11-30-2012, 04:10 PM
Orlando, FL-Sea Tow Services International Inc., the nation's leading professional on-water marine assistance provider, presented a full slate of prestigious awards to members of its U.S. Sea Tow franchise network at a festive Awards Banquet capping the 2012 Sea Tow Annual Meeting. The conference was held November 12-15 at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. Sea Tow franchise owners and Captains came from across the country, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to attend the Annual Meeting, which provides invaluable professional training they will take back to their individual locations.
"This year's Sea Tow Annual Meeting, which kicks off our 30th Anniversary Year, was one of our most inspiring meetings ever, bringing our franchisees together to exchange ideas and information that can help each other provide Sea Tow members and other boaters with the highest possible level of professional service," said Sea Tow Founder & CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer. "It also gave us an opportunity to honor many outstanding members of the Sea Tow network for their performance in the past year."
The most coveted of the Sea Tow Awards, "Franchise of the Year", went to Sea Tow Boston for an unprecedented second time. Sea Tow Boston (Mass.), which also won the award in 2004, is co-owned by Captains Dave and Steve Winkler, who were surprised and delighted to be honored once again for their excellent operation and service to members and other boaters in the Boston area in 2012.
Each year, Sea Tow presents an award for "Rookie of the Year" to a new franchisee who makes an outstanding effort in serving both Sea Tow Members and the local community in his or her first year of operation. This year, the award went to Capt. Chris Ward, owner of Sea Tow South Mississippi.
The Georgia Frohnhoefer Award, named for and presented by Sea Tow Executive Vice President Georgia Frohnhoefer, wife of Founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, is given annually to the female member of a Sea Tow franchise who makes the biggest contribution to its daily operations. Karen Schrader, Vice President of Sea Tow Hampton Roads (Va.) received this year's award.
Captain Richard M. Kenin, Chief of Staff, Seventh Coast Guard District (Fla.), was a keynote speaker at the Awards Banquet, thanking Sea Tow Captains and franchise owners for their partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard in aiding rescue operations at sea and promoting boating safety. Captain Kenin and Captain Peter F. Martin, Chief of Search and Rescue (CG-SAR) for the U.S. Coast Guard, joined the Sea Tow Services International executive team in presenting awards to individual Sea Tow Captains for Life Saving Efforts and Efforts Above & Beyond. The honorees all drew on their professional skills and experience to save boaters and/or property and coordinate rescue efforts with other first responders in the past year.
Sea Tow Citations "For Life Saving Efforts" are presented to members of the network whom, while on duty during the past year, have rescued or attempted to rescue any person from drowning, shipwreck or accident in the maritime domaine. The 2012 honorees included:
Sea Tow Central Connecticut Captain Ken Carnes.<br />
Sea Tow Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Captain Greg Mallek<br />
Sea Tow South Shore (Mass.) Captain and Owner, Ethan Maass<br />
Sea Tow Citations for "Efforts Above and Beyond" are awarded to members of the network whom, while on or off-duty, participated in an operational event / incident, including a rescue or community program that brings great credit to the Sea Tow franchise and Network. This year's recipients included:<br />
Sea Tow Clarks Hill Lake (Georgia) Captain Jon Gridley<br />
Sea Tow Cape May (New Jersey) Captain Scott Neeld & Captain and Owner Jack Moran<br />
Sea Tow Central New Jersey Captain and Owner Shawn McWhorter<br />
Sea Tow Fort Myers (Fla.) Captain Paul Dollman<br />
Sea Tow Fort Myers (Fla.) Dispatcher Heather Fabrizzi and Captain Rick Rushman<br />
Sea Tow Miami (Fla.) Captain Fernando Sordo<br />
Captain Martin remarked, "These people are in business, and they immediately put that aside to render assistance in the time-honored tradition of mariners aiding others in distress at sea."
About Sea Tow<br />
Sea Tow Services International Inc. is the nation's leading on-water assistance provider. Established in 1983 by Founder & CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow now serves members in more than 100 locations throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. For a full list of membership benefits, how to become a Sea Tow member, or to inquire about becoming a Sea Tow franchise owner, please visit seatow.com.
In addition to providing peace of mind on the water 24/7 to Sea Tow members and other boaters, Sea Tow also offers innovative, free boating safety and information services to the public, including the Sea Tow App for smartphones, Sea Tow's Automated Radio Check Service, and the nonprofit Sea Tow Foundation's Life Jacket Loaner Station program. For more information, visit www.seatow.com and www.boatingsafety.com.
Media Contact<br />
Louisa Beckett Cindy McCaffery<br />
Turnkey Communications Sea Tow Services<br />
& Public Relations, Inc. International Inc.<br />
(772) 232-6457; (954) 599-9355 (631) 765-3660 x3161<br />
louisa@turnkeywords.com cmmccaffery@seatow.com<br />
www.turnkeywords.com www.seatow.com
"This year's Sea Tow Annual Meeting, which kicks off our 30th Anniversary Year, was one of our most inspiring meetings ever, bringing our franchisees together to exchange ideas and information that can help each other provide Sea Tow members and other boaters with the highest possible level of professional service," said Sea Tow Founder & CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer. "It also gave us an opportunity to honor many outstanding members of the Sea Tow network for their performance in the past year."
The most coveted of the Sea Tow Awards, "Franchise of the Year", went to Sea Tow Boston for an unprecedented second time. Sea Tow Boston (Mass.), which also won the award in 2004, is co-owned by Captains Dave and Steve Winkler, who were surprised and delighted to be honored once again for their excellent operation and service to members and other boaters in the Boston area in 2012.
Each year, Sea Tow presents an award for "Rookie of the Year" to a new franchisee who makes an outstanding effort in serving both Sea Tow Members and the local community in his or her first year of operation. This year, the award went to Capt. Chris Ward, owner of Sea Tow South Mississippi.
The Georgia Frohnhoefer Award, named for and presented by Sea Tow Executive Vice President Georgia Frohnhoefer, wife of Founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, is given annually to the female member of a Sea Tow franchise who makes the biggest contribution to its daily operations. Karen Schrader, Vice President of Sea Tow Hampton Roads (Va.) received this year's award.
Captain Richard M. Kenin, Chief of Staff, Seventh Coast Guard District (Fla.), was a keynote speaker at the Awards Banquet, thanking Sea Tow Captains and franchise owners for their partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard in aiding rescue operations at sea and promoting boating safety. Captain Kenin and Captain Peter F. Martin, Chief of Search and Rescue (CG-SAR) for the U.S. Coast Guard, joined the Sea Tow Services International executive team in presenting awards to individual Sea Tow Captains for Life Saving Efforts and Efforts Above & Beyond. The honorees all drew on their professional skills and experience to save boaters and/or property and coordinate rescue efforts with other first responders in the past year.
Sea Tow Citations "For Life Saving Efforts" are presented to members of the network whom, while on duty during the past year, have rescued or attempted to rescue any person from drowning, shipwreck or accident in the maritime domaine. The 2012 honorees included:
Sea Tow Central Connecticut Captain Ken Carnes.<br />
Sea Tow Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Captain Greg Mallek<br />
Sea Tow South Shore (Mass.) Captain and Owner, Ethan Maass<br />
Sea Tow Citations for "Efforts Above and Beyond" are awarded to members of the network whom, while on or off-duty, participated in an operational event / incident, including a rescue or community program that brings great credit to the Sea Tow franchise and Network. This year's recipients included:<br />
Sea Tow Clarks Hill Lake (Georgia) Captain Jon Gridley<br />
Sea Tow Cape May (New Jersey) Captain Scott Neeld & Captain and Owner Jack Moran<br />
Sea Tow Central New Jersey Captain and Owner Shawn McWhorter<br />
Sea Tow Fort Myers (Fla.) Captain Paul Dollman<br />
Sea Tow Fort Myers (Fla.) Dispatcher Heather Fabrizzi and Captain Rick Rushman<br />
Sea Tow Miami (Fla.) Captain Fernando Sordo<br />
Captain Martin remarked, "These people are in business, and they immediately put that aside to render assistance in the time-honored tradition of mariners aiding others in distress at sea."
About Sea Tow<br />
Sea Tow Services International Inc. is the nation's leading on-water assistance provider. Established in 1983 by Founder & CEO Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow now serves members in more than 100 locations throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. For a full list of membership benefits, how to become a Sea Tow member, or to inquire about becoming a Sea Tow franchise owner, please visit seatow.com.
In addition to providing peace of mind on the water 24/7 to Sea Tow members and other boaters, Sea Tow also offers innovative, free boating safety and information services to the public, including the Sea Tow App for smartphones, Sea Tow's Automated Radio Check Service, and the nonprofit Sea Tow Foundation's Life Jacket Loaner Station program. For more information, visit www.seatow.com and www.boatingsafety.com.
Media Contact<br />
Louisa Beckett Cindy McCaffery<br />
Turnkey Communications Sea Tow Services<br />
& Public Relations, Inc. International Inc.<br />
(772) 232-6457; (954) 599-9355 (631) 765-3660 x3161<br />
louisa@turnkeywords.com cmmccaffery@seatow.com<br />
www.turnkeywords.com www.seatow.com