DEMA is pleased to announce that Stephen Ashmore of Tabata USA (TUSA) has been unanimously elected by the DEMA Board of Directors to serve as its President. (Pictured, from left to right: Jeff Nadler, PADI, Vice President; Stephen Ashmore, Tabata USA (TUSA), President; Jenny Collister, Reef & Rainforest Worldwide Adventure Travel; Tim Webb, Caradonna Dive Adventurers, Treasurer; Darcy Kieran, Total Diving; Bonnie Borkin Filippi, Bonnier, Vice President; William Cline, Cline Group Advertising, Inc.; Scott Daley, Body Glove International; Tom Leaird, Scuba Educators International; Werner Kurn, Ocean Enterprises, Secretary.)

Ashmore is the President of Tabata USA; Director and Board Member of Tabata Japan; Managing Director of Tabata Australia; and has an MBA with majors in International Business and Marketing. He has over 30 years international business experience at a CEO level in the U.S., England, Brussels, Holland and Australia.

In an open letter to the Diving Industry, Ashmore thanked his colleagues on the DEMA Board and urged all within the Industry to voice their opinions, become involved with DEMA Committees and programs and utilize the resources available to members to help take control of their businesses and futures.

DEMA also elected the following board members:

Jeff Nadler, PADI, Vice President
Bonnie Borkin Filippi, Bonnier, Vice President
Tim Webb, Caradonna Dive Adventures, Treasurer
Werner Kurn, Ocean Enterprises, Secretary

In addition, the following Committees and Chairs have been established for 2012 to guide the discussion and manage the workload for the Association and volunteers:

Be A Diver Adventure Sports Festival Committee, Tim Webb, Chair
DEMA Show Committee, Scott Daley, ChairFinance Committee, Tim Webb, Chair
International Growth Committee, Stephen Ashmore, Chair
Legislative Committee, Jeff Nadler, Chair
Manufacturers' Committee, Stephen Ashmore, Chair
Marketing Committee, Bonnie Borkin Filippi, Chair
Membership Committee, Tom Leaird, Chair
Research Committee, William Cline, Chair

If you are interested in serving on future committees please contact June French, DEMA Membership Coordinator, at jfrench@dema.org or contact a member of the current board using the contact information found by clicking here.