For Immediate Release Contact: Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
September 13, 2007
Jennifer Hall, 202-777-3503

PWIA's Maureen Healey Named to National Safe Boating Council Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, DC - The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) is pleased to announce its Executive Director, Maureen A. Healey, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) on Friday, September 7. Since taking the helm at PWIA, Healey has become a dedicated boating safety ambassador, working across the nation with state boating law administrators and other advocates to improve safety on the water.

PWIA has been a NSBC member for many years, but this is the first time a PWIA Executive Director has been asked to serve on the Council's Board of Directors.

"We're delighted to have Maureen join our Board of Directors," said Ruth Wood, chairwoman of the National Safe Boating Council. "The personal watercraft industry has helped several boating safety proposals become law in recent years and it's this kind of effective leadership that will benefit the Council and the entire boating safety community."

PWIA is a longtime supporter of the National Safe Boating Council and has organized multiple National Safe Boating Week media tours, including stops in San Diego, Las Vegas and Sarasota in recent years. In 2006, PWIA helped launch the Lake Mead Safe Boating Partnership (www.boatlakemead.com), a joint public education effort between the National Park Service, the states of California, Arizona, Nevada and the personal watercraft industry.

"Every boater is better off because of the hard work of the National Safe Boating Council and I am thrilled about this opportunity to serve," said Maureen Healey, executive director of PWIA. "I intend to raise awareness about boating safety at every opportunity because I truly believe advocacy is paramount in order to keep boating America's greatest pastime."

Healey also serves on the Board of Directors of the BlueRibbon Coalition, a national association dedicated to recreational vehicle access on public lands. She also is member of the American Recreation Coalition, Americans for Responsible Recreation Access, American Watercraft Association, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, National Marine Manufacturers Association and National Water Safety Congress. Healey joined PWIA in January 2005.

About PWIA
PWIA represents the four manufacturers of personal watercraft: American Honda Motor Company (makers of AquaTrax®), BRP US, Inc. (makers of Sea-Doo®), Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (makers of JET SKI®) and Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. (makers of WaveRunner®). As a result of remarkable technological advancements, modern personal watercraft are up to 90 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than those produced prior to 1998. PWIA advocates for state and local governments to implement reasonable guidelines such as mandatory boating safety education for PWC users, a minimum age of 16 to operate a PWC (18 to rent), use only during daylight hours, the establishment of no-wake zones, and strict enforcement of boating safety and navigation laws. Model legislation and other information on personal watercraft can be viewed at www.pwia.org.