Merritt Island News

ZF Marine announced it has hired George Lewis as its new head of product line commercial-fast craft, North/Central America and the Caribbean, reporting to Wolfgang Schmid, ZF’s Industrial Division Head for North America.“ZF Marine welcomes George aboard and looks forward to the positive impact he will have upon the company’s sales across the Americas and Caribbean,” Schmid said. “With his deep industry knowledge and technical skill as a trained naval architect and proven sales leader…

Thomas "Tom" Weinberg will serve a second consecutive term as Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board, accepting the job after an unanimous vote during the January Commission meeting. A fourth-generation Brevard County, Florida resident elected from District 5, Weinberg begin his Board tenure in January 2011. He is a licensed realtor who has held several local, state and federal positions, including Chief of Staff for former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and Deputy County Administrator for Orange County, Florida government.

Construction has begun on the new estimated $50.5 million Cruise Terminal 1, the first to be located on the south side of Canaveral harbor and that will allow passengers and crew to walk to nearby dining and entertainment options for the first time. Port Canaveral commissioners unanimously approved selection of local firm Ivey’s Construction of Merritt Island, Florida to build the 187,500 square foot facility, which is scheduled to open in November 2014. Current boat ramps at…

Cocoa Beach resident Tom Weinberg will serve as Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners for 2013. The former Chief of Staff for former Florida Sen. Mel Martinez was elected unanimously to the position during the first meeting of the year for the Board. Also elected were Titusville attorney Jerry Allender as Vice Chairman and Cocoa citrus grower Frank Sullivan as Secretary/Treasurer. Titusville attorney John H. Evans begins his first term on the Board. Also serving will be Merritt Island auto dealership owner Bruce Deardoff, the immediate past Chairman of the Board.

Bertram Yacht relocates its productiion facility from Miami to Merritt Island. Florida Bertram's announced the move to 160 people at its press conference, who toured the  facility. “We searched over 30 locations and Merritt Island proved to be the best of the best”, said President of Bertram Yacht, Alton Herndon. We specifically chose Merritt Island because of the state-of-the art boat manufacturing facility and marina which is situated on a 37-acre site and provides significant opportunity for future expansion of the Bertram brand; a wonderful community with great employees that have boat building experience or can easily be taught boat building skills; and the fact that it allows us to continue our history in the state of Florida”, added Herndon.

On 22 February, EPS Corporation’s 50-percent owned Composite Holdings Inc. (CHI) acquired approximately 37 acres and some 141,000 SF of marine composite manufacturing facilities, located off the Barge Canal on Merritt Island, Florida. This Merritt Island acquisition, combined with the 2008 acquisition of 50 percent of CHI and its over 13 acres and 89,000 SF of marine manufacturing capacity on the Indian River in Titusville, Florida, provides EPS and its affiliate CHI about 50 acres of Florida waterfront property and over 230,000 SF of modern marine composite manufacturing facilities. “EPS is excited about this investment in the area. We expect great things moving forward with our line of marine vessels, which will be manufactured at these facilities,” said Mr. Francesco A.

Merritt Island resident Ralph Kennedy has stepped down from the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners. The construction business owner and former Commission Vice Chairman has served on the Board since 1990 representing District 4. Kennedy gave personal and professional reasons for the resignation, which became effective October 30.

During its first meeting of 2008, the Canaveral Port Authority elected Titusville attorney Joe Matheny as the new chairman of the Board of Commissioners. The five-member board voted unanimously for Matheny, the District 2 representative who has served on the board since 1998. "We have experienced dramatic success during the past two years with topping the $50 million revenue mark for the first time in our history, moving into the Port's new modern administration building, and signing major cargo deals such as the new Vitol fuel tank farm," Matheny said after the Board vote. Matheny secedes outgoing chairman Tom Goodson of Rockledge, who owns a paving company. The District 3 representative was elected to the Board in 2002.

Margaret Starkey has been named Deputy Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer of the Canaveral Port Authority. Starkey began her career with the Port Authority as a staff accountant in 1993. She soon was promoted to Assistant Director and then named Director of Accounting in August 2004. In her new position, Starkey will be responsible for all financial and fiscal management aspects of the operation of Port Canaveral. Starkey is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She lives on Merritt Island with her husband Jesse and sons A.J. and Josh.

A. J. Francis was among five professionals of 87 currently enrolled to receive the certification during the recent annual meeting of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). The industry association established the program of seminars and activities in 1994 to encourage and promote professional standards in public port management. Nationwide, 44 port professionals have earned the AAPA certification. “The most rewarding part of the program is the exposure to other sectors of the port industry,” according to Francis, a 20-year employee of the Canaveral Port Authority. “Successful completion of the program also dispels the myth that accountants are only gifted with numbers.

Southco, a supplier of marine access hardware, has recently promoted Mike Hottinger to Marine Sales Director of North America. Mike has been with Southco for 17 years in various sales and marketing roles and most recently performed as North American Sales Director for the Southco Diversified Markets Business Unit. Southco’s marine business has recently expanded with the acquisition of Mobella AB, a leading supplier and premier brand of marine locks, latches and accessories. Mike and his family have relocated to the Merritt Island, Florida area.