Management, Moves & Promotions

Helen Lewis of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away January 30. She was 74. Helen was considered by many to be a true pioneer of South Florida’s marine industry. Together with her husband, Joe, and their business partner Bobby Laborde, she made Jerry’s Marine Service into one of the most successful marine engine and parts distributors in the U.S. Throughout her 40+ years in the business, Lewis was known as a loyal friend and a sharp business woman–she served as the first female president of the Marine Industry Association of South Florida in 1982 and received the Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year award in 1992 from the Marine Retailers Association of America. She is survived by her husband, their four sons, a daughter-in law, and a grandson.

Bertram Yacht of Miami, Florida, part of the Ferretti Group, has appointed Mike Myers as its new president and COO. Myers will report directly to Giovanni Vacchi, executive chairman and CEO. Previously serving as president of Boston Whaler and Brunswick’s Saltwater Boat Group Division, Myers has 20 years of experience in the marine industry.

Sparkman and Stephens has announced the resignation of long-time employee Greg Matzat. He had served the firm for 19 years, most recently as president and chief naval architect. Matzat leaves to pursue other opportunities and S&S wishes him well. Bruce Johnson, chief designer since 1998, heads the design department.

In other S&S news, Yacht broker Tom Maynard will head the company’s new office in Newport, Rhode Island, which recently celebrated its grand opening. Maynard brings more than 30 years of experience in the marine industry to his new post. The Newport office is the company’s third, along with New York City and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Grady-White Boats of Greenville, North Carolina, recently did some reorganization. Senior Vice President Doug Gomes becomes senior advisor of market development, working outside the plant on location in the marketplace. Director of Sales and Marketing Joey Weller has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing.

Bray Yacht Design and Research Ltd. of White Rock, BC, Canada, has announced that Patrick J. Bray won first Place in the Salon Nautico International de Barcelona/Madrid Diseno de Yates Awards, Conceptual Category for Technical Innovation and Yacht Design at the Barcelona International Boat Show in November 2007. Bray’s winning design is the long-range trawler Trekker 75. 

Writers and yacht designers Jay Coyle and Dudley Dawson join Southern Boating magazine of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as contributing editors. They produce a unique humorous column exclusive to Southern Boating called “Port and Starboard” in which they debate marine-related questions both technical and absurd.

U-Line Corp. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has promoted Mark Russell to vice president of sales and marketing. He previously served as the company’s vice president of marketing.

Patrick C. Mackey, 61, will retire from Brunswick Corporation of Lake Forest, Illinois. He currently serves as president of the Mercury Marine Group, chief operating officer of Brunswick’s Marine businesses and a Brunswick executive vice president. President of Mercury Marine outboard engines, Mark Schwabero, and Kevin S. Grodzki, president of Mercury MerCruiser, will continue to lead their respective businesses, reporting to Brunswick chairman and CEO Dustan E. McCoy.

Key Recreation Lending, a division of Cleveland, Ohio-based KeyBank NA, has hired Bill Thompson as its national manufacturer manager. Thompson has more than 16 years in the marine and banking industries. He will manage a national sales team that, “works with manufacturers to develop and implement customized commercial and retail programs.”

Interlux of Union, New Jersey, has made some recent hires. Kevin Kyle, previously with Vita Plate Distribution, will be based in Ohio serving Interlux customers in the Midwest, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. Jay Smida joins Interlux as a technical service representative providing support for retail and trade customers. Bruno Breton, previously with Interlux Yacht Finishes in France, will be based in St. Maarten as the technical sales representative for the Caribbean.
The marine industry has lost a friend with the passing of Don Springer in early January.

According to friends, Don was a true Southern gentleman who was nicknamed “Cornbread” because of his Southern drawl and gentlemanly demeanor. A 35-year employee, of Interlux and one of its first sales reps in Florida, he was known for his determination, kindness, great sense of humor, and engaging storytelling. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Bonnie, and children Lindsey and Donald III.

Luhrs Marine Group of St. Augustine, Florida, has filled top sales and marketing positions with in-house appointments. Mike Usina, vice president, sales and marketing for Silverton Marine Corporation–a subsidiary of Luhrs Marine Group–leaves his post to become Vice-President, Sales & Marketing for the Luhrs Corporation. Brett Marshall, Silverton Marine’s national sales manager, has been promoted to director, sales and marketing.

Natalie M. Jenkins has been named the marketing manager for Regulator Marine of Edenton, North Carolina. Jenkins, a three-year Regulator employee, has been promoted from human resources to this newly-created position.