USA: SCA Appoints New Chair/Vice Chair at 2012 Meeting

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) voted Mr. Frank Foti, chief executive officer of Vigor Industrial, as the Association’s new chair and Mr. Fred Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO, as vice chair at the organization’s Annual Meeting in Washington, DC on April 24th.

Mr. Foti takes leadership of the Council after a successful 2-year term of Mr. Chris Bollinger, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, which witnessed the consolidation of advocacy for the shipbuilding and repair industry under SCA, increased levels of participation and unprecedented visibility in Washington, DC.

Immediate past chair Chris Bollinger commented, “It has been an honor to serve as chairman of this association the last two years. SCA is now more than ever the go-to organization for issues affecting the shipyard industry and under Frank’s leadership I have no doubt that the SCA is in good hands.”

Mr. Foti expressed his thoughts on being elected Chairman. “SCA is well positioned to tackle the important and challenging times facing the shipyard industry. Over 350,000 American jobs are supported by the shipyard industrial base, and I am honored to lead the organization that advocates on behalf of an industry so vital to our nation’s economic and national security.”

SCA President Matthew Paxton praised the outgoing chair for his leadership and commitment to the Council’s work. “Chris Bollinger has guided this association through a tremendous transition, one that will allow for a singular voice on shipyard industrial base issues.” Looking forward, Mr. Paxton added, “Frank Foti is an excellent selection for chair of the association at this important time for the shipyard industry. I know Frank will bring his passion for the shipyard industry that trains and employs a vital workforce capable of building commercial vessels and constructing and maintaining the most complex and sophisticated Navy and Coast Guard the world has ever seen.”

SCA is the national trade association representing the U.S. shipyard industry that directly employs 100,000 Americans. SCA members constitute the shipyard industrial base that builds, repairs, maintains and modernizes the largest and most sophisticated Navy and Coast Guard in the world. In addition, SCA members build, repair and service America’s fleet of over 40,000 commercial vessels. The Council represents 48 companies that own and operate over 120 shipyards, with facilities on all three U.S. coasts, the Great Lakes, the inland waterways system, Alaska and Hawaii. SCA also represents 78 members, located in all 50 states, which constitute the critical supplier base supporting the shipyard industry that employ hundreds of thousands additional Americans.

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Source: shipbuilders, May 2, 2012