NEW HAMPSHIRE MARINE TRADES ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

NEW HAMPSHIRE MARINE TRADES ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

Longtime Retailers Peter MacCallum and John Whalley to Serve as President and Vice-President for Two-Year Terms

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Marine Trades Association (NHMTA) elected new leaders this month with a long lineage of family experience in the boating business to lead the longtime association for the next two years.  Third-generation boat retailer Peter MacCallum, owner of MacCallum’s Boathouse Inc in Epsom was elected President of NHMTA, and John Whalley, a second- generation boat retailer and General Manager of Silver Sands Marina in Gilford will serve as the group’s Vice President. Erica Blizzard, second generation owner of Lakeport Landing, will continue to serve as the organization’s Treasurer. 

“I’m pleased to be chosen by my colleagues to carry on this role and help lead this organization,” said MacCallum. “Recreational boating in New Hampshire is about spending time with family and friends. As marine dealers we will continue to work with our regulators, our customers and our environmental peer groups to protect New Hampshire’s waterways for all to enjoy for generations to come.”

They will lead an organization that has represented NH’s marine industry and boating enthusiasts for more than three decades. The New Hampshire Marine Trades Association is organized exclusively to promote issues supporting the marine industry, boating safety and maintaining the health of the waterways that support marine activities.  Both MacCallum and Whalley recently served on the HB 137 study commission with a specific review of so-called “wake-boats”, which recommended more robust public education efforts for boaters to understand the rules of the waterways and potential harm done by the improper operation of these popular boats. It has been noted that boating has seen an insurgence of popularity due to the pandemic. 

“Our Association’s core mission is to lead as steward, in preserving the ecological harmony and beauty of all New Hampshire waterways,” says John Whalley.  “We intend to be a clear voice of positive guidance for families who take to the waterways of our great state to enjoy fishing, recreational sports and other fun and exciting activities.  We can strike a balance between safe family activity and a healthy environment.”

NHMTA is organized to promote the common business interest of New Hampshire’s marine industry. The Association also works to promote programs beneficial to the marine industry and to its customers by supporting initiatives related to boating safety, clean marine technology and public awareness efforts to promote sharing the waterways among varied users.