Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Sail America presents 2021 Board of Directors

by Sail America 15 Jan 2021 03:39 AEDT
Sail America © Sail America

Sail America, the trade association for the U.S. sailing industry, welcomed four new members to its 2021 board of directors: Todd Hess, SailTime; Cindy Kalow, Superior Charters; Tyler Fields, Ballentine Boatworks and Tyler Fields Photography; and Don Smith, Beneteau America. All directors were elected through the association's standard election process. A nominating committee submits candidate names to association members, who then vote anonymously on the names put forward. All board members serve for three years.

The new Sail America directors will join the newly elected president of the board, Josie Tucci, from The Moorings and Sunsail. Also elected to the executive committee were Margriet Mitchell of Jeanneau America, Peter Trogdon of Annapolis Boat Shows, Ted Winston of Spinlock, Kevin Carlan of Mastry Engine Center and Mark Pillsbury as past president from Cruising World. The executive team joins the rest of the board members, which includes Freya Olsen, NMMA; Josh Toso, U.S. Sailing; Chris Doscher, Hudson Yacht Group; Lenny Shabes, American Sailing Association; and Patrick Turner, Catalina Yachts.

The Sail America board says farewell and extends its thanks to Reagan Haynes, Soundings Trade Only; JF Lair, Beneteau America; Lou Sandoval, Brunswick Corporation-Nautic-ON; and Jim Abel, West Marine for their tenure and service to the organization.

New Directors to the Board:

Todd Hess, SailTime Group

Growing up on the coast of New Jersey, Todd has been boating since childhood. As a youth, Todd was an avid sport-fisherman, spending many days on extended offshore trips. Later in life, Todd was introduced to sailing and developed a passion for the sport.

Todd's business career began in the building materials industry. Starting as a supervisor for a small family-owned construction materials business, Todd quickly advanced into project management, business development, and then general management, overseeing the regional expansion of the largest international building materials company into North America.

In 2005 Todd acquired and operated one of the largest sailing schools and charter companies on the Chesapeake Bay. In the same year, Todd acquired the territory rights for the northern Chesapeake Bay and founded The SailTime Havre de Grace and Baltimore franchises. The business combined composes a fleet of 16 boats and teaches over 300 students annually.

In 2010 Todd became the CEO and President of the SailTime Group, LLC and is one of the primary owners of the organization. For the past 10 years, Todd has been leading the organization expansion into new markets, new products and improved services. SailTime is currently the world's leading boat membership program, acclaimed in INC Magazine's list of 5000 Top Fastest Growing American Companies and in Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 500 Franchises, has enjoyed growth of 161% since 2012, expanding to 38 franchise bases in the United States, Europe and Australia. SailTime currently has a fleet of 100 plus boats worldwide with over 1,500 members. SailTime has the largest network of American Sailing Association sailing schools and certifies thousands of new sailors each year.

Cindy Kalow, Superior Charters and Yacht Sales

Cindy Kalow has been a boater for 30 years and a sailor for over 25 years. In 2004, purchasing Superior Charters, she left her corporate job in Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue a dream with her husband of raising their family on the shores of Lake Superior. In 2007 they expanded the business, adding brokerage boat sales, and became a Jeanneau dealer in the Midwest. Cindy became the sole manager of the company in 2014 as her husband took over management of a failing company in a different industry. In 2018, Superior Yachts Sales was named the Lagoon catamaran dealer for the western Great Lakes.

In an industry that struggles to maintain market share of recreational spending dollars, Cindy has grown revenues of Superior Charters & Yacht Sales by over 35% in the last three years. Cindy also has a personal passion for introducing sailing to women and has often presented at boat shows and yacht clubs on the topic.

Prior to owning Superior Charters, Cindy spent 20 years in the technology and consulting industry, working with organizations of various sizes and structures including start-ups, Fortune 500 and non-profit organizations. Her background includes managing organizations through times of change and leadership coaching and development.

Combining a love of boating, the industry and a passion for the Apostle Islands, Cindy continues to operate Superior Charters & Superior Yacht Sales in Bayfield, Wisconsin with her oldest son Alec.

Tyler Fields, Tyler Fields Photography

Tyler grew up in western Oregon and spent time exploring all that the Pacific Northwest offers. As a student at the University of Oregon (UO), Tyler joined the UO club sailing team and sailed in regattas from San Francisco to Seattle. During his junior year, Tyler was able to study abroad with Seamester, a tall ship program based in the British Virgin Islands. Graduating with a BA in History from Oregon State University, Tyler took a position with Ballentine's Boat Shop (BBS) in Massachusetts and has gained skills in marine finishing, rigging, sales, and yacht brokerage. At the time he joined BBS, the company took ownership and building responsibilities of two classic Herreshoff replications, the Stuart Knockabout and the Doughdish. After this transition, Tyler's responsibilities grew into marketing and photo/video content creation for all three companies. While continuing his work at BBS, Tyler has grown a photography career focused on classic yachts. He has built a following for his published images and written articles in WoodenBoat, Classic Boat, Soundings, and other leading marine publications. His commercial clients include Arey's Pond Boatyard, First Light Boatworks, and ZAR New England. Tyler also co-hosts the popular marine podcast Around the Buoy with Carter Richardson, owner of East Passage Boatwrights.

Don Smith, Beneteau America

While Donald J. Smith graduated with a degree in Urban Planning some forty years ago, more than 30 years of his professional career since then has been within the marine industry. This includes experience in a wide range of leadership and management roles from sales management to wholesale distribution to brand management and communications, to marina and boatyard management and boat manufacturing.

Smith, currently the president of Beneteau America, was previously their sales manager for outboard ranges. This followed from his time at Jupiter Marine International as director of sales and marketing; several years as vice president of sales at Regal Marine Industries, Inc.; a six-year stint at Hatteras CABO Yacht Center as director of sales, vice president of sales, and general manager-all on the heels of years of leadership at MarineMax, Inc., Galati Yachts, Perico Harbor Marina, Chris Craft Boats, and Imperial Yacht Center.

For more information visit sailamerica.com.

Related Articles

Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 8
Super Finals Saturday sees Daida Moreno produce buzzer beater The penultimate day of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup saw final results gained in three categories; Women's, U21 Boy's and U18 Boy's and all three divisions required Super Finals to determine the eventual winners. Posted on 12 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 5
A day to remember on Lake Garda with waves and strong gusts A day to remember on Lake Garda for the fifth and penultimate day of the 2025 Moth World Championship, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine from 6 to 13 July. Posted on 12 Jul
Jazz Turner Makes History in Project FEAR
Jazz credits Allen for providing cutting-edge sheeting systems, as well as expert advice Project FEAR, an extraordinary solo sailing voyage by Jazz Turner, has concluded successfully: she became the first disabled person – and specifically the first wheelchair user – to sail non-stop and unassisted around the UK and Ireland. Posted on 12 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona overall
Some of the most celebrated gems of classic yachting in the waters off Barcelona The sails have now been lowered on the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica, which this week brought together some of the most celebrated gems of classic yachting in the waters off Barcelona. Posted on 12 Jul
Dylan Fletcher previews Portsmouth
Fletcher says SailGP's Portsmouth debut offers the team the chance to 'right the wrongs'. With just a week to go until SailGP's return to Great Britain, we sit down with Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher to discuss the opportunities and pressures of a home event. Posted on 12 Jul
Australian sailors take to Olympic waters
Regatta serves as an important test, not just for sailors, but also for organisers The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is set to get begin, marking the first major combined event on the waters of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 12 Jul
Marine Auctions: Two Online Auctions in July
Also Jacob Seiffert has been appointed as the Area Representative for the Port Lincoln Region Marine Auctions are proud to announce that Jacob Seiffert has been appointed as the Area Representative for the Port Lincoln Region in South Australia. Jacob is a local Commerical Fisherman. Posted on 12 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta 2025 Preview
The fourth stop of the five series Sailing Grand Slam circuit Over 200 elite athletes from 42 nations have converged on Long Beach to test their skills on the same waters that will host sailing events during the LA2028 Olympic Games as they compete in the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta July 12-20 Posted on 12 Jul
Best Buddies from Germany win the AEGEAN 600 2025
The second wave of finishers benefit from last night's steadier breezes Behind the first wave of finishers yesterday morning, yesterday and last night's steadier breezes helped sweep in another wave of Monohull and Multihull finishers to the race finish at Cape Sounion. Posted on 11 Jul
Tough conditions test Morris
As iQFOiL World Championships wrap up The iQFOiL World Championships have drawn to a close in Aarhus, Denmark, following a week of light and unpredictable wind that tested both race officials and athletes to the limit. Posted on 11 Jul
Zhik 2024 DecemberBoat Books Australia FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUS