2015 Election of Directors - Biographies of Nominees
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:17 pm
The 2015 Election of Directors begins November 1st and ends on the 15th. Our Nominating Committee submitted the following names to be considered by our members for serving 2-year terms as Directors of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club. Those elected will begin their tenure on January 1st, 2016 and will be expected to serve until December 31st, 2017.
Your 2015 Board of Directors are as follows:
Jim Frechette - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Presently serving as Board President -
Al Benton - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Presently serving as Vice President & Membership
Paul Harrison - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Past Vice President
Robert Macaluso - Term expires 12/31/2016
BK Powell - Term expires 12/31/2016
Donald Ploetner - Term expires 12/31/2016
Jeff Rogers - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Presently serving as Secretary
Jim Frechette and Paul Harrison are stepping down after this year, however, Jeff Rogers and Al Benton submitted their names as candidates and were approved as Nominees for reelection. Please join me in a huge Thank You to Jim and Paul for their exemplary service to the Club as both Directors and Officers. Their accomplishments over the past 3 plus years are too numerous to count.
Please review all of the following 5 Biographies of Nominees before considering 4 of them to become Directors beginning in 2016.
Biographies of Nominees: In alphabetical order as they appear on the Official Ballet
Al Benton:
I joined the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club in 2003 after becoming the care-taker of a 1960, 27’ Chris-Craft Constellation that was in need of some TLC. As with many of you, I joined to learn more about how to care for her. Over the years that followed, I also became passionate about supporting the overall mission of preserving the history of the Chris-Craft brand.
In early 2012 I was appointed as a Director of this Club to help with reorganization and was immediately charged with the duties of Membership; a task that has been a true pleasure to fulfill for the past 3 plus years, and one that I plan to continue fulfilling as long as I am able, and you are willing.
In November of 2013 (our first election) I was reelected to serve an additional 2-year term as a Director, and would gladly serve an additional 2-year term in service to our membership.
Mike Hagan:
Home port: Lake Okoboji, Iowa
Owner of Fascination, a 1929 CC triple upswept.
My earliest memories of boating date back to the mid 50's when my dad and his brother built and raced hydro planes.
Fast forward and its 1982 when I purchased my first "woody", a 1962 Century Resorter.
I've since been fortunate enough to own several beautiful classics throughout my years of boating.
The last 15 years
I've have had the pleasure of coordinating and managing the annual antique and classic boat show on the shores of beautiful Lake Okoboji. Our show has become a destination show for boats from all over the country and is one of the largest annual events of the summer.
Obviously my passion in the stewardship of our classics and desire is to offer what services I can for not only the retention of our membership but the future generation to come.
I believe that we've had a glorious history but the future is key to assuring that our present ownership won't someday be a long lost "barn find".
Troy Hersom:
I was quite flattered this spring when my friend Al Benton suggested I consider serving on the BOD for the CCABC. Over the summer I had thought about it a couple of times but decided I would consider it more seriously for the 2017 year, so you can imagine my surprise when Don Ayers called and asked if he was supposed to put my name in the hat this fall. In short here I am.
When Don asked for a short Bio I sent him my contact info and the statement "I Love Chris Craft Boats". That is all that really seems important to me, but they wanted more.
In thinking about it I have decided it is less important that I tell you about my life as a 30 year self-employed franchise owner than it is to tell you what I am not interested in doing on the BOD.
First I am not really the administrative type, so feel free to cast your vote for someone more qualified for the position.
I come with no agenda or vision for where the club needs to go.
I am not interested in making any kind of political statement during my service to the CCABC. In fact I don't care what your political, or religious views are, what your sex, color, ethnicity, or even sexual preferences are, if you have a passion or even a slight interest in Chris Craft boats, be them Mahogany, Plywood, Steel, Aluminum, or Fiberglass, Carvel or Clinker built (did I leave any out?) then we have something in common, and that is what I am interested in.
I guess if I represent anything specific in this hobby it would be the "User Group". Though I have a great deal of admiration and respect for those of you who restore a boat to "As it came out of the factory" standards the two Chris Crafts that I have the privilege of stewarding are nowhere near that level, however they are well maintained and enjoyed.
I try to live life on the lighter side of things not taking myself, others, or circumstances too seriously. If the club wants me as a representative I am happy to serve.
In conclusion all I can say is:
I Love Chris Craft Boats
Andy Riggs:
I was born in Darrtown, OH, a very small town in Ohio about 30 miles northwest of Cincinnati. As a young boy, I spent countless hours in a bass boat, mainly on the Ohio River and Brookville Lake in Indiana with my father. I was pictured in the local paper at the age of 6 holding my first trophy Largemouth Bass. The passion of fishing and boating continued on as I grew and spent time with friends on lakes in Northern Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In 2008, I saved a 1969 Chris Craft Ski Boat from the salvage yard with my brother in law. I would spend the next several years as an active member of the Boat Buzz forum, learning about these fine crafts and documenting my 3 year restoration of FLASH, launching her again in September of 2014.
I am a Pro Account Representative for The Home Depot covering 18 stores in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton, OH. With 60 large Pro customers in my portfolio, I play an active role in the success of the Pro business within these markets. I have been with the company for 10 years and am a true believer in the brand and the success of the company.
I currently live in Oxford, OH, home of Miami University, with my wife Jennifer and our 3 children, Drew (7), Stella (5), and Sophia (3). While life is certainly busy, my family and I are active members of the Hamilton Boat Club, a private club located on the banks of the Great Miami River that has been around for 82 years. I am also a member of the ACBS Bluegrass Chapter and the CCABC, volunteering to serve as an ambassador at 2 shows this summer.
As I have stated before, the future success of both the CCABC and the ACBS will rely on the growth of new membership, especially from Generation X and younger. While many of us are active on the Boat Buzz Forum, sharing information, we need to get this same passion for preserving this part of American History out to the next generation of Club members. At 38 years old, I have noticed that I am typically one of the youngest participants at any of the show I have attended and really want to bring new folks into this arena in order to build a solid membership base for the future.
We have a great club here and I really look forward to meeting many more of you in person at shows and the events that are being planned as we speak. I would like the club to be more involved in the ACBS shows in an effort to drive membership. I would also like to see more events for members on a regional and national level. If elected, I plan to make driving new membership and promoting a sense of community my top priorities.
Jeff Rogers:
PURCHASED 1ST VINTAGE BOAT: August 1989 (a 1939 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout)
• JOINED Chris Craft Antique Boat Club (CCABC) - 1990
• JOINED Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) -1990
• DIRECTOR - Water Wonderland Chapter/ACBS (1992-1994)
• PRESIDENT - Water Wonderland Chapter/ACBS (1994-1996, 1996-1998)
• DIRECTOR - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (1996-1997)
• SECRETARY - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (1997-2002)
• VICE PRESIDENT - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (2003-2005)
• PRESIDENT - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (2005-2006)
• BOAT SHOW CHAIR - Boats on the Boardwalk - Traverse City, MI (early-to-mid 2000's)
• CHAIR / ACBS Vintage Boat Symposium @ Mystic Seaport - Mystic, CT - April 2007
• SYMPOSIA: Attended ACBS Symposia @ Mariners Museum - 1991, 1993, 1997
• CHIEF JUDGE - Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show - Hessel, MI (2001 to present)
Your 2015 Board of Directors are as follows:
Jim Frechette - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Presently serving as Board President -
Al Benton - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Presently serving as Vice President & Membership
Paul Harrison - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Past Vice President
Robert Macaluso - Term expires 12/31/2016
BK Powell - Term expires 12/31/2016
Donald Ploetner - Term expires 12/31/2016
Jeff Rogers - Term expires 12/31/2015 - Presently serving as Secretary
Jim Frechette and Paul Harrison are stepping down after this year, however, Jeff Rogers and Al Benton submitted their names as candidates and were approved as Nominees for reelection. Please join me in a huge Thank You to Jim and Paul for their exemplary service to the Club as both Directors and Officers. Their accomplishments over the past 3 plus years are too numerous to count.
Please review all of the following 5 Biographies of Nominees before considering 4 of them to become Directors beginning in 2016.
Biographies of Nominees: In alphabetical order as they appear on the Official Ballet
Al Benton:
I joined the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club in 2003 after becoming the care-taker of a 1960, 27’ Chris-Craft Constellation that was in need of some TLC. As with many of you, I joined to learn more about how to care for her. Over the years that followed, I also became passionate about supporting the overall mission of preserving the history of the Chris-Craft brand.
In early 2012 I was appointed as a Director of this Club to help with reorganization and was immediately charged with the duties of Membership; a task that has been a true pleasure to fulfill for the past 3 plus years, and one that I plan to continue fulfilling as long as I am able, and you are willing.
In November of 2013 (our first election) I was reelected to serve an additional 2-year term as a Director, and would gladly serve an additional 2-year term in service to our membership.
Mike Hagan:
Home port: Lake Okoboji, Iowa
Owner of Fascination, a 1929 CC triple upswept.
My earliest memories of boating date back to the mid 50's when my dad and his brother built and raced hydro planes.
Fast forward and its 1982 when I purchased my first "woody", a 1962 Century Resorter.
I've since been fortunate enough to own several beautiful classics throughout my years of boating.
The last 15 years
I've have had the pleasure of coordinating and managing the annual antique and classic boat show on the shores of beautiful Lake Okoboji. Our show has become a destination show for boats from all over the country and is one of the largest annual events of the summer.
Obviously my passion in the stewardship of our classics and desire is to offer what services I can for not only the retention of our membership but the future generation to come.
I believe that we've had a glorious history but the future is key to assuring that our present ownership won't someday be a long lost "barn find".
Troy Hersom:
I was quite flattered this spring when my friend Al Benton suggested I consider serving on the BOD for the CCABC. Over the summer I had thought about it a couple of times but decided I would consider it more seriously for the 2017 year, so you can imagine my surprise when Don Ayers called and asked if he was supposed to put my name in the hat this fall. In short here I am.
When Don asked for a short Bio I sent him my contact info and the statement "I Love Chris Craft Boats". That is all that really seems important to me, but they wanted more.
In thinking about it I have decided it is less important that I tell you about my life as a 30 year self-employed franchise owner than it is to tell you what I am not interested in doing on the BOD.
First I am not really the administrative type, so feel free to cast your vote for someone more qualified for the position.
I come with no agenda or vision for where the club needs to go.
I am not interested in making any kind of political statement during my service to the CCABC. In fact I don't care what your political, or religious views are, what your sex, color, ethnicity, or even sexual preferences are, if you have a passion or even a slight interest in Chris Craft boats, be them Mahogany, Plywood, Steel, Aluminum, or Fiberglass, Carvel or Clinker built (did I leave any out?) then we have something in common, and that is what I am interested in.
I guess if I represent anything specific in this hobby it would be the "User Group". Though I have a great deal of admiration and respect for those of you who restore a boat to "As it came out of the factory" standards the two Chris Crafts that I have the privilege of stewarding are nowhere near that level, however they are well maintained and enjoyed.
I try to live life on the lighter side of things not taking myself, others, or circumstances too seriously. If the club wants me as a representative I am happy to serve.
In conclusion all I can say is:
I Love Chris Craft Boats
Andy Riggs:
I was born in Darrtown, OH, a very small town in Ohio about 30 miles northwest of Cincinnati. As a young boy, I spent countless hours in a bass boat, mainly on the Ohio River and Brookville Lake in Indiana with my father. I was pictured in the local paper at the age of 6 holding my first trophy Largemouth Bass. The passion of fishing and boating continued on as I grew and spent time with friends on lakes in Northern Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In 2008, I saved a 1969 Chris Craft Ski Boat from the salvage yard with my brother in law. I would spend the next several years as an active member of the Boat Buzz forum, learning about these fine crafts and documenting my 3 year restoration of FLASH, launching her again in September of 2014.
I am a Pro Account Representative for The Home Depot covering 18 stores in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton, OH. With 60 large Pro customers in my portfolio, I play an active role in the success of the Pro business within these markets. I have been with the company for 10 years and am a true believer in the brand and the success of the company.
I currently live in Oxford, OH, home of Miami University, with my wife Jennifer and our 3 children, Drew (7), Stella (5), and Sophia (3). While life is certainly busy, my family and I are active members of the Hamilton Boat Club, a private club located on the banks of the Great Miami River that has been around for 82 years. I am also a member of the ACBS Bluegrass Chapter and the CCABC, volunteering to serve as an ambassador at 2 shows this summer.
As I have stated before, the future success of both the CCABC and the ACBS will rely on the growth of new membership, especially from Generation X and younger. While many of us are active on the Boat Buzz Forum, sharing information, we need to get this same passion for preserving this part of American History out to the next generation of Club members. At 38 years old, I have noticed that I am typically one of the youngest participants at any of the show I have attended and really want to bring new folks into this arena in order to build a solid membership base for the future.
We have a great club here and I really look forward to meeting many more of you in person at shows and the events that are being planned as we speak. I would like the club to be more involved in the ACBS shows in an effort to drive membership. I would also like to see more events for members on a regional and national level. If elected, I plan to make driving new membership and promoting a sense of community my top priorities.
Jeff Rogers:
PURCHASED 1ST VINTAGE BOAT: August 1989 (a 1939 Chris Craft 17' Deluxe Runabout)
• JOINED Chris Craft Antique Boat Club (CCABC) - 1990
• JOINED Antique & Classic Boat Society (ACBS) -1990
• DIRECTOR - Water Wonderland Chapter/ACBS (1992-1994)
• PRESIDENT - Water Wonderland Chapter/ACBS (1994-1996, 1996-1998)
• DIRECTOR - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (1996-1997)
• SECRETARY - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (1997-2002)
• VICE PRESIDENT - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (2003-2005)
• PRESIDENT - Antique & Classic Boat Society, Inc. (2005-2006)
• BOAT SHOW CHAIR - Boats on the Boardwalk - Traverse City, MI (early-to-mid 2000's)
• CHAIR / ACBS Vintage Boat Symposium @ Mystic Seaport - Mystic, CT - April 2007
• SYMPOSIA: Attended ACBS Symposia @ Mariners Museum - 1991, 1993, 1997
• CHIEF JUDGE - Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show - Hessel, MI (2001 to present)