Here’s something you may not know about the American Boat & Yacht Council: This group takes its awards seriously. The association celebrates multiple people throughout the year, from marine technicians to educators. ABYC staffers and designated industry experts pore over submissions and meet more than once to discuss results, especially during the annual awards presented during Standards Week. If there is a year when the ABYC team and board members can’t find a candidate for one of its awards, that award is not presented. These names are not picked out of a hat.

At the ABYC’s annual meeting Jan. 12 in Charleston, S.C., the group acknowledged and celebrated people in our industry who are creating legacies and ensuring that boating remains safe and fun. Congratulations to the all of the winners.

Bob and Sandy MacNeill  

This year, the ABYC changed the name of its Lifetime Achievement Award to the Augusto “Kiko” Villalon Lifetime Achievement Award. The new name memorializes a man of great influence who in 2024 received ABYC’s Industry Icon Award and an Honorary Past Chair Award. Few people have had an impact as profound and enduring as Kiko. Changing the name of the award adds even more gravitas.

ABYC president John Adey presented the award to two people: Bob and Sandy MacNeill. “Traditionally this award has been presented to an individual,” Adey said. “However, my experience with Bob is that I rarely utter his name without it being followed by Sandy.”

Bob has held executive roles at Chris-Craft, Carver, Viking, Outboard Marine Corp. and other companies. Bob was also president and chair of the board of directors at Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology, and he ran two consulting businesses, Robert MacNeill Yacht Design and International Marine Consulting Associates with Charlie Game.

Bob, always supported by Sandy, has spent his career focused on boating safety. An avid boater, he joined the discussions related to developing ABYC standards and is a member emeritus on the ABYC technical board. As Kiko’s longtime friend, Bob acted as guide and companion in Kiko’s later years at meetings and events. 

“I am so honored to present this to the both of you,” Adey said. “I am proud to know you, and our entire industry is better off because you have been in it.”

Kim Horn

The Bolling Fortson Douglas Award, named in honor of a legendary marine surveyor and staunch supporter of ABYC standards, commemorates a female ABYC member who best exemplifies Bolling’s passion and dedication to making boating safe, reliable and enjoyable. The candidate must hold a current ABYC certification and be directly responsible for constructing, repairing or inspecting boats according to ABYC standards. 

This year’s recipient is Kim Horn, compliance specialist and technical publications manager at Boston Whaler. She is a “great example of professionalism in the compliance field,” said Dave Marlow, senior director of product integrity/government affairs at Brunswick Corp., who presented the award to his longtime friend.

Horn’s footprint shows up in compliance books and in checklists that ensure manufacturers meet ABYC, Coast Guard, ISO and NMMA requirements. She has authored and maintained digital compliance book templates, critical components matrices and test report workflows.

“[Kim] is intelligent, thorough and tireless,” Marlow said. “She has become the go-to person for compliance personnel at our facilities, and is one of the reasons we’ve been able to successfully distribute product into the EU under the CE mark. That’s not just a compliment; it’s an acknowledgment of sustained excellence and the real-world outcomes of her work.”

Ed Sherman 

Named for the ABYC’s former president, the C.T. “Skip” Moyer Leadership Award was established in 2002 and is presented to an ABYC member who best exemplifies the leadership qualities of ABYC’s past presidents through hard work, personal sacrifice and contributions to the goals of boating safety. This year’s recipient, Ed Sherman, the former ABYC education director, is the author of books on electrical systems and outboards. Sherman has written multiple technical articles, and he is one of the minds behind the first ABYC marine technician certification program.

Tim Murphy, current education director and co-author of the updated Fundamentals of Marine Service textbook and workbooks with Sherman, presented the award as Sherman’s mentee and dear friend.

“Truly transformative leaders are rare,” Murphy said. “During his time at ABYC, Ed transformed not merely the education department writ small but the whole field of marine trades education in America. For anybody working in the marine trades, we are all living in the world Ed built.”

Sarah Devlin is accreditation director at the American Boat & Yacht Council.

This column first appeared in the February, 2026 issue of Soundings Trade Only.