IBEX 2025 announces judges for Innovation Award

IBEX Innovation Awards 2025 © IBEX

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), North America’s premier technical trade event for the recreational marine industry, announced today the esteemed list of judges for the 22^nd IBEX Innovation Awards Program. Managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and independently judged by Boating Writers International (BWI), the program is one of the marine industry’s most prestigious honors recognizing manufacturers and suppliers who bring new, innovative products to market. This year’s program marks the largest to date, with more than 110 products entered from a multitude of companies across the marine industry. Product entries can be reviewed along Innovation Way, located on the second floor rotunda throughout the days of the Show.

This year’s awards will be presented at the annual Industry Breakfast, featuring the Innovation Awards Presentation, State of the Industry Address and Keynote, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, Tampa Bay Ballroom. Sponsored by AWLGRIP North America, Honda Marine, Interlux Yacht Finishes, Sea Hawk Paints, Suzuki Marine and Tides Marine Inc., the Industry Breakfast kicks-off IBEX and is anticipated to sell out. Tickets can be purchased during the registration process or by accessing the registration portal for those already registered.

New this year, IBEX will host an Innovation Meet & Greet along Innovation Way from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7. This first-ever event will offer attendees the opportunity to meet the trailblazers behind 100-plus inventions and innovations entered into this year’s Awards program.

“IBEX is the centerpiece to fostering, encouraging and showcasing innovation in the manufacturing segment of the marine industry to improve the boating lifestyle,” said Mary Velline, IBEX Show Director. “Each and every year we’re honored to celebrate innovators and the revolutionary concepts, products and solutions that continue to impact the future of boating. We know the Innovation Awards are a moment of extreme pride for both entrants and winners, and we’re looking forward to highlighting this year’s winners.”

“Judging all of these new products and solutions, as well as selecting winners is a huge undertaking, however, it is always fascinating to see the innovation across the industry” said Ben Stein, Chair, Innovation Awards. “I am very grateful for my fellow judges and the dedication of their time, energy and expertise. I know I can speak for all of them in saying we are eager to see all of this year’s entries and look forward to welcoming winners with this prestigious honor.”

Each of the eight BWI judges comes to IBEX with various technical and boating backgrounds. The panel of judges for the 2025 IBEX Innovation Awards are:

• Ben Stein (Chair): Ben Stein is editor of Panbo.com covering marine technology. He also writes a monthly Getting Technical column for Soundings Trade Only and serves as electronics editor for Power & Motoryacht. Stein chairs the NMMA’s Innovation awards at IBEX and co-chairs the awards at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. Additionally, he is a member of DAME design awards jury at Metstrade. After 15 years in financial services technology, he left the corporate world to pursue his passion in boating. Stein is the current president of Boating Writers International, a USCG 100-Ton Master, and ABYC certified marine electrical technician.

• Tim Murphy (Co-Chair): Tim Murphy is the education director for the American Boat & Yacht Council. A contributing editor to BoatUS Magazine, and a Cruising World editor-at-large, Murphy has worked as a marine journalist for more that 30 years. Having directed and judged Cruising World’s Boat of the Year program for two decades, he has sea-trialed more than 500 new boats in that time. He co-wrote Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology (ABYC 2012). He is the author of Adventurous Use of the Sea (Seapoint Books, 2022). Murphy holds a USCG 100-Ton Master’s license.

• Theresa Nicholson: Theresa Nicholson is an award-winning journalist who has covered the marine industry for 25 years. She is the former senior editor of Cruising World, and an IBEX Innovation Award and Newport for New Products judge. This past summer she worked at the marina in Yellowstone National Park. Nicholson lived aboard her 31-foot ketch for 11 years and sailed from Miami to Malaysia. Her work currently focuses on weather, marine safety, risk analysis, the environment and high latitude sailing.

• Pim Van Hemmen: Pim Van Hemmen is the former deputy editor of Soundings magazine. In a previous life he spent 25 years in the newspaper industry and another decade as a nautical photographer. He is a lifelong boater and when he isn’t photographing or writing about boats, he can be found on the water aboard his Zodiac RIB.

• Wendy Mitman Clarke: Wendy Mitman Clarke is a 35-year marine industry and general assignment writer and journalist who most recently was editor-in-chief of SAIL magazine. A lifelong sailor, she has cruised and raced all manner of boats, including four years cruising fulltime with her family and numerous offshore passages and races. She and her husband own a 1978 Peterson 34 they sail regularly on the Chesapeake Bay, and a 1966 Cal 40 they are restoring. She's won multiple awards for her work, which you can peruse at wendymitmanclarke.com.

• Pete McDonald: Pete McDonald is the executive editor of Boating Magazine, where he first started working in 1998. He's also been a BWI member since 1999 and started serving on the board in 2023.

• Steve Mitchell: Steve Mitchell is a year-round Pacific Northwest cruiser aboard his 50-foot steel trawler and a lifelong boater with experience in both sail and power. With decades in the technology industry and over 20 years of hands-on experience designing and installing marine electronics, electrical systems, and optimized solutions for customers, he blends technical expertise with real-world cruising insight. As founder of SeaBits, he tests, reviews, and consults on the latest marine technology, and contributes to 48° North and other boating publications.

• Ryan Gullang: Ryan Gullang is the Communications Coordinator and Program Manager for Annapolis Boat Shows. As a freelance writer, his DIY and tech articles have appeared in BoatUS, Boats.com, FishTalk, and SpinSheet Magazine. He has served on three NMMA Innovation Award panels and, in 2021, received the BWI Active Interest Boating Media Journalist Scholarship.

Registration is open for this year’s Show, set to take place at the Tampa Convention Center, October 7 – 9, 2025. Visitors and accredited press can click here for registration. For exhibitors looking to add booth staff, click here for exhibitor registration. The Industry Breakfast sells out every year and tickets are available through the registration process – it is recommended to purchase them soon. To learn about the products, services and companies that are driving the future of marine industry technology, click here to visit IBEX 365. For the latest updates via social media, like and follow the IBEX Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.

IBEX 2025 Innovation Awards entrants: