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C-PORT Board of Directors & Management

The C-PORT Board of Directors is made up of C-PORT members who are experienced professionals from throughout the marine assistance industry. They each bring their own unique perspective to the Board to further the successes of the industry and its partners.

Working closely with the C-PORT Board of Directors is the Executive Staff. These professionals are tasked with the operation of the Association, addressing member’s needs and assisting the Board of Directors with the continued growth and development of the Marine Assistance Industry.

		Tina Cardone, Executive Director Tina Cardone has decades of experience working within the Marine Assistance Industry. Beginning in the late 1980s, Tina worked closely with the Coast Guard learning about the new rules and regulations for the industry. She gained great insight into how an association supports its membership and principles through legislative actions, in meeting membership needs, and promoting the association’s ideals to the boating community. Her background gives her insight into how a marine business must juggle legislative requirements, employment needs and serving the boating community with profitability. Through this unique view, Tina is able to contribute to the continued growth and development of C-PORT and the Marine Assistance Industry it represents. Tina has a B.A. in Political Science and enjoys the political system and has a fascination with the study of law. She enjoys writing and has written and collaborated on a number of published articles. Tina has cruised the Bahamas, Caribbean and made numerous crossings to Bermuda. Other voyages include cruising the Eastern U.S. from Florida to Maine, crossing to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the French Islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
*Executive Committee*
		Chris Shaffner, Chairman Towboat One/TowBoatU.S. Palm Beach West Palm Beach, FL Chris Shaffner took his first boat ride reportedly at 2 weeks of age and was first paid for working on boats at age 10. He grew up on the New River in Ft. Lauderdale and at age 16, became a Life Guard. He moved to the Cayman Islands and spent 6 months developing the Cayman Islands Swimming Team and teaching swimming and SCUBA diving. He returned to Ft. Lauderdale and went into the yacht service industry for a number of years. While on delivery in Boston, he began working with a marine assistance company on weekends. Chris returned to Florida and bought TowBoatU.S. Palm Beach in January 2003. The marine assistance industry has offered Chris a place to combine many of the skills he acquired along the way and provided both he and his family with a challenging, rewarding and never boring focus for their energy. Along with his position as Chairman at C-PORT, Chris sits on the Board of Directors for the Palm Beach Sailing Club and is a Committee Head for the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade Toys for Tots pick up boats.
		Kevin Freestone, Vice Chairman Lower Keys Marine Towing & Salvage/TowBoatU.S. Big Pine Key Big Pine Key, FL Kevin Freestone started boating at the age of 15. Since then he has enjoyed being on the water. He worked in Corporate Management for over 20 years before he decided it was time to make a change. Since 1997, he ran charter fishing vessels in the Big Pine and Lower Keys area. He started Lower Keys Marine Towing and Salvage Inc/TowBoatU.S. Big Pine Key in late 2001. He has a USCG Master License and is SCUBA certified. He is also a certified Hazwoper responder. Kevin is actively involved in the FL Keys community working with the Tourist Development Council as Vice Chairperson of the District Advisory Committee for over 6 years. He is also a volunteer firefighter with the Monroe County Big Pine Key Volunteer Fire Dept. He is the President of the Florida Keys Marine Assistance Association, a regional chapter of C-PORT, which he helped organize over a year ago. Kevin loves being on the water and helping people in need.
		Terry Hill, Treasurer Potomac Marine/TowBoatU.S. Potomac Woodbridge, VA Terry Hill has been active in the marine industry since 1975. Terry worked in his family’s marina from 1975 to 1983. He became a USCG licensed Master in 1985 and began moving boats up and down the East coast and now holds a 100 ton Master of Towing license with unlimited radar endorsement. In 1999 Potomac Marine branched out into the towing and salvage serving the upper Potomac River in the nation’s capital and now operates as TowBoatU.S. Potomac Marine. Terry has been a member of C-PORT since 2003 and though only a member for a relatively short period Terry has become deeply involved and was elected to the Board in 2004 and elected Chairman in 2005 to 2009. It is Terry’s ambition to elevate C-PORT to a more visible level with federal and especially state and local authorities. Terry has been an advocate for the towing and salvages industry in working with local, state, and federal agencies both locally and nationally. In this role he has also worked to advocate good working relations with maritime insurance carriers and salvors through education and mentoring.
		Rand Pratt, Secretary Hawser Marine Services/Sea Tow Key Biscayne Miami, FL Rand Pratt was born with longing for the sea. Born in Chicago but raised in Brazil, he was sailing by age six. After logging several years on the water and working in virtually every aspect of commercial water sports captaining and management, he went on to graduate with a BA in management. Rand was able to merge his experience and passions, and successfully managed one of the largest marinas in the Southeast. Commercial salvage has always fascinated Rand and after considerable research of both Sea Tow and Boat US models, he was able to purchase a Sea Tow franchise. He works closely with the community, government agencies and municipal authorities to ensure the highest level of seamanship and professionalism in the industry.
*Board of Directors*
		John Andrews Safe/Sea Wickford, RI Capt. John Andrews is the President, Founder, and majority owner of Safe/Sea. An avid boater throughout his life, Capt. Andrews started the company that would become Safe/Sea in 1983 with the purchase of a 60' steel tugboat named the William D. Kropp. When the U.S. Coast Guard ceased providing free towing service in non-emergency situations in 1984, Capt. Andrews purchased Safe/Sea's first fast rescue towboat and began developing the business in Narragansett Bay. Capt. Andrews is a founding member of C-PORT. He served as its Chairman of the Board for several years in the late 1980's and early 1990's, and still sits on the association's Board of Directors. In addition, he is the Northeast Region's representative to the TowBoatU.S. Towing Advisory Council.
		Phil Delano Yachting Specialties/Vessel Assist San Francisco & Delta Bethel Island, CA As a child Phil Delano grew up racing small sailboats on Central California lakes. In the early 1980's he and his family cruised the waters off the west coast of Mexico, mostly in the Sea of Cortez. Phil did more sailboat racing off the coast of Ventura in the late 1980's and acquired his USCG License in 1989. His first job as a Captain was a water taxi/ferry in Channel Islands Harbor. In 1990 Phil and his father became contractors for Vessel Assist and ran towboats out of Ventura, Channel Islands, and Santa Barbara Harbors. Phil attended the California Maritime Academy during the mid 1990's and worked for the Vessel Assist company in the California Delta to help pay the bills of college. He opened the first Vessel Assist company in Monterey Bay in 1998. A year later Phil left Monterey Bay to take over Vessel Assist operations in the San Francisco Bay. Three years later our company added the California Delta area. Phil states he loves this business and “they will have to pry the wheel and throttles from my cold dead hands.
		Robert Estrada Estrada Marine Services/TowBoatU.S. Lake Lanier Flowery Branch, GA Robert has been a boater all of his life. His parents always owned boats so at the age of five he took his first boat ride and has been an avid boater ever since. Robert spent the first portion of his young adult life working in the restaurant business in management. A long time friend of Robert’s purchased a Marina on Lake Lanier and asked him if he would like to manage it. Robert found the idea of spending his days on the water very appealing so he accepted the opportunity. He applied his management skills from the restaurant business to the marina and Barkley, owner of the Marina, and Rob took a marina that had 60% occupancy to a marina with 100% occupancy with a waiting list. About a year later, in 1994, they decided to start a “Mom and Pop” towing business to assist their marina tenants in need of towing service. One thing led to another and TowBoatUS Lake Lanier was born. In 2008, he had the opportunity to buy out his partner. In 2010 he was voted to the BoatUS Towing Advisory Council for fresh water lakes and is currently still serving. In 2012, Rob was elected President of the Eastern Inland Marine Assistance Association, a Regional Chapter of C-PORT. Robert enjoys being able to ensure that recreational boaters are safe and enjoy their time with piece of mind on the water. Rob says, “Working on the water never really feels like work because I enjoy it so much and get a sense of self-fulfillment when I assist boaters in need.”
		Joe Frohnhoefer Sea Tow Services International Southold, NY Joe Frohnhoefer founded Sea Tow Services International in response to a 1982 law eliminating the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) response to non-emergency calls. An avid boater and volunteer emergency medical technician, Joe saw the opportunity to establish not only a business, but also an industry. He is a staunch supporter of boating safety and environmental responsibility. Joe is one of the founding members of C-PORT. He also serves on the Towing Safety Advisory Council (TSAC), a deliberative advisory body to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard.
		Jon Gridley Lake Tow Inc./Sea Tow Clarks Hill Lake Clarks Hill, SC Growing up in Wisconsin, Jon has always had a calling to the water. He grew up fishing and boating on the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay. In 1994 Gridley joined as a First Mate aboard a sport fishing charter boat out of the Port of Sheboygan and shortly thereafter, he knew he wanted to become a Captain. In 1996, at the age of 23, Jon received his 50 Ton Master of the Great Lakes license with Commercial Assistance Towing endorsement. He continued these duties until he relocated to the south in 2000. In 2008, Gridley purchased all interests in Lake Tow Inc and teamed up with Howard Kaplan (Sea Tow Lake Norman/Wylie, Kerr/Gaston, Smith Mountain Lake) and formed Sea Tow Clarks Hill Lake. Jon still has a passion for being on the water, but now, assisting boaters makes it even more enjoyable.


		Charles Meyer Lake Tow LLC/TowBoatU.S. Lake of the Ozarks Lake Ozark, MO Charlie Meyer has been a C-PORT member since 2001. He is a retired USCG Warrant Officer. During his over 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, Charlie served primarily in small boat operations, on both East and West Coast SAR stations and retired as Engineering Officer of an Ice Breaking Tug on the Great Lakes. He is a Vietnam Veteran and was awarded the Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V” during his Vietnam service. Charlie’s primary goal on the C-PORT Board of Directors is to represent companies from Inland areas of the country. He likes being part of helping Inland companies and the industry as a whole in carrying out the stated agenda and mission of C-PORT and to work toward overcoming obstacles.
		Dale Plummer Baltimore Marine Recovery/TowBoatU.S. Baltimore Pasadena, MD Dale Plummer, a lifetime Chesapeake Bay boater, left Corporate America in 2007 to begin his professional marine assistance career. He is a USCG licensed Master Captain with a Commercial Assistance Towing endorsement and began towing for TowBoatU.S. Baltimore/Middle River/ Baltimore Marine Recovery in 2007. Dale’s 20 plus years of diving experience has been instrumental in the growth of salvage operations for BMR. His 20 years of business, marketing and organizational knowledge enabled Dale to purchase BMR/TowBoatUS Baltimore/Middle River in January of 2011. Dale is President of Chesapeake Marine Towing and Assistance Association (CMTAA), a regional chapter of C-PORT, and an active member of the Marine Trades Association of Baltimore County. Dale believes that corporate responsibility and professionalism must extend to all trades. He is a leader in the marine community lending support to local law enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard and he proactively works to protect the valuable natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay.
		Roger Slade Marine Assist of Port Hadlock/Vessel Assist Port Hadlock Port Hadlock, WA Captain Roger Slade has been a professional mariner since 1967. A former Coast Guardsman, Roger operates Vessel Assist Port Hadlock in Washington State. Roger states, “The ten years I have spent in the Marine Assistance Industry make everything that came before seem like prep-school. It is and has been a pinnacle privilege to work with, learn from, and serve the finest people anywhere on the water.”
		John Ward Aquanaut Towing & Salvage/Sea Tow Pensacola and Destin Pensacola, FL After graduation in 1994 at the age of 18, I joined the US Coast Guard. I was stationed onboard USCGC Point Wells in Montauk, NY, USCG Station Islamorada, USCGC Venturous in St. Petersburg, FL and I was the Executive Petty Officer at USCG Station Dauphin Island. In 2004, I left the Coast Guard and purchased Sea Tow Destin. This was exciting and challenging as I worked to increase the number of memberships as well as build a reliable reputation for the company. In 2007, I expanded my business and purchased Sea Tow Pensacola. I worked to build this location as well and received several recognitions. I received two Outstanding Membership Growth Awards and an Outstanding Marketing of Box Programs Award my first year with this location. I have assisted Sea Tow Disaster Teams that responded to Hurricans Ivan (2004), Dennis (2005) and Ike (2008). In 2009, I was awarded the Sea Tow Franchise of the Year Award at the Sea Tow annual conference. In 2010, I assisted in the clean up efforts surrounding the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. In 2012, I was blessed with my first child, a healthy baby boy. I plan to continue to operate these two Gulf Coast franchises with the hope of passing this passion for success and the love for the water on to my son.