(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) — Seafarers’ House has announced the addition of three board members who will help bring the Fort Lauderdale-based nonprofit organization into the next phase of its planned growth, including the construction of a new Place of Welcome.
John Richard Chapman III is a partner with the law firm Holland & Knight’s Fort Lauderdale office. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation. He also is a member of DiveBar, a bar association dedicated to promoting and protecting coral reefs and the marine environment.
Michael Hopkins is CEO of SeaChange Solutions, a maritime consulting company based in Coral Gables. He spent 35 years with Crowley Maritime Corp. in various management positions. He is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and has served on various boards including past president of Port Everglades Association. He also previously served on the board of Seafarers’ House.
Graciela Yokana is a maritime risk management specialist with USI Insurance Services, where she has built a reputation in the maritime industry. She specializes in yacht manufacturers, salvage, maritime engineering firms and marine subcontractors. Yokana also is a member of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA).
“With the addition of these new board members, Seafarers’ House is well-positioned to enter 2019 with strong leadership that will have meaningful impact on our future growth,” said Seafarers’ House Executive Director Lesley Warrick. “We would also like to take this opportunity to thank those board members who are leaving us for their years of service and for helping to bring Seafarers’ House to where we are today.”
In May, Seafarers’ House announced the launch of the public phase of its Place of Welcome campaign to build a new home for the mariners who visit Port Everglades. The three-year, $4.5 million fundraising effort will allow Seafarers’ House to offer enhanced services in a new facility, as well as provide a way to sustain the operations of programs and services offered to meet the ever-expanding needs of mariners who visit the port. Currently, the port hosts more than 4,000 ship calls each year.
The new 15,000-square-foot Place of Welcome will be built on an expanded footprint at the same location as the existing building inside Port Everglades. It will allow for the consolidation of administration and operations under one roof, offering a facility that provides for the emotional, physical and spiritual wellness of seafarers.