Annapolis, MD

The Marine Industry Technical Education Council (MITEC) recently announced the confirmation of three new Council members and the election of a new Chairman.  Representing a cross section of the recreational marine industry, to include boat manufacturers, boat yards, repair facilities and marinas, community workforce development partnerships, dealers and retailers, education and training institutions, engine and systems manufacturers, independent technicians, surveyors and yacht brokers, the volunteer Council members provide guidance in furthering MITEC’s mission of facilitating the creation and sustained availability of a technically skilled and proficient labor force for the marine industry through education, training and professional development    

With past Council members Curt Ainswoth of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Nancy Bodick of Milford Boat Works and Sarah Devlin departing after their initial terms, MITEC welcomed John Bernier, Pam Lendzion and Barbara Jean (BJ) Walsh.

John Bernier – Watch Captain Marine Software/Massasoit Community College

 John has been involved in the marine industry in various positions for the entirety of his career – from entry level technician to the Service and General Manager of a service and repair facility.  In his position on the MITEC, John is representing the education sector.  He is currently the Marine Technology Instructor at Massasoit State College in Canton, MA.  John is also a Marine Technology Program Advisor at the Ben Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston., in addition to being a Board Member of the Association of Marine Technicians (AMTECH), as well as a member of the Massachusetts Marine Trades Education Committee.

Pam Lendzion – MarineTec Management Company

Pam Lendzion is the President/CEO of MarineTec Management Company.  MarineTec Management Company provides comprehensive management services, management consulting, and management training to marine businesses. The company focuses on marina facility planning and construction, marina resort start-up and operations, yacht repair yard operations, yacht charter operations, marine project management, and marine services development.

Barbara Jean (BJ) Walsh – ProBoat E-Training

Barbara Jean has been involved in the marine industry since 1988, when she first began working part time as support staff at WoodenBoat Publications in Brooklin, Maine.  As that part-time job evolved into a new career she was able to transfer her existing skills as an administrator, a researcher, and an educator into a series of jobs where she honed her writing ability, learned database management, and helped to organize more than 1,000 seminars for the marine industry.  BJ has been developing and managing new programs for Professional BoatBuilder magazine.  Most recently, she has been involved in setting up the beta version of the online database, ProBoat PILOT (www.proboatpilot.com), and in investigating new ways to expand the educational services previously offered via EMarineTraining.com, which is now transforming into ProBoat E-Training.

MITEC members also elected  Steve Kitchin, Vice President of Corporate Education & Training at New England Institute of Technology to the position of MITEC Chairman.  Steve replaces Ed Boncek of Sea Ray Boats who stepped down due to increased work commitments after an initial term in this position.  On behalf of the MITEC, “We would like to thank Ed Boncek for his service as the first MITEC Chairman,” stated Steve Kitchin.  “Ed’s hard work and dedication laid a solid foundation which will make the continued building of MITEC an easier task,” continued Steve, who shares Ed’s plans to promote the need for increased awareness of marine industry careers through the projects and programs that MITEC is pursuing. 

The Marine Industry Technical Education Council (MITEC) was established as a result of the Conference on Marine Industry Technical Training (COMITT).  MITEC’s purpose is to facilitate the creation and sustained availability of a technically skilled and proficient labor force for the marine industry through education, training and professional development.  The supporting mission of the Council is to promote public awareness and appreciation of technical workforce career opportunities within the marine industry.  To learn more about MITEC and careers in the boating industry, visit www.boatingcareerinfo.org.