The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association honored two industry leaders — a rising star and a veteran — at its annual meeting last week.
RIMTA presented its J. Michael Keyworth Rising Tide Award to Steve Prime, the recently retired vice president of the Gowrie Group, and its Future Rising Star Award to Evan Ridley, the environmental project director for the association, which has helped spearhead boat-recycling efforts.
The Rising Tide Award honors a person who has affected “positive and lasting change” for the Rhode Island marine industry, and was first given in 2015 to Michael Keyworth, who presented the award to Prime.
“Thank you RIMTA board and staff for this recognition and award,” Prime said in a statement. “I am truly thankful. I want to thank the many people whom I’ve had the pleasure of doing business with over the course of my 49 year career, as well as those I had the pleasure of working with during my tenure on the RIMTA board..”
The Future Rising Star recognizes a young professional who has made “extraordinary contributions” to support the growth and development of the Rhode Island marine industry. Rhode Island Sea Grant director Dennis Nixon presented the award to Ridley.
Over the last two years, Ridley has created a foundation of research and collaborative, multi-industry discourse that can support the development of sustainable management solutions for end-of-life vessels and other composite products, according to RIMTA.
“To be a part of the team at RIMTA is a tremendous honor, and I want to recognize all the folks that have helped make this possible,” Ridley said. “I have had the opportunity to have conversations with people both around the country and around the world about what needs to still be done to help lift this industry beyond some of the challenges we face.”
