Kuck and Bertram enter NMMA’s Hall of Fame
Posthumous inductions highlight IBEX ceremony; 11 companies take home Innovation Awards
By Beth Rosenberg / Staff Writer
b.rosenberg@tradeonlytoday.com
Contributions to the boating business were recognized at the 18th annual International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference Oct. 6-8 in Miami
Beach, along with awards for product
innovation.
Regal Marine Industries’ founder
Paul Kuck and Bertram Yacht Co.
founder Richard Bertram were
posthumously inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Asssocia-tion’s Hall of Fame, the organization’s
highest honor.
Kuck founded his business in 1969
and grew it into one of the world’s
largest privately held boat manufacturers. Regal boats are sold by more
than 150 dealers and distributors in
40 countries. Kuck, a former NMMA
chairman, also was dedicated to his
faith and believed in leading with
values.
“Dad loved this industry and what he
loved most about [it] was the relationships,” his son Duane Kuck said, accepting the award on his father’s behalf. Duane Kuck, now president and
CEO of the company, said his father always told him, “Don’t compromise
your values, work hard [with] integrity
and never give up.”
Bertram, an avid sailor who raced
around the world, founded his company nearly 50 years ago. Already an established yacht broker, Bertram built a line
of seminal deep-vee powerboats in the
early 1960s, and his designs set the industry standard for years to come. His
company was acquired by the Ferretti
Group in 1998.
“He lived life large; he lived a storied
life,” said Mike Myers, the company’s
current president, who accepted the
award on his behalf.
to “enhance remedies for violations of
intellectual property laws.” The measure was sent to the president for his
signature Oct. 2.
Blackburn has been an active member of NMMA, and has served on the association’s board of directors and its
Accessory Manufacturers Division
board of directors.
In accepting the honor, Blackburn
talked about the movie “Master and
Commander,” and used its lessons as an
example of good leadership.
The word impossible is heard a lot
these days, he said, but a good leader
inspires others to press on to fix problems, convinces others that success is
attainable, never abandon’s his desire
to achieve his mission, and makes difficult decisions when necessary.
“The courage to do the impossible lies
in the hearts of true leaders,” he said.
Innovation Awards
A record 11 manufacturers received
honors for innovation from the NMMA
and Boating Writers International. A
total of 68 new products were entered
in the competition.
Products are judged on innovative
distinction from other products, benefit to the industry and/or consumer,
cost effectiveness and practicality.
They must be available to the con-
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Freedman Award
David Blackburn, president and
CEO of Faria Marine Instruments, received the Alan J. Freedman Memorial Leadership Award, given annually
to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the marine
accessory industry.
Blackburn has been in the industry
for nearly 30 years, all of it with Faria.
He joined the company in 1980 as manager of the industrial engineering department, and for the last 16 years he
has headed up the Uncasville, Conn.-based operation.
In addition to his work at Faria, Blackburn has been an outspoken advocate
of blocking the use of counterfeit materials in manufacturing. He led the industry’s charge for the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act, and
was invited to witness the signing of
the bill in 2006.
He continues to support the issue,
and helped win passage of a Senate bill
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