New Board Of Directors Members Elected For The American Sportfishing
Association
by
Janet Tennyson
June 25, 2004—Six new members of the American Sportfishing
Association’s Board of Directors for next year were recently elected
to fill three At-Large seats and three Regional seats, with
their terms beginning October 1, 2004. The Board includes 16-21
members who serve 2-year terms.
At-Large seats went to Dave Burkhardt
with Triple Fish International; Peter Foley with Boone Bait
Company, who was reelected for a second term; and Jeff Pontius
with Zebco. Tom
Fote with Jersey Coast Anglers Association was elected to
represent the Northeast Region, Randy Lemcke was reelected to a second
term representing the Great Lakes region, and Geoff Ratte with Water
Gremlin Company was reelected to represent the Northern Plains and Inter-Mountain
Region.
“These new members to the Board of Directors complement
an already impressive pool of talent and perspective for
guiding the activities of the sportfishing industry’s trade association,” said
Mike Nussman, President & CEO
of the American Sportfishing Association. “We’re fortunate
to have these strong leaders step up to serve the interests of the whole industry.”
In
addition to continuing to help improve the ICAST trade show, Dave
Burkhardt, President of Triple Fish International, is especially interested
in working with state and federal natural resource managers to ensure fishing
license and excise tax dollars improve fishing access and fisheries conservation.
Peter Foley, President of Boone Bait Company, would
like to continue his role in maintaining a fiscally responsible trade
association. He
is also interested in helping to improve the ICAST trade show and working with
the Government Affairs Committee to help keep our fisheries resources healthy.
Jeff Pontius is President of Zebco and current Chairman
of the Board of Directors for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. He
plans to help both organizations coordinate, complement, and reinforce efforts
to increase fishing participation.
Tom Fote is Legislative Chairman of the Jersey Coast
Anglers Association. He aims to bring his perspective from years of involvement
with sportsmen’s clubs to expand collaboration among recreational
anglers, state and federal fisheries agencies, and the recreational
fishing industry
Randy Lemcke, Vice President of Plano’s Outdoor
Products Division, wishes to help the association establish a solid
core of integrity, fiscal responsibility, vision, and representation
for a larger, more active membership base that will keep the sportfishing
industry strong and viable.
Geoff Ratte, Sales Manager with Water Gremlin Company,
has been especially involved with the Government Affairs and Trade
and Commerce committees. He would like to continue to help
the association become stronger, more solvent, and better organized
to address the challenges the industry faces.
The Board of Directors
represents the American Sportfishing Association’s
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.
Current members of the Board of
Directors are Jerry Calengor, Normark/Rapala Corporation (Chairman);
David Pfeiffer, Shimano American Corporation (Vice Chairman); Burt
Steinberg, American Rod and Gun (Past Chairman); Randy Lemcke, Plano
Molding Company (Secretary); Peter Foley, Boone Bait Company (Treasurer);
Fred Neal, Cabela’s (At-Large member of the Executive Committee);
Tom Bennett, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies;
Thomas Dammrich, National Marine Manufacturers Association; Ed Dinkins,
Bass Pro Shops; Clem Dippel, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society/ESPN; John
Jilling, Wright & McGill Company; Bert Kaplan,
Kaplan Associates; Jim Lebson, G. Loomis; Dick Pool, Pro-Troll; Chip
Powell, Mason Tackle Company; Geoff Ratte, Water Gremlin Company; Blair
Wickstrom, Florida Sportsman Magazine;
and Gary Zurn, Big Rock Sports.
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.
