Jim Ellis, who has played a critical role in growing the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water, has been named president of the nations largest recreational boat owners association, BoatU.S. Ellis was formerly the Foundations president and also concurrently held the post of BoatU.S. executive vice president. Todays announcement signals the increasing role Ellis will have in the day-to-day operation of the association.
“Jims commitment to BoatU.S. and the boating community will help us continue to be the most powerful advocate for advancing the interests of recreational boaters,” said Richard Schwartz, BoatU.S. CEO and chairman of the board. “His personal experience in both the powerboating and sailing arenas will also allow us to develop services that continue to bring convenience and value to the boating lifestyle.”
A lifelong boater, Ellis currently cruises aboard Seaworthy, his 42-foot Grand Banks trawler, and is actively involved in sailboat racing aboard Senior Moment, his 31-foot Etchells. He is a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club and the Potapskut Sailing Association. The Maryland native reside with his wife, Lori, in Annapolis.
After completing the BoatU.S. management trainee program in 1982, Ellis was named director of the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and is credited with growing the non-profit arm of the association into a nationally recognized, award winning leader of on-the-water safety and pollution mitigation programs.
Ellis has also held executive leadership roles with the National Boating Safety Council (NBSC), and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC). He is currently a board member of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF). Ellis succeeds Bill Oakerson, who has been appointed to the new position of co-chairman. Oakerson and Schwartz will remain actively involved in the association.
BoatU.S.–the nations leading advocate for recreational boaters–provides its 535,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that provides over $7 billion in hull coverage; a fleet of more than 400 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel and slips at nearly 700 marinas; and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For more information, visit the BoatU.S. website at www.BoatUS.com, or call (800) 395-2628.
