Six members of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) were elected or re-elected to fill three regional seats and three at-large seats on the board of directors. Their terms begin Oct. 1, 2014, and they will serve two-year terms. ASA’s board members may serve three, consecutive two-year terms.

Regional seats went to:

  •     Great Lakes Region – Kirk Immens, president, Sportco Marketing, Lake in the Hills, IL (reelected)
  •     Northeast Region – Chris Megan, publisher, On the Water, LLC, East Falmouth, MA (reelected)
  •     Northern Plains and Inter-Mountain Region – Donn Schaible, president, Wright & McGill Co., Denver, CO (reelected)

At-Large seats went to:

  •     Dave Pfeiffer, president, Shimano American Corporation, Irvine, CA. (reelected)
  •     Mark Reasoner, SVP and General Manager, North America, Pure Fishing, Columbia, SC
  •     Gary Remensnyder, president, Lew’s Fishing Tackle, Springfield, MO

“The experience and perspectives that these members bring to the board of directors is unmatched and will serve the industry well,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “I thank them for their commitment and look forward to working with them to advance the association and the sportfishing industry.”

Immens, a current ASA board member, was reelected to serve his third, two-year term. Immens plans to bring his knowledge and experience to the board and the association to help make a difference in fisheries management issues, especially to help stop fishing closures. Megan, a current ASA board member, was reelected to serve his second, two-year term. Megan has a particular interest in ensuring anglers have access to fishing without undue closures and regulations not based on sound science. Schaible, the current board Secretary, was reelected to serve his second, two-year term. Schaible is particularly concerned about the lack of science that drives fisheries resource decisions and increasing regulations that impact anglers and the industry.

Pfeiffer was reelected to the board for his third, two-year term. He served on the board from 2002-2008 including as Chairman from 2005-2007. Pfeiffer has recruited a number of Shimano staff to serve on association committees as well as recruited reps and other affiliated firms to join ASA and also serve. He continues to ensure that ASA keeps watch over issues such as marine protected areas that have an impact on saltwater recreational fishing. Reasoner was elected to his first, two-year term. He is concerned about the trend towards preservation rather than conservation and plans to assist ASA in its efforts to prevent that from occurring. Remensnyder was elected to his first, two-year term having previously served on the board of directors as an ex-officio member. He wants to see the industry and the sport grow and prosper for the industry and for anglers.

The current members of the Board of Directors are: Gregg Wollner, Rapala, Chairman; Jeff Marble, Immediate Past Chairman; Dave Bulthuis, Costa, Vice Chairman; Peter Foley, Boone Bait Company, Inc., Treasurer; Donn Schaible, Wright & McGill Company, Secretary; Dave Pfeiffer, Shimano American Corporation; Thom Dammrich, National Marine Manufacturers Association; Kirk Immens, Sportco Marketing, Inc.; Martin MacDonald, Bass Pro Shops; Chris Megan, On the Water, LLC; Terry Pederson, Daiwa Corporation; Paul Schluter, St. Croix Rods; Aledia Hunt Tush, CB’s Saltwater Outfitters; K. C. Walsh, Simms Fishing Products; Nick Wiley, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Gary Zurn, Big Rock Sports, LLC. Ex-officio members are: John Doerr, Pure Fishing; Ken Hammond, The Hammond Group; Tom Rolls, Cabela’s.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association committed to representing the interests of the entire sportfishing community.