ABYC Honors Award Winners

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) honored industry leaders and longtime volunteers during its awards ceremony January 12 in Charleston, presented at ABYC’s annual meeting on the opening day of Standards Week. The meeting brings together industry experts and boating safety advocates to highlight the year’s boating safety advances and recognize volunteers helping move standards forward.

C.T. “Skip” Moyer Leadership Award: Ed Sherman

Named for ABYC’s former president, the C.T. “Skip” Moyer Leadership Award was established in 2002 and is presented to the ABYC member who best exemplifies the leadership qualities of ABYC’s past presidents through hard work, personal sacrifice and contributions to boating safety.

This year’s recipient, Ed Sherman, is a former ABYC education director, an author of books on electrical systems and outboard engines, and a contributor to multiple technical articles. He also helped develop ABYC’s first marine technician certification program.

Bolling Fortson Douglas Award: Kim Horn

ABYC created the Bolling Fortson Douglas Award, named for a legendary marine surveyor and longtime supporter of ABYC standards, to honor a female ABYC member who exemplifies Douglas’ passion and dedication to making boating safe, reliable and enjoyable.

Horn, a senior compliance specialist with Boston Whaler, has developed and maintained digital compliance templates, components matrices and test-report workflows that help manufacturers meet ABYC, U.S. Coast Guard, ISO and NMMA requirements. She also educates teams on best practices and, through Brunswick’s Women on Water program, organizes initiatives to help more teammates get on the water with confidence.

Augusto “Kiko” Villalon Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob and Sandy MacNeill

The award, previously known as the Lifetime Service Award, was renamed following an ABYC Board of Directors resolution in memory of the late Augusto “Kiko” Villalon.

Bob MacNeill has held executive roles at Chris-Craft, Carver, Viking, Outboard Marine Corporation and other companies. He also served as president and later chair of the board at the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology and ran two consulting businesses: Robert MacNeill Yacht Design and International Marine Consulting Associates with Charlie Game. He is a member emeritus of the ABYC technical board.