PVA Elects 2016 Leadership

During the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2016 held January 23-26 in Crystal City, Va., members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) elected Margo Marks of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. as PVA President for 2016. 

Margo Marks is President/General Manager of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. The company has provided passenger service, vehicle service and freight service between Beaver Island and Charlevoix, Mich. since 1984. The first ferry service to the island began in 1890. The company, under its present ownership, operates two subchapter K vessels which transport passengers/vehicles and freight on a ferry route that is 32 miles long and that takes approximately two hours.

Margo graduated from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in 1983 and holds a First Class Pilot (Great Lakes) and Mates Great Lakes/Inland Water license of any gross tons and a 100 ton Masters license. She also graduated from Ferris State University where she earned her BA in Business Administration in 1984.

Margo serves on the U.S. Coast Guard's Western Michigan Area Maritime Security Committee. She also serves on the safety committee for the Inland Seas Education Association, is a member of the Great Lakes Captains Association and the International Shipmasters Association Lodge 23. 

She has been with Beaver Island Boat Company since 2001. Margo currently is serving on the PVA Board of Directors as Vice President, served as Chairman of the Regulatory Committee for five years, participates in the PVA/Coast Guard Quality Partnership meetings and also participates in all PVA-sponsored Congressional Fly-Ins.

Beaver Island Boat Company has been a member of PVA since 1990.

PVA Vice-President:
Jeff Whitaker is the Operations Manager for Hudson River Cruises, Inc., Kingston, N.Y. The company provides sightseeing, dinner and charter cruises on its single 300 passenger vessel the Rip Van Winkle on the Hudson River.

Jeff graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. with a BS in Criminal Justice. After a career in law enforcement, Jeff retired from the Kingston Police Department as a Detective in 1994. He joined Hudson River Cruises in 1998. He holds a 100 ton Masters license.

Since joining Hudson River Cruises, the company has sponsored and taken part in drills and exercises with local Coast Guard, Fire and Police units. It has hosted a seminar and ride-along for local kayakers in conjunction with the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Jeff also conducts an annual "Abbreviated Rules of the Road" seminar for members of the high school rowing team.

He has served on the PVA Safety and Security Committee since 2001 and served as its chairman. Jeff has been a member of the FLAGSHIP work group since its inception. He has also served as the Original Colonies co-chair. Jeff has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2011 and served as PVA Secretary/Treasurer in 2015. Hudson River Cruises has been a member of NAPVO and PVA since 1986.

Gus Gaspardo is Vice President for Padelford Packet Boat Co. Inc. Founded in 1969 by Capt. William Bowell Sr. Padelford provides a wide variety of public cruises and private events on the Mississippi River with three passenger subchapter K vessels at Harriet Island Regional Park in downtown St. Paul, Minn. The company was a founding member of PVA and has been an active member in the association.

A 1982 graduate of St. Thomas Academy, he attended Mankato State University. He joined Padelford as a deckhand in 1984 and obtained his Masters license in 1986.

Padelford actively participates in drills and exercises with local Coast Guard, Police and Fire agencies and with Maritime Security Response Team Chesapeake during the 2008 Republican convention. 

Gus currently is serving on the PVA Board of Directors, is Chairman of the Regulatory Committee for PVA, participates in the PVA/Coast Guard Quality Partnership meetings and also participates in PVA-sponsored Congressional Fly-Ins.

Chip Collopy, Shoreline Marine Company, Chicago, Ill.

Richard Davison, Paradise Cruise, Ltd., Honolulu, Hawaii

Jim DeSimone, Staten Island Ferry, Staten Island, N.Y.

Bob Lawler, Entertainment Cruises, Boston, Mass.

Alison Nolan, Boston Harbor Cruises, Boston, Mass.

Bob Scribner, Charleston Harbor Tours, Charleston, S.C.