HOUSEBOAT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW LEADERS CHICAGO
The Houseboat Industry Association (HIA) has re-elected Destination Marine Group’s Sheldon Graber as its chairman and Sumerset Houseboat’s Steve Lochmueller as its new vice chair. The announcement was made after HIA’s board of directors held its spring board meeting at the National Houseboat Expo in Louisville, KY earlier this month.

Established as a National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) affiliate in 2001,HIA represents the interests of the houseboat industry in legislative and regulatory concerns, promotes NMMA certification to boost consumer confidence, and promotes strong lines of communication with other organizations closely involved with boating safety and standards development.

“The HIA continues to strengthen with the support of NMMA’s focused association experience” said Graber. “The HIA board has identified the need to establish a Purchasing Logistics Group, whose mission will be to combine industry expertise and knowledge related to purchasing and transportation issues. This kind of initiative is what we need to grow and prosper as an industry.”

“I am delighted to be serving an industry that has such great history. I look forward to working with Sheldon and the other members of the HIA board to improve safety and elevate houseboating as a recreational activity,” says Lochmueller.

NMMA associate director of Industry Programs and HIA executive director Bernice McArdle says with Graber’s and Lochmueller’s elections, the HIA is poised to expand its efforts to protect and promote the interests of houseboat manufacturers.

“With NMMA’s existing infrastructure, industry relationships in Washington DC, and partnerships with the Coast Guard and with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) the association has the ability to provide leadership and direction to the houseboat industry,” says McArdle. “The houseboat industry will continue to make great strides in raising the bar on safety and environmental awareness by obtaining NMMA Certification; working closely with industry to address the carbon monoxide issue; and promoting houseboating as a recreation of choice.”

For more information regarding the NMMA and the HIA contact Bernice McArdle at 312-946-6280 or by e-mail at bmcardle@nmma.org

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce over 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.