American Sportfishing Association Elects New Board Of Directors Members
by
Mary Jane Williamson
June 16, 2005—ALEXANDRIA, VA—Seven new members of the
American Sportfishing Association’s Board of Directors were recently
elected to fill three At-Large seats and three Regional seats, with
their terms beginning October 1, 2005. The Board includes 16-21 members
who serve 2-year terms.
At-Large seats went to Clem Dippel, BASS/ESPN Outdoors,
and Gary Zurn, Big Rock Sports, LLC, who
were both reelected, and John Jilling, Wright & McGill Company.
Elections for the three regional seats resulted in four additional members
due to a tie vote in the South Central Region. The Board voted to support
both candidates to serve on the Board. Ed Dinkins, Bass Pro Shops,
and Darrell Lowrance, Lowrance Electronics, Inc.,
will jointly represent the South Central Region. Bob Eakes, Red Drum
Tackle Shop, Inc., will represent the Southeast Region and Jim
Lebson, G. Loomis, Inc., was reelected to represent the West Region.
"We’ve got a great mix of talent, experience and perspective
with the incoming Board members, complementing an already impressive group
of individuals," said Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO. "The
members of the American Sportfishing Association will be well-served by these
dynamic leaders, industry veterans and steadfast advocates for the sportfishing
industry.”
Clem Dippel, advertising director for Fishing Tackle
Retailer magazine and account executive for other BASS/ESPN Outdoors
publications and television, has worked in the sportfishing industry for
43 years. Dippel plans to continue to serve the membership by continuing
to enhance and grow the ICAST trade show and profile ASA programs to the
industry. Gary Zurn, executive vice president, Big Rock
Sports, LLC, is also ASA’s Membership Chairman. Zurn supports the
need for a strong trade association to represent the industry’s best
interests and will work to ensure the growth of the association. John
Jilling has 32 years with Wright & McGill Company, the past
7 as President, and is the association’s Show (ICAST trade show)
Committee chairman. Jilling is especially interested in supporting angler
recruitment efforts on the local, state and national levels.
Ed Dinkins, vice president/general merchandise manager,
Bass Pro Shops, has 30 years experience in a range of industry sectors, including
manufacturing, retail and wholesale sales, and direct marketing. Darrell
Lowrance has been an officer with Lowrance Electronics, Inc. for
over 45 years. Lowrance has been active in the sportfishing industry association
since the 1970s and brings his knowledge and experience with fisheries and
fisheries issues to the Board. Bob Eakes, owner, The Red
Drum Tackle Shop, Inc., is an independent retailer in North Carolina. He
wants to ensure fishing access and be a voice for his segment of the industry. Jim
Lebson, regional sales manager/legal affairs, G. Loomis, will continue
to serve on the Board where he seeks to engage dealers in the association
and foster relationships with the fly fishing industry among other objectives.
The Board of Directors represents the American Sportfishing Association’s
more than 600 members. The Board sets priorities and develops strategies
to address the business interests of the industry and advance fishing
participation and fisheries conservation. The Board also oversees the
association’s
revenues, investments and spending.
The 2005 members of the Board of Directors are: David Pfeiffer, Shimano
American Corporation (Chairman); Randy Lemcke, Plano Molding Company (Vice
Chairman); Jerry Calengor, Normark/Rapala (Immediate Past Chairman); Gary
Zurn, Big Rock Sports, LLC (Secretary); Peter Foley, Boone Bait Company (Treasurer);
Blair Wickstrom, Florida Sportsman Magazine, (At-large); Fred Neal,
Cabela’s; Jeff Pontius, Zebco; John Cooper, International Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Thomas Dammrich, National Marine Manufacturers
Association; Ed Dinkins, Bass Pro Shops; Clem Dippel BASS/ESPN Outdoors;
J. David Burkhardt, Triple Fish International, LLC; Jim Lebson, G. Loomis;
Dick Pool, Pro-Troll; Geoff Ratte, Water Gremlin Company; Tom Fote, Jersey
Coast Anglers Association; and Bert Kaplan, Kaplan Associates (Ex-officio).
The American Sportfishing Association is the sportfishing
industry’s trade association, uniting more than 600 members of the
sportfishing and boating industries with state fish and wildlife
agencies, federal land and water management agencies, conservation
organizations, angler advocacy groups, and outdoor journalists. The American
Sportfishing Association safeguards and promotes the enduring social, economic
and conservation values of sportfishing.
