Marine Marketers of America (MMA) announces the appointment of Thad Kubis as vice president, and Courtney Chalmers, Josh Chiles, Kristen Frohnhoefer, Gaspare Marturano and Josephine Tucci as board members.
Kubis has been a board member of MMA for two years and was appointed to fulfill a position previously held by Eric Macklin of Dufour Yachts. Kubis is president of NAK Integrated, a company that specializes in bringing together traditional and emerging technologies to help firms better engage their prospects and customers. He is also an adjunct professor at the New York City College of Technology and a corporate trainer for the Direct Marketing Association. In addition to MMA, he is a board member of the Graphic Arts Scholarship Foundation and the Print Council, and writes widely for trade publications. Kubis heads up the MMA’s webinar series launched in 2011.
Chalmers is director of marketing for Dominion Marine Media. She is responsible for developing marketing strategies and launching innovative new products to help brokers, dealers and builders improve efficiencies, increase revenue and deliver results to boat buyers globally through online marketing techniques. Chalmers will co-chair the MMA’s website committee.
Chiles is the CEO and founder of Engaged!, a social media firm specializing in the marine industry. He writes a blog for Boating Industry and produces webinars for the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Discover Boating program. He has been a speaker at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo and a guest on ProBoat Radio. Chiles will co-chair the MMA’s newly organized social media committee.
Frohnhoefer is chief administrative officer for Sea Tow Services International Inc. She is responsible for overseeing all internal operations, including the execution and tracking of all the company’s membership programs and special offers, staff and franchise training, even coordination, marketing, sales and communications, and call center operations. Frohnhoefer will co-chair MMA’s membership committee.
Marturano is a specialist in utilizing the Internet and social media to increase product awareness and generate revenue through online sales. His book, “Socialize With Me (Or Someone Else Will),” is sold at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. He offers his marketing, IT and sales experience to the public as an industry speaker and marketing consultant. His brand, Gaspare.Me specializes in word-of-mouth and Internet marketing. He will co-chair MMA’s social media committee.
Tucci is marketing director for North America at TUI Marine headquarters in Clearwater, Fla. She manages the integrated online and offline marketing programs for The Moorings, Sunsail, Footloose Charters and Le Boat Canalboat Vacations. Originally from the United Kingdom, she formerly worked with Dufour Yachts in France. Tucci will serve on the MMA’s Neptune Awards committee.
Wanda Kenton Smith, president of MMA, said, “We welcome our new leadership team and look forward to their individual and collective contributions. Each brings a fantastic combination of experience, enthusiasm and energy to help our association achieve its mission of promoting the voice of marine marketers within our industry, while providing value-added professional development and educational growth for our membership.”
This new team joins Kenton Smith along with Vice President Michael Sciulla, Secretary/Treasurer Mark Kellum and board members Sally Helme, Cindy Pechous, Greg Proteau and Jim Rhodes.