2025-2026 WISTA USA Board of Directors: (Left to Right: Jillian Tobias, Christina Liviakis Gianopulos, Kate Belmont, Sarah Brennan, Marlene Boyer, Meredith Kirby, Sarah Burroughs, Sarah Tong Sangmeister. Not pictured: Kassandra Savicki.)
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) USA welcomed more than 200 maritime professionals from across the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean to its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference, held May 12-14 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The event kicked off with Pre-Conference Professional Development Sessions spotlighting WISTA USA entrepreneurs who have launched successful businesses post-COVID, including Seda Turhan, Shoreline Yacht; Hanne Wulp, Communication Wise; Gabriella Cramer, GC Maritime; and Kathleen Hagan, FHG Marine Engineering, Inc. A second session featured Michelle Alexandrowicz, Engage; Christina Hughes, Maersk Line Limited; Margie Aguilera, Pasha Hawaii; Elizabeth Kaufman, Kaufman Logistics; and Amy Buhl, Weathernews, Inc., explored the intricate interplay between introverted and extroverted communication and work styles. The day concluded with speed networking hosted by Tropical Shipping and a welcome reception.
During the AGM segment, WISTA USA’s Board of Directors announced Marlene Boyer, Global Commercial Manager at Stolt Tankers as its new President. She succeeds Christina Liviakis Gianopulos, Director of Business Development at American Ship Repair, who concluded her three-year term as President. Ms. Boyer’s background includes service as a U.S. Navy Reserve officer, sailing as a deck officer, and holding leadership roles in tanker operations and commercial sales. She holds an MBA in Shipping & Logistics from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy and a B.S. in Marine Environmental Science from SUNY Maritime College.
Newly elected to the WISTA USA Board is Sarah Tong Sangmeister, Partner at Peacock Piper Tong and Voss LLP, who will replace Anna Silva, HSE/Cruise Manager, Port Everglades Terminals. Returning for a second term is Meredith Kirby, General Counsel at International Registries, Inc. and WISTA International Executive Committee member.
WISTA USA honored Ms. Anna Silva, who concluded her board term, for her leadership in workforce development and outreach, particularly through the ‘Back to School’ campaign. She will continue serving on the WISTA International Ports Committee.
The 2025-2026 WISTA USA Board includes Ms. Boyer, Ms. Gianopulos, Ms. Sangmeister, Ms. Kirby, as well as Jillian Tobias, President, LogOn Media Strategies; Kassandra Savicki, Counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright; Kate Belmont, Associate General Counsel, American Bureau of Shipping; Maritime Professional Sarah Brennan; and Sarah Burroughs, Senior Manager Audit Programs, Holland America Group.
WISTA USA also launched a new Industry and Outreach Committee, co-chaired by past Presidents Alexandra Anagnostis-Irons, CEO and Founder, Total Marine Solutions, and Jeanne Grasso, Partner, Blank Rome.
Prior to the AGM, Canaveral Port Authority welcomed attendees with informative bus and boat tours of the second-busiest cruise port in the world, a unique location where maritime and aerospace industries converge. Attendees also engaged in first-timer meetups and small group cohort sessions designed to build community and strengthen connections.
Attendees then convened for a panel discussion on The Future of Cruising, featuring Allison Oswalt, Carnival Cruise Line; Dona Regis, Caribbean Tourism Organization; Donnie Brown, Cruise Lines International Association; and Blythe Daly, Royal Caribbean Group.
The conference began Wednesday with a welcome address from Samantha Cornelius, Port Canaveral. Following this, the ‘Navigating Maritime Decarbonization in a New Era’ panel, featuring Margaret Kaigh Doyle, Transparensea Fuels LLC; Denise McCafferty, Register; and Elise Sturrup, ICCT discussed the future of fuels and how the industry is adapting to regulations and mariner and shoreside training requirements.
The ‘Where Maritime Meets Space’ panel, with Gwen Shamley, SpaceX; a representative from ABS; and Jillian Tobias, President, LogOn Media Strategies, showcased a detailed look at the realities of maritime and space technology intersections in the U.S.
The final panel, ‘Buoy, That Escalated Quickly: Lessons and Insights for the Future of Marine Salvage & Emergency Response’ panel, featuring Lindsay Malen, McAllister Towing; Rebecca Garcia-Malone, Resolve Marine; Kelly Baughman, Crowley, Mara DuVernois, Resolve Marine; Dana Merkel, Blank Rome; and Ellen McGlynn, Collier Walsh Nakazawa LLP, discussed the complexities of marine salvage and emergency response in today’s fast-paced maritime environment. The conference concluded with attendees witnessing a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from the beach and a private tour of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center from Space Florida.
2025 WISTA USA AGM Sponsors include American Maritime Officers (AMO), American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier, Tropical Shipping, Fairwater, IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry, Medical Solution Services, Canaveral Port Authority, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), McAllister Towing, The American Club, American Ship Repair, Resolve Marine, The Law Office of Michelle Otero Valdez, Shoreline Yacht, BAE Systems, Cozen O’Connor, Jeffrey Fenneman, K&L Gates, Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), Marine Teknik, Norton Rose Fulbright, Stanley Yacht Services, TOTE Services, US Ocean, and Stanley Legal Services LLC.
WISTA USA Annual Corporate Sponsors include Matson, ABS, The Pasha Group, Blank Rome, Jones Walker, Maersk Line, Limited, and OSG.
WISTA International is an international networking organization for women in management roles in the maritime industry and related trades. WISTA International comprises more than 6,000 members in 62 countries. WISTA USA, founded in 1997, is the largest National WISTA Association (NWA) worldwide, with more than 900 members spread across twelve regional Chapters: Connecticut; Delaware River & Bay Area; Florida; Great Lakes/Midwest; Hampton Roads; New England; New Orleans; New York / New Jersey; the Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Washington, and Oregon); Texas; Washington, DC Metro; and West Coast (California and Hawai’i). WISTA USA members represent all facets of the maritime industry, including shipowners, charterers, operators, brokers, bankers, insurance professionals, attorneys, analysts, and government officials.
WISTA USA’s main goals are providing networking and educational opportunities for WISTA USA members. In pursuit of these objectives, our various regional Chapters hold periodic meetings, seminars, and social gatherings throughout the year, occasionally in conjunction with larger marine industry events. In addition, the WISTA USA Annual General Meeting takes place each spring, and the International Conference, open to all WISTA members worldwide, takes place each fall. All of these events – whether local, regional, national, or international – provide tremendous networking and educational opportunities for our members and thereby enhance the benefits of membership in the organization.
