Alexandria, Va. – Four members of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) were elected to fill two At-Large seats and two regional seats on the board of directors. Their three-year terms begin October 1, 2020. ASA is the national trade association that represents the sportfishing industry.
At-large seats went to:
Bruce Akin, CEO, B.A.S.S., Birmingham, Alabama – Re-elected to serve a second term on the board
Diane Bristol – Senior Director, Employee and Community Engagement, Simms Fishing Products, Bozeman, Montana – Elected to serve a first term on the board
Regional seats went to:
Phillip Lillo, Owner/CEO, Don Coffey Company, Orlando, Florida – Southeast Region – Elected to serve a first term on the board from an ex-officio appointment
Dan McDonald, President Yakima Bait Company, Granger, Washington – West Region – Re-elected to serve second term on the board
“I congratulate Dan McDonald and Bruce Akin on their re-elections to the board of directors and Phil Lillo, an ex-officio member, who now has a voting seat on the board,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes. “I also welcome Diane Bristol to the board and congratulate her on being elected to her first term.”
Hughes noted, “These individuals have diverse backgrounds with decades of experience in membership, conservation, distribution, marketing and manufacturing in the recreational fishing industry adding tremendous value to our already very strong board of directors.”
The current members of the board of directors are:
Executive Committee – Chris Megan, Publisher, On The Water, LLC, Chairman; Jesse Simpkins, Director of Marketing, St. Croix Rods, Vice Chairman; Louis Chemi, COO, Freedom Boat Club, Secretary; Dan McDonald, President, Yakima Bait Company, Treasurer; Steve Smits, President and COO, ZEBCO Brands, At-Large; and Kirk Immens, President, Sportco Marketing, Inc., Immediate Past Chairman.
Board Members – Bruce Akin, CEO, B.A.S.S. LLC; Dale Barnes, Division Manager, Marketing, Yamaha Marine Group; Charlie Davis, Director of Brand-Fishing, Plano Synergy; Dan Ferris, Publisher, Midwest Outdoors; Peter Foley, President, Boone Bait Company, Inc., Patrick Gill, CEO, TackleDirect; Kelly Hepler, Department Secretary, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks; Frank Hugelmeyer, President, National Marine Manufacturers Association; Bob Hunter, Vice President, Merchandising, Big Rock Sports; Mike Jackson, President, Wright & McGill Company; Carl Liederman, President, Capt. Harry’s Fishing Supply Co., Inc.; Dave Pfeiffer, President, Shimano North American Fishing, Inc.; and Zach Swanson, General Manager and Vice President of Sales, Rapala.
Ex-officio – Dave Bulthuis, President, North America, Pure Fishing, Inc; Carey Graves, Vice President of Sales, Daiwa Corporation; Kenneth Hammond, CEO, The Hammond Group; and Phil Lillo, Owner/CEO, Don Coffey Company.