BoatUS president Margaret Bonds Podlich steps down

ALEXANDRIA, VA – After 23 years at Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), Margaret Bonds Podlich announced she is stepping down as president effective Sept. 30. A search has been initiated for a permanent replacement to lead the national boating advocacy, services and safety group. “We want to thank Margaret for her many years of service and dedication to America’s recreational boat owners,” said BoatUS CEO Kirk La. “She made boating better by making government more accountable to boat owners, ensuring that their voice was heard when unfair legislation was being debated. She’s been a strong environmental advocate and played a big role in successfully growing BoatUS into the more than half-a-million-member association that we are today.” Podlich began her career at BoatUS in 1993 as Director of the Clean Water Trust, now part of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Under her direction, the Trust (and later the Foundation) grew to play a national role in clean water issues that affect recreational boaters. Many of today’s Clean Marina programs were developed under Podlich’s vision and leadership. A 2014 honoree of the Darlene Briggs Marine Industry Woman of the Year award, Podlich also worked to promote...