SFWM WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PETER ANTONACCI
MEDIA CONTACT: RANDY SMITH | WEST PALM BEACH, FL OCTOBER 5, 2015
With decades of public service and private sector experience, Peter Antonacci began work today as the Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). “This agency has identified the projects to accomplish the vision of improving Everglades water quality and maintaining South Florida’s flood control infrastructure,” said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Daniel O’Keefe. “Pete has the leadership qualities, broad skill set and extensive experience in state government, finance and law necessary to realize these goals.” As head of the state’s largest water management agency, Antonacci will lead the District in carrying out its mission to balance and improve flood control, water quality, natural systems and water supply across a region that serves 8.1 million people. The agency’s 16-county area extends from Orlando to the Florida Keys and includes some of Florida’s most treasured natural areas such as the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and estuaries and Big Cypress National Preserve.
A seasoned attorney, Antonacci brings more than three decades of experience in Florida state government, finance and law to the District. In his most recent public role, he served as Governor Scott’s General Counsel, from 2013 to 2015. He served as a Governing Board member at the Northwest Florida Water Management District, from 2006 to 2012. His public service also includes:
- Florida Commission on Ethics member (2002-2006)
- State Attorney for the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach
County (2012) - Deputy Attorney General of Florida (1990–1997)
- Statewide Prosecutor (1988-1990)
In addition to his public service, he practiced law at the firm of GrayRobinson P.A. in Tallahassee. Antonacci earned his law degree from Florida State University as well as a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
YAMAHA ROLLS OUT FALL ENGINE PROMOTION
OCTOBER 6, 2015
Yamaha Marine Group announced what it said is one of its most valuable incentive programs of the year: “Why Wait? Buy Now.”
The new promotion offers customers a way to add value to Yamaha four-stroke outboard purchases leading up to the holiday and boat show seasons.
“With the ‘Why Wait? Buy Now’ promotion, customers don’t have to wait for the boat show season to get a great deal,” marketing division manager Dale Barnes said in a statement. “From a 2.5-horsepower to a 350-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboard, this promotion offers substantial value for every eligible purchase of a new Yamaha four-stroke outboard.”
For a limited time, the promotion offers a credit of as much as $500 on eligible 2.5- to 70-hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard models toward the purchase of goods and/or services available at the authorized participating Yamaha outboard dealer that sold the engine.
Customers who purchase eligible new Yamaha four-stroke outboards in the 75- to 350-hp range can add three years of Yamaha extended service to their three-year Yamaha limited warranty, for a total of six years of coverage at no additional cost. Additional terms and conditions apply.
The promotion is effective for select, eligible, new four-stroke outboards purchased and warranty registered between Oct. 1 and Nov. 18.
BENNINGTON MARINE CLOSES DEAL FOR NAUTIC GLOBAL GROUP
OCTOBER 7, 2015
Pontoon manufacturer Bennington Marine announced today that it completed the acquisition of the brands and “certain assets” of Nautic Global Group LLC and is assuring dealers and customers that all of the brands will continue to function independently.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The brands Bennington acquired — Godfrey pontoon boats (which includes Aqua Patio, Sanpan and Sweetwater), Hurricane deckboats, Polar Kraft fishing boats and Rinker cruisers — are being held in a newly formed holding company and will be operated separately from Bennington.
The acquisition will not impact existing operations, dealer networks or retail customer relationships for either Bennington or the acquired brands.
“We are excited to bring together some of the strongest brands in the marine industry,” Jacob Vogel, CEO at Bennington Marine, said in a statement. “And we want to assure dealers and their customers that it is business as usual. Production, servicing and marketing of these terrific brands will continue to remain separate and strong.”
Elkhart, Ind.-based Bennington said in late September that it was buying Nautic Global Group, also based in Elkhart, and its brands, which include four pontoon lines under the Godfrey umbrella.
Bennington founder Steve Vogel said at the time that the acquisition would give dealers an opportunity to expand their product offerings.
“Current dealers of either or both brands will have opportunities to expand their representation, and the companies announced that the intention is to distribute dealer-specific news and meetings scheduled shortly after the closing of the transaction, which is anticipated to be Oct. 2,” CEO Jacob Vogel said in a statement. “At this time we are planning on operating these acquired brands and businesses as an organization separate from Bennington, but with the same world-class attention to quality and customer service.”
Nautic Global, the sixth-largest U.S. boat manufacturer, has as much as half of the deck-boat market share with its Hurricane brand. The company’s pontoon brands include Godfrey Pontoons, Sanpan, Aqua Patio and Sweetwater. It also builds Rinker Express Cruisers, Captiva Sport Boats and Polar Kraft aluminum fishing boats.
LIVETARGET SIGNS SCOTT MARTIN
OCTOBER 9, 2015
LIVETARGET announces that it has enhanced its Pro Staff team with the addition of FLW Tour pro, and TV personality Scott Martin along with his long-running TV show, Scott Martin Challenge to a multi-year sponsorship agreement.
Gary Abernethy, marketing manager of LIVETARGET commented on the selection of Scott Martin to the LIVETARGET team: “Scott brings to LIVETARGET a great blend of proven tournament fishing excellence along with one of the best media outlets via his TV show and recognized personality. We’ve talked to Scott over the years, and with his recent Angler of the Year achievement on the FLW Tour, and our ongoing growth at LIVETARGET, it was the right time to add Scott onto our team.”
Abernethy added, “Scott will help us in promotions with the media elements, but as with all our ProStaff, we look to use Scott and his proven skills as a leading bass angler to help us with our continued lure designs. It is great that Scott is also a multi-species angler, and that works well to help us across a product line that now has over 750+ lure models. We have plans to have Scott present tips and techniques to anglers so they can become better fishermen with LIVETARGET lures.”
Martin had his own interest in seeking a partnership with the LIVETARGET brand. “LIVETARGET is a company that has won a “Best of Show” lure award for 5 out of the past 6 years at ICAST, and man, they have some great lure designs. Not only are the designs impressive, but as a travelling tournament angler and television producer, I need a very wide spectrum of lures to use. LIVETARGET offers me the most impressive lure selections, and I really like the Match-the-Hatch® strategy of matching the lure to the local forage base. As a tournament angler, we all want a competitive edge, and the LIVETARGET brand will give me that advantage to win.”
Anglers will be able to view the Scott Martin Challenge TV show, which will air on multiple networks beginning in January (check local and cable listings for air times), plus learn tips and tactics he shares on his Facebook page, YouTube Channel and website: http://www.scottmartinchallenge.com.
In addition to Scott Martin, the current roster of LIVETARGET Pro Staff anglers includes: Dave Mercer, host of Facts of Fishing; Patrick Campeau, Canadian journalist and author; Henry Waszczuk, host of Fishing the Flats; Jason South, host of “Florida Adventure Quest” and two Bassmaster Elite Pros, Stephen Browning and David Walker. See ProStaff content online here.
MERCURY ANGLER WINS WIN TOP ROOKIE HONOR
OCTOBER 9TH, 2015
Despite 11 years of tour-level experience under his belt, a Forrest Wood Cup trophy on his mantle and more than $2 million in tournament winnings on his resume, Mercury Marine pro Brent Ehrler looks back on the 2015 Bassmaster Elite Series as a season of firsts.
Ehrler had never competed in a B.A.S.S. Elite Series tournament prior to the 2015 season-opener on the Sabine River in March. He had never faced Elite superstars such as Aaron Martens, Kevin VanDam, Skeet Reese and Edwin Evers day after day. And he had never powered through a draining nine-tournament Elite schedule.
But after all was said and done when B.A.S.S. personnel broke down the stage at the Elite Series Angler of the Year Championship tournament Sept. 20 in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Ehrler had added another “first” to his list: the 2015 Elite Series Rookie of the Year trophy.
“I’m a little tired,” Ehrler said half-jokingly as he assessed his first season on the Elites. “I feel blessed to have the opportunity to compete for Rookie of the Year. It’s a long, difficult season — a lot of work, a lot of travel — and anything can happen, but I’ve really enjoyed fishing the Elites this year. I’m fishing against a lot of the guys I grew up watching; it’s a heck of an honor.”
Ehrler finished the 2015 season with 615 points in the Angler of the Year race (just ahead of fellow Mercury pro Jordan Lee, with 595). But perhaps more important, the Redlands, Calif.-based pro hovered in the top five of the Angler of the Year standings for much of the season and notched three Top 15 finishes.
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