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PVA Elects New Officers

Published Jan 7, 2011 2:34 PM by The Maritime Executive

Captain Bill Clark Elected PVA President

The members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) elected new officers and board members during the recent PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends in San Francisco, CA. The new officers are:

• President - Captain Bill Clark, South Ferry, Inc., Shelter Island, NY
• Vice-President - Captain Kevin Stier, River Cruises, Galena, IL
• Secretary-Treasurer - Captain Jay Spence, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Boston, MA

"As our industry copes with the challenges of burgeoning regulation and a faltering economy, PVA will rely on these officers to provide valuable leadership, guidance and direction,” said John Groundwater, PVA's executive director, "Their operational insight, industry knowledge and association experience will indispensible."

Captain Bill Clark is co-owner/operator of South Ferry Company, providing year round vehicular/passenger service connecting Shelter Island, NY with the south fork of Long Island. His family has maintained continuous ferry service over this route since 1800. Captain Clark retired from the U. S. Coast Guard in 1993. He has served as PVA Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Chairman of the PVA Legislative Committee and Co-Chairman of the PVA Original Colonies Region.

Captain Kevin Stier along with his wife Carrie own and operate River Cruises offering two-day overnight cruises aboard the Riverboat TWILIGHT on the Upper Mississippi River. Captain Stier began his career working for Captain Dennis Trone, a founding father of PVA, moving from deckhand to piloting aboard the Str. JULIA BELLE SWAIN. He later joined Diamond Jo Casino as Marine Director for 14 years before purchasing the River Cruises in 2006. Captain Stier is a long-time member of PVA's Regulatory Committee, recently serving as its Chair. Captain Stier has also served as the PVA Secretary and Treasurer and has served terms on the PVA Board of Directors.

Captain Jay Spence is General Manager of Massachusetts Bay Lines in Boston, MA. This second-generation, family-owned business has operated since 1963 and is the oldest operating year-round commuter service in Boston. Founded by Jay’s father William, Mass Bay Lines owns six vessels, which offer sightseeing cruises, private charters and whale watching cruises. Mass Bay Lines has been a member of PVA since 1978. Jay has served two three year terms on the PVA Board of Directors, served as Chairman of the Original Colonies Region and has been an active member of the PVA Safety and Security Committee.

The PVA membership also elected four PVA Board members for new and continuing terms, including:

• Walt Webster, Dubuque River Rides, Dubuque, IA
• Dan Yates, American Waterways, Inc., Portland, OR
• Margo Marks, Beaver Island Boat Company, Charlevoix, MI


About the Passenger Vessel Association

The Passenger Vessel Association is the national association representing the interests of owners and operators of dinner cruise vessels, sightseeing and excursion vessels, car and passenger ferries, gaming vessels, private charter boats, whale watching and eco-tour vessels, day-sailers and windjammer sailing vessels, overnight cruise ships and amphibious DUKW. PVA members operate U.S. Coast Guard certificated, Canadian Coast Guard or state inspected vessels. The passenger vessel industry carries more than 200 million passengers each year. Visit PVA on the Internet at: www.passengervessel.com.