NATIONAL MARINE PROPELLER ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION WRAPS
The just concluded National Marine Propeller Association (NMPA) Annual Convention wrapped up a successful two-days of what attendees hailed as the right mix of high value educational sessions, product and service trade exhibits, great business-to-business networking, and fun. Currently in its 23rd year, the event held in Las Vegas, Nevada from October 22 – 24 saw more than 100 attendees from across the U.S., Canada, Bahamas, Australia, and the United Kingdom gather for the NMPA’s major annual event.
David De Witt, president of the NMPA and product/program manager for Mercury Propellers, in his remarks to the members at the Convention said, “This year our goal was revitalization, but still with a strong focus on the mission of the NMPA. This year the Board of Directors brought in Gordon Connell and his team as our association management company to spearhead the changes and we welcome him to NMPA and to the Convention. Thank you as members and exhibitors for noticing the changes we are making and for your continued support. We are committed to revitalization and growing the NMPA!”
The Annual Board of Director Elections held during the NMPA Annual Meeting on Saturday October 24th saw one change as Stew Foster of Prop Masters in Airdrie, Canada won his bid for the role of Vice President. Association Treasurer Paul Fox of General Propeller Company in Bradenton, Florida won an uncontested reelection to his executive committee seat, while Jimmie Harrison of Frank & Jimmie’s Propeller in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Rick Licare of Rundquist Propeller Tools in Naples, Florida; and Darren Prouty of Precision Propeller Company in Spokane, WA won their bids for reelection to the NMPA Board of Directors.
The 2015 – 2016 NMPA Board of Directors are as follows:
President – David DeWitt, Mercury Propellers, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Vice President – Stew Foster, Prop Masters, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Treasurer – Paul Fox, General Propeller Co., Bradenton, Florida
Secretary – Mike Jones, Coastal Propeller Service, Bridge City, Texas
Board of Directors
Scott Baumann, Baumann Marine, Houston, Texas
Marcus Clements, PowerTech! Propellers, Shreveport, Louisiana
Jimmie Harrison, Frank & Jimmie’s Propeller, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Rick Licare, Rundquist Propeller Tools, Naples, Florida
Gary Linden, Linden Propeller, Dubuque, Iowa
Kevin Mitchell, Michigan Wheel Marine, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Darren Prouty, Precision Propeller Co., Spokane, Washington
The 2015 NMPA Annual Convention featured sessions on topics that ranged from highly technical propeller repair presentations, to propeller shop business and operations management presentations, to new product and prototype tool presentations. According to first time Convention attendee and speaker Christopher Karentz of S-E-A Limited, “Meeting the members was most enjoyable and the program was very good in all regards. Even though I have a solid understanding of propellers and the dynamics associated with this topic, as an ‘outsider’ to the organization, I was very impressed with the professional attitude, the desire to raise the standards of workmanship, and the sharing of knowledge that the group as a whole demonstrated and were eager to pass on to me and to each other.”
Sponsors and exhibitors at this year’s Convention included Mercury Propellers/Quicksilver Propellers, Acme Propellers, Clubine Manufacturing, Linden Propeller Prop Press 360, Michigan Wheel Marine, Miller’s Island Propellers, Pesco Inc., Phoenix Abrasives, PowerTech! Propeller, R.S. Hughes Industrial Suppliers (3M), Rundquist Propeller Tools, Solas Science & Engineering, Turning Point Propellers, Yamaha Motor Corp./Precision Propeller, Dynamics Research Corp., Western Branch Metals, and ZF Marine. Next year’s convention will take place November 10-12, 2016, at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About NMPA
NMPA is a not-for-profit marine trade association with member companies engaged in the business of propeller repair, or providing products and services to the propeller repair industry. Founded in 1992, the association promotes professionalism through training and certification, fosters growth through business development via events such as its Annual Convention, and generally represents the business interests of its members.
