vice President of Operational Excellence, Marine Max
Treasurer: Bill Watters – President, Syntec Industries
 
Officers will serve one-year terms but may be reelected after their terms expire.

“The newly-elected officers represent all segments of our industry with a united goal—to grow boating,” says past chairman Deal. “Since the Board’s inception in 2005, we have led this industry-wide initiative with a firm commitment to building interest and participation in boating that will ultimately lead to increases in boating related sales and services.”

In addition to the four officers, Carl Blackwell, chief marketing officer for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), was elected president of Grow Boating, Inc. and Phil Keeter, president of the Marine Retailers Association of America (MRAA), was elected vice president.
 
The Grow Boating Board of Directors is comprised of:
Boat Manufacturer Representatives: John Dorton, MasterCraft Boat Company; D. Scott Deal, Maverick Boat Co., Inc.; Maurice Bowen, Tracker Marine, LLC; Jeff Behan, Bayliner Boats.
 
Engine Manufacturer Representatives: Larry Vandiver, Suzuki Motor Corp., American; Mike Shedivy, Mercury Marine; Chuck Thurman, Pleasurecraft Marine Engines; Marcia Kull, Volvo Penta of the Americas; Ben Speciale, Yamaha Group.
 
Dealer Representatives: Joe Lewis, Mt. Dora Boating Center, Mt. Dora, Fla.; Rod Malone, Sail & Ski Centers, Austin, Texas; David Witty, Marine Max, Clearwater, Fla.
 
Accessory Manufacturer Representatives: Bill Watters, Syntec Industries; Michele Goldsmith, Mastervolt Inc.
 
Discover Boating Canada Representative: Scott MacCrimmon, Ed Huck Marine Ltd, Rockport ON 
 
Newly-elected Board chairman Lewis notes, “Given the challenging economic environment we have faced in recent years, the Grow Boating Board of Directors looks forward to continuing to reignite Discover Boating and returning to a unified, consistent and long-term effort to drive more consumers to dealers and manufacturers around the country.”
 
Discover Boating launched a new U.S. and Canadian campaign in May, titled Welcome to the Water, to tap current boat owners to help engage new boaters. The campaign aims to increase traffic to DiscoverBoating.com and DiscoverBoating.ca to increase the quality and quantity of prospects for manufacturers and dealers to grow sales of boating-related products and services.

About Grow Boating
The Grow Boating Initiative is an integrated effort among organizations with an interest in the recreational marine industry to promote the boating lifestyle and improve the boating experience. Comprised of a strategic set of programs focusing on all areas of boating including the national Discover Boating marketing campaign; dealer and product certification; and, research, the Grow Boating Initiative is designed to increase participation in boating and improve sales of marine products and services.  For more information, visit GrowBoating.org.