News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 29, 2002

Kirsten Rowe Takes the Helm at PWIA

Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-721-1621
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

Washington, DC—Personal watercraft manufacturers have a new advocate. The Board of Directors of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) has appointed Kirsten Rowe as Executive Director of the boating industry trade group. She began work this week.

Rowe replaces Monita Fontaine, who was promoted to Vice President of Government Relations for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). PWIA is an affiliate of NMMA and Rowe will report to Fontaine and to NMMA president Thom Dammrich, as well as the PWIA Board of Directors.

No stranger to controversial products, for the past five years Rowe, an attorney, has been Federal Liaison for the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action, where she developed close working relationships with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and their staffs.

Rowe continues to serve two evenings a month as the Municipal Court judge for the city of Charles Town, West Virginia, a position she has held since 1995. In private practice prior to joining NRA, Rowe worked on a range of issues, including telecommunications, international trade, domestic relations, personal injury, and general contract law.

Rowe is eager to take on the challenges facing personal watercraft manufacturers and users. “Personal watercraft have been unfairly singled out for restrictions and bans because of misinformation circulated about their use and safety,” she said. “I’m proud to be working with companies that are committed to producing high quality, environmentally-friendly recreational vessels, and I look forward to educating Congress and the public about benefits of these motorboats.”

Rowe is a graduate of Wellesley College and has her Juris Doctorate from Tulane University Law School. She is a member of the State Bars of Pennsylvania, District of Columbia and West Virginia, and is admitted to practice before the Federal Maritime Commission. Her outside interests include boating, fly-fishing, gardening, and hiking.

Personal watercraft are family motorboats purchased by those who want to spend time on the water, and have found personal watercraft to be affordable, approachable, and easy to store, transport, and maintain. The average buyer today is around 40, and 3- and 4-seat personal watercraft are the fastest-growing segment. Modern vessels are 75 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than models of just a few years ago.

PWIA members are U.S. personal watercraft manufacturers Bombardier (Sea-Doo), Honda (AquaTrax), Kawasaki (JET SKI), Polaris (Genesis, Virage), and Yamaha (WaveRunner).