(SEVERNA PARK, Md.) — The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) has announced that Johnny Lindstrom, a design engineer at Westport Shipyard, will become chairman of the NMEA board of directors effective January 1, 2014. Lindstrom will succeed David Gratton, who is completing a three-year term.
"Johnny will be highly effective in his leadership role as chairman," said Gratton. "He is known for accomplishing in one hour tasks that take some people weeks or months. I know that our timeline for getting things done is going to change dramatically."
"This is an exciting time for the NMEA, and I am honored to be involved in the journey we have embarked on," said Lindstrom. "I feel fortunate to be coming in as chairman at a time when the membership in the NMEA is at an all-time high of 625, and the marine electronics industry is rebounding after a very tough recession.
"The NMEA exists to raise the professionalism of our members through certification, standards, and training, and through the Master Dealer Program. We are going to push aggressively in the next two years to help make our members more competitive in what is a highly competitive market."
Johnny Lindstrom began his career in the marine electronics industry in 1977 in Newport Beach, California. He started his own company in 1981 in Southern California. Currently he is a design engineer for Westport Shipyard, an industry-leading yacht builder, with models ranging from 26 meters to 50 meters. Westport Shipyard has facilities in Westport, Port Angeles, and Hoquiam, Washington, as well as in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Lindstrom has served as a dealer member and an officer on the Board of Directors of the NMEA since 2008.
In an unrelated matter, Bruce Angus, who held the position of Executive Director in 2012 and 2013, has resigned to pursue other opportunities. "The Board is appreciative of his service and wishes him well in his future endeavors," said Chairman Gratton. "The board is evaluating its options to fill this position," said Gratton, who is a partner in Martek of Palm Beach. "In the meantime, we are very fortunate to have a long-term staff of professionals at the NMEA who keep the organization performing at high levels."
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 safe and reliable products and professional service.
For more information, visit the NMEA website at www.NMEA.org or call 410-975-9425.
