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Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc. presents the
11th Annual Beacon of Light Awards
Honorees include Riviera Beach Councilwoman Dawn Pardo,
Old Port Cove Holdings and Jim Bronstien
For more information contact Alyssa Freeman at (561) 863-0012 or mia@marinepbc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RIVIERA BEACH, FL (March 6, 2012) –Each year, the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc. (MIAPBC) proudly recognizes three outstanding individuals and organizations as recipients of the MIAPBC Beacon of Light Awards for their unfailing support of the county’s marine industry. The awards will be presented March 21 at The Lake Pavilion in downtown West Palm Beach, amidst the 27th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show.
The Beacon of Light Awards are awarded in three categories: Marine Advocate of the Year awarded to Riviera Beach Councilwoman Dawn Pardo; Marine Project of the Year awarded to Old Port Cove Holdings; and Member of the Year awarded to Jim Bronstien.
Marine Advocate of the Year is presented to an individual, group, or organization whose work is recognized with our mission as supporting, promoting, and protecting the sound growth of the marine industry in Palm Beach County for the benefit and education of the boating public and the environment.
Riviera Beach Councilwoman Dawn Pardo is awarded Marine Advocate of the Year for recognizing and working toward increasing awareness of the economic values and impact of the marine industries in Palm Beach County and City of Riviera Beach. She understands the balance between the environmental needs of our coastal communities and the economic needs of the businesses that rely on the water as an economic engine.
Councilwoman Pardo moved Riviera Beach toward developing a brand-new city marina, which is now under construction. She has worked diligently to assist Rybovich in creating a new superyacht facility at 20th Street in Riviera Beach, and has led the effort to approve funding to remove derelict vessels from the Lake Worth Lagoon. She successfully developed an incentive grant program to businesses located within the CRA in Riviera Beach – most of which are marine businesses – and is working toward creating a Marine Mile to extend from south of 45th Street in West Palm Beach to 24th Street in Riviera Beach.
Councilwoman Pardo sits on the board of directors for the Palm Beach County League of Cities, working diligently on the 2012 agenda to make the marine industries an economic development priority. She also requested and was appointed to the Florida League of Cities Environmental Resource Committee; was appointed to represent the League of Cities on the Palm Beach County Lagoon Initiatives Steering Committee; and has participated as a judge for the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade for the past four years.
Based on these achievements and more, the MIAPBC is pleased to recognize Councilwoman Dawn Pardo as an elected official and community leader who has taken the initiative to understand the importance and impact of the marine industry to Palm Beach County and Florida.
Marine Project of the Yearis awarded to the person or organization that initiated, is responsible for, defended, promoted, or otherwise supported a project that enhances boating opportunities in the Palm Beaches. The award is presented to Old Port Cove Holdings.
Old Port Cove Holdings will receive the Beacon of Light Award for past and ongoing upgrades to all three of their marina facilities: Old Port Cove Marina, North Palm Beach Marina, and New Port Cove Marine Center.
Located on a 60-acre peninsula just off U.S. Highway 1, Old Port Cove Marina is the first megayacht facility of its kind in Palm Beach County. Its two basins, north and south, each received a complete facelift, starting with the smaller $7 million renovation of the north basin in 2007, followed by a $15 million project at the south basin. The marina was built in the early 1970s using fixed concrete piers, but after 35 years of wear and sustaining hurricane damage, a rebuild was necessary. The two-year, $22 million project, completed in November 2008, rounded out Old Port Cove Holdings’ triplet of recently renovated state-of-the-art marinas in Palm Beach County. Old Port Cove is now in the process of enhancing the upland amenities with a new dining facility, fitness center, crew lounge facility, pool, restroom, and showers, accompanied by a new office to better serve its boating clients. “We’re all looking forward to these new and exciting amenities in the fall of 2012,” said Richard Morgan, Old Port Cove Holdings’ CEO.
North Palm Beach Marina was the first of Old Port Cove Holdings’ marinas to be renovated in summer 2002. The $4 million project included floating docks, in-slip pumpout service, and new fire equipment.
Between 2003 and 2006, Old Port Cove Holdings renovated its dry stack facility, New Port Cove Marine Center, to increase the size of boats it could store. Heavier racks were added, two new forklifts were purchased for moving bigger and heavier boats, and their staging area was increased from 100 feet to twin 100-foot staging areas. New Port Cove Marine Center’s $3 million renovation increased its wet slips from 15 to 43, adding fixed docks in 2003 and floating docks in 2006. Like the other two facilities, New Port Cove Marine Center also received a new fuel dock, fire equipment, pumpout service, and landscaping.
All three marinas have been designated Clean Marinas by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. After nearly eight years of renovations and a $29 million investment, Old Port Cove Holdings’ state-of-the-art facilities have set the bar for marina excellence in Palm Beach County.
MIAPBC Member of the Year is Jim Bronstien. Jim is a founding member and past president of the MIAPBC (1991-1992). He has been a board member for the MIAPBC on and off for more than 20 years, and is always asked to return and serve because he brings a lot to the table in terms of his vast knowledge of the industry and the MIAPBC.
Jim has helped the MIAPBC build and maintain relationships with several key people and agencies in the county as owner and president of Rybovich from 1984 until 2004; a former board member of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida; past president of the American Boat Builders and Repairer’s Association; co-creator of the International Marina and Boatyard Conference; past president of SunFest of Palm Beach County; former board chairman of the Palm Beach County Film Commission; board chairman for the American Red Cross – Palm Beach Chapter; and senior board member of the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council. Currently, Jim is president of Marine Business Advisors where he continues to use his vast knowledge of the marine industry, both foreign and domestic, to enhance the boating experience for both the industry and the private boater.
Jim is also being awarded for his efforts in overseeing and helping to expand what is now the Palm Beach International Boat Show by bringing in Show Management to produce the show. He never hesitates to step up to the plate when he is asked to take on any task, and his insight is invaluable. The MIAPBC looks forward to having Jim as an officer on the board of directors, serving as its secretary/treasurer beginning in May.
Please join the MIAPBC in congratulating all of its 2012 Beacon of Light Award recipients and thanking them for their support of this important industry.
The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc. represents the more than 800 marine-related businesses in Palm Beach County that have an annual economic impact of approximately $1.5 billion in our community. MIAPBC is a not-for-profit organization created to promote and protect the sound growth of the marine industry in Palm Beach County for the benefit and education of its members, the community, and the environment. For more information, call 561-863-0012.
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