Newsletter February 2018

STRENGTH AND VISION

For many years, MIASF has fostered strong relationships within the Broward County Schools and, in particular, the middle and high school marine magnet programs. Our workforce development committee has successfully engaged the students, faculty, and guidance counselors in the schools
to bring awareness to the diverse marine jobs and career paths available in the industry. In the course of those efforts, we have been fortunate to
work very closely with Debbi Hixon, Maritime/Marine Science and Technology Magnet Program Coordinator at South Broward High School, and were distraught to learn that her husband, Chris, was one of those killed on February 14th at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where he served
as a Campus Monitor and Athletic Director. Chris was also a veteran of the United States Navy, serving as a Machinists Mate Third Class Petty Officer after completing Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida, and transitioned to the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1992. He will be forever missed by his wife, children, parents, siblings, and students. It is evident that many mistakes on the local, state, and federal level resulted in an error chain of activity that allowed such a horrible crime to be committed, and this local tragedy has sparked a national dialogue on school violence. It is our fervent hope that constructive solutions can be achieved to protect school children and prevent any similar acts in the future. In the meantime, we offer sincere condolences to our friends and neighbors who are grieving and hopes for full recovery to those who remain hospitalized.

MIASF continues to find opportunities that help to grow marine businesses, and we are very excited to announce the launch of our latest project, Waterway View – powered by Google Street View technology. We have partnered with a certified Google Street View content provider to
map the Intracoastal Waterway and network of commercial waterways in South Florida and special benefits are available to MIASF members. Visit www.miasf.org and click on Waterway View for more information. We will also be making an announcement in the next few
weeks about a forward-thinking opportunity to create a national broadcast platform for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. We began developing this
opportunity with Informa during FLIBS 2017 and are confident that it will have a significant impact on the show, exhibitors, visitors, Broward County, the city of Fort Lauderdale, and more importantly, the marine industry as a whole.

Phil Purcell
CEO/President, Marine Industries Association of South Florida