RIMTA to host environmental panel, honor Jamestown's Susan Maffei Plowden during Newport Boat Show
by Cynthia Goss 15 Sep 2018 00:34 PDT
15 September 2018
Jamestown's Susan Maffei Plowden © Event Media
The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) will host an environmental panel and honor Jamestown resident Susan Maffei Plowden during the Newport International Boat Show.
The panel and award presentation will take place at RIMTA's Industry Partnership Breakfast, an annual event that draws marine-trades professionals from throughout the state. Sponsored by Gowrie Group, the event takes place in Newport on Saturday, September 15.
Susan Maffei Plowden will be presented with the 2018 Anchor Award for her role as Stopover Director of the 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race Newport.
The Anchor Award is an annual accolade presented to an individual or organization that draws international attention and promotion to the state's marine trades. Past recipients include Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ken Read, Sail Newport, and Newport Shipyard.
The 2017/18 Volvo Ocean Race Newport drew over 100,000 people to Newport and its surrounding waters and generated global media attention and economic impact for Rhode Island. Maffei Plowden is the first to point out that the stopover's success was due to the hard work of many—including the team at Sail Newport, over 600 volunteers, and support from the State and agencies such as the Department of Environmental Management.
Maffei Plowden, known as Suma, has managed and promoted events in nearly every major sailing arena—including the America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, Olympic Games and others—held in locations as far afield as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout North America and Europe. Maffei Plowden is a Jamestown resident and founder of Suma Events.
The Industry Partnership Breakfast will also include an environmental panel with young marine-industry leaders. Moderated by Clean Ocean Access Executive Director Dave McLaughlin, the panel will focus on environmental stewardship: how important it is to a younger generation of boaters, how it can impact marine businesses, and details on programs these young leaders have spearheaded.
Panelists will include Evan Ridley of RIMTA, a key player in launching the RI Fiberglass Vessel Recycling Pilot Project; Jay Frechette of Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage, speaking on how companies manage environmental sustainability risks such as sea-level rise; and Michelle Carnevale of 11th Hour Racing, an organization that works with the sailing and maritime communities to advance practices that protect the health of the ocean.
Please see below for more details on the breakfast.
What
7th Annual RIMTA Industry Partnership Breakfast
When
Saturday, September 15 / 8:00 – 9:30 AM (speaking program starts at 8:30 am)
Where
The Bohlin Tent, Newport Yachting Center (20 Commercial Wharf, Newport)
Sponsors & Supporters
The event is sponsored by Gowrie Group and supported by Newport Exhibition Group, Real Jobs Rhode Island, USSA and Helly Hansen.