News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2005

Maureen Healey Takes the Helm at PWIA

Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-737-9768
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

Washington, DC—Personal watercraft manufacturers have a new leader to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The Board of Directors of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) has appointed Maureen A. Healey as Executive Director of the boating industry trade group. She brings distinguished experience in government relations and trade association management.

Healey has been with The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) since 1988, most recently as Vice President of Government Affairs, where she managed all federal, state and regulatory affairs affecting the $330 billion industry. During her tenure, she garnered numerous industry achievement awards and was instrumental in preventing millions of dollars of unnecessary regulation of the industry both at the federal and state level.

Healey is eager to take on the challenges facing personal watercraft manufacturers and users. “Like all boaters, I love spending time on the water. I plan to continue our efforts to ensure reasonable regulations and increased user education,” she said. “I look forward to educating policymakers on how far PWC technology has come, and eliminating unfair barriers that have been inflicted on responsible PWC owners.”

“We’re delighted to have someone of Maureen’s caliber on board with PWIA,” said Monita Fontaine, vice president of government relations for PWIA’s parent association, the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “Her skills in working with officials at the national and state levels will benefit all of us in the boating industry.”

Healey holds both a BA and an MA from the University of South Carolina. She spent two years working on Capitol Hill before joining the private sector as a government relations specialist. Her outside interests include boating, running, and cycling.

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 typical buyer today is around 40, and 3-passenger personal watercraft are the best-selling segment. Modern vessels are 75 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than models of just a few years ago.

PWIA is an affiliate of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. PWIA members are U.S. personal watercraft manufacturers BRP (Sea-Doo), Honda (AquaTrax), Kawasaki (JET SKI), and Yamaha (WaveRunner). For more information on personal watercraft, please visit www.pwia.org.