SEVERNA PARK, MD-The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) is pleased to announce the addition of five new members to its Board of Directors. The new directors succeed retiring members whose three-year terms have expired. NMEA’s board consists of 18 individuals who represent a diverse group of marine electronics dealers and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada.
All the new board members have strong technical backgrounds in marine electronics and advocate an emphasis on technical education and training. NMEA offers its members several technical certifications, including Certified Marine Electronics Technician (CMET), Senior CMET, Marine Electronics Installer (MEI), Advanced MEI, and NMEA 2000®. Additionally, dealerships that comply with a variety of stringent requirements can earn Master Dealer status.
NMEA is pleased to introduce the following new Directors:
New England Regional Director Hugh Lupo is co-owner of New England Marine Electronics in Norwalk, Conn. He is a master electrician and a recognized expert in the field of communications and electronics technology, holding FCC, GMDSS, and GROL licenses. Lupo also instructs all levels of NMEA technical courses.
Dealer Director Mike Spyros is service director at Electronics Unlimited in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In 2000, NMEA named Spyros Technician of the Year. He has taught both NMEA 2000® train-the-trainer and Marine Electronics Installer courses. Spyros has been a senior CMET since 1983.
Northwest Regional Director Steve Wallace has been service manager at Lunde Marine Electronics in Seattle, Wash., since 1991. He was NMEA Technician of the Year in 2009. Wallace is a CMET and staunch advocate of continuing professional training for marine electronics technicians.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Ralph Sponar Jr. represents NMEA on the federal Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Task Force (GMDSS) and is a board member of the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM). He is the retired president of United Radio Service, a Baltimore, Md., marine electronics dealership. Sponar is currently an independent technical adviser to NMEA.
Great Lakes and Gulf Coast Regional Director John Barry owns Technical Marine Support, Inc., in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. He launched the dealership in 2007, focusing on 35- to 65-foot recreational vessels, mostly powerboats. An advocate for education, Barry is serving on NMEA’s Education and Installation Standards Committees.
“We’re delighted to have such a talented group of people join the Board of Directors,” said David Hayden, president and executive director of NMEA. “They bring with them the broad-based expertise and commitment that is necessary to ensure NMEA’s continuing success both in the U.S. and abroad. We have an active agenda going forward to continue improving the boating experience at sea, and involvement and guidance by the Board of Directors are critical in accomplishing that goal.”
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Founded in 1957, the NMEA has led the way in establishing technical standards for data exchange in marine electronics, with the widely accepted NMEA 0183 data protocol, NMEA 2000® and certification standards for marine electronics technicians. NMEA standards and programs focus on insuring that the boating consumer is provided reliable products and professional service. For more information, visit the NMEA website at www.NMEA.org or call (410) 975-9425.
