Frommelt Named President of PVA

Gary Frommelt, Hornblower Marine Services, Elizabeth, Ind., was elected 2003 PVA President on February 18 during the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2003 held in Long Beach, CA. Other officers elected were PVA Vice President, David B. Clark, Golden Gate Ferry , Larkspur, CA, and PVA Secretary-Treasurer, Cornel Martin, Delta Queen Steamboat Company, New Orleans, LA. Frommelt serves as project manager for Hornblower Marine Services as director of marine operations for Caesars Indiana-home to the largest riverboat casino in the world. Frommelt was most recently PVA Vice President, has served on the PVA Board of Directors since 1996, and has been a long-term member of the Safety Committee. He is chairperson for the PVA Membership Committee and Co-Chair of the PVA/Coast Guard Natural Working Group for improving passenger vessel safety. Frommelt has been associated with the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, New Orleans Steamboat Company, Gateway Riverboat Cruises and President Casino. He is President of the Port of Louisville, KY Propeller Club and is on his 4th issue as a licensed Chief Engineer. David Clark is Deputy General Manager, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. He manages the Districts' Golden Gate Ferry Division. The Golden Gate Ferry service carries 1.8 million passengers annually on six vessels. Clark is a member of the PVA Board of Directors, and served as founding chairman of PVA High Speed Subcommittee for two years. He was PVA Secretary-Treasurer and is co-chairman of a joint USCG/Industry Natural Working Group formed to refine regulatory and industry strategies for addressing increased operating speeds of technologically advanced ferry vessels. Before joining the Golden Gate Bridge District David served as Vice President, Hornblower Marine Services (HMS), New London, CT. Prior to his work with Hornblower Marine Services, David was the Director of Operations for Pacific Marine Yachts in San Francisco. Captain Clark holds a 1600 Ton Ocean Masters License, 5th Issue. Cornel Martin currently serves as Government Affairs Advisor for The Delta Queen Steamboat Company (DQSC), which operates three overnight paddlewheel steamboats on America's inland rivers: the Delta Queen, the Mississippi Queen, and the American Queen. He is also Principal owner of Martin and Associates, L.L.C., a firm established to represent and guide individuals and companies on federal and state regulatory and legislative matters. Martin was also Vice President - Corporate Affairs of American Classic Voyages Company from 1993-2000. He has been a member of the PVA Board of Directors for six years and has chaired the Legislative Committee or the Overnight Cruise Council since 1994. He was chair of PVA's 1996 Convention in New Orleans, LA, and was a member of the Executive Director Search Committee in 1994. In 1982, Martin was a Maritime Aide to Congressman W.J. "Billy" Tauzin (R-LA) and by 1989 was Senior Professional Staffer on the U.S. House of Representative's Coast Guard and Navigation Subcommittee. In 1999, Martin was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the State of Louisiana. He has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA and Master's Degree in Politics from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. New PVA Board of Directors members are Beth Gedney, Victoria Express, Port Angeles, WA, Ray Lyman, Catalina Express, San Pedro, CA, Jay Spence, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Boston, MA. Michael Hock, Detroit Diesel, Detroit, MI, is the newly elected Associate Member Representative to the PVA Board. Troy Manthey, Starship Cruise Line, Tampa, FL, has been re-elected to serve another three-year term.

Board Members Jonathon Claughton, River Street Riverboat Company, Savannah, GA and Robin Trinko-Russell, Madeline Island Ferry Line, La Pointe, WI, continue to serve on the Board, as do PVA Past Presidents Dick Purinton, Washington Island Ferry, Washington Island, WI and Frederick Hall, Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Steamboat, Port Jefferson, NY.