Marine Industries Association of South Florida Names Industry Veteran George Irvine as the 2006 Golden Anchor Award Recipient; Three Other Industry Partners Receive 2006 Anchor Awards of Excellence.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) has honored industry veteran George Irvine of Pipewelders Marine with the 2006 Golden Anchor Award. This prestigious award, which recognizes an individual for a lifetime of achievement and extra ordinary accomplishment benefiting the marine industry, was presented to the honoree at the MIASF Annual Awards Gala held Saturday, June 3rd, at the Design Center of the Americas in Dania Beach. Industry partners John Ziegler of the Waterfront News, Shary Patton of ASA Promotions, and the Management and Staff of Yachting Promotions, Inc. were also honored with Awards of Excellence at the Gala for their contributions to the marine industry in the past year.

George Irvine began his career in the marine industry when he started a marine and recreational division at the Owens Corning Fiberglass Company in New York in the late 1950's. He then joined the Hatteras Yacht Company and helped to produce the first fiberglass yachts and eventually became the company's Executive Vice President. Later George became President of the Chris Craft Corporation, for which he created a whole new line of boats and built an innovative two-piece mold for the 74 motoryacht, which was the biggest mold of its kind at that time. Since 1977, when he purchased Pipewelders, George Irvine has been instrumental in shaping the South Florida marine industry with the formation and acquisition of leading businesses such as High Seas Technology, Hurricane Harbor (now Billfish Marina), and P&R Canvas.

In presenting the Golden Anchor Award on behalf of the Association, MIASF Board Member Wes Dickman from HMY Yacht Sales said, "In addition to all of George's accomplishments in the industry, I consider him an honorable person and a great friend. It is the honesty and integrity that I have always recognized in George that makes him deserving of this year's Golden Anchor Award."

John Ziegler of the Waterfront News received an Award of Excellence for his unbiased and faithful coverage of industry news such as the loss of waterfront property, water access concerns and the Boat Facility Siting Plan and Association events such as the Annual Marine Summit, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Waterway Cleanup and Plywood Regatta. "John consistently publishes fair, balanced, comprehensive information that helps to strengthen the voice of the marine industry and the MIASF in the South Florida community," said MIASF Executive Director Frank Herhold, who presented the award.

Shary Patton of ASA Promotions was named an Award of Excellence winner for extensive volunteer involvement in important MIASF events. Shary has volunteered on the Waterway Cleanup Committee for over ten years and was appointed as the committee co-chair of the Association's Plywood Regatta, a kids' boat building competition, after seven years of involvement with the event. "Shary's dedicated volunteerism involvement and her positive outlook on life make her a strong ambassador for the MIASF and the marine industry as a whole," Herhold said.

Andrew Doole accepted an Award of Excellence on behalf of the Management and Staff of Yachting Promotions, Inc. In 2005, Hurricane Wilma directly hit and did severe damage to most of Fort Lauderdale, including to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. In less than a week, Yachting Promotions was able to set up and manage the event, thereby ultimately becoming an important part of helping the marine industry, the city of Fort Lauderdale and all of South Florida regain a sense of normalcy and get back on course.

"Each of these individuals has positively impacted the marine industry in a unique way and helped contribute to the continued success of both the industry and the MIASF," said Herhold. "It is an honor to recognize these individuals and their accomplishments."

The MIASF is a not-for-profit trade organization created to promote and protect the sound growth of the marine industry in South Florida for the benefit and education of its members, the community and the environment. The Association has over 800 members in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and is the owner of the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show as well as the founder of the Annual Waterway Cleanup.

For more information about or high resolution pictures of the Golden Anchor Award Recipient, Awards of Excellence Recipients or the MIASF Annual Awards Gala, contact MIASF Public Relations and Event Coordinators Melanie Daily or Carlen Singmaster at [phone].