WISTA USA, founded in 1997, is among the largest National WISTA Associations (NWAs) worldwide, with over 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). Our 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 our members. In pursuit of these objectives, our various regional Chapters hold events, 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.
Board of Directors
Christina Liviakis Gianopulos
WISTA USA President
Director of Business Development
American Ship Repair
christina@asrny.com
Jillian Tobias
WISTA USA Vice President
President
LogOn Media Strategies
jillian@logonmediastrategies.com
Kate Belmont
WISTA USA Board Member
Associate General Counsel
American Bureau of Shipping
Kbelmont@eagle.org
Marlene Boyer
WISTA USA Recording Secretary
Global Commerical Manager
Stolt Tankers
m.boyer@stolt.com
Sarah Burroughs
WISTA USA Board Member
Sr. Manager Audit programs Holland America Group
SBurroughs@HollandAmericaGroup.com
Meredith Kirby
WISTA USA Board Member
General Counsel
International Registries, Inc.
mkirby@register-iri.com
Kassandra Savicki
WISTA USA Board Member
Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright
kassandra.savicki@nortonrosefulbright.com
Anna Silva
WISTA USA Board Member
HSE/Cruise Manager
Port Everglades Terminal LLC
anna_silva3@yahoo.com
Leadership Team
Lourdes Evans
Connecticut Chapter President
Digital Services Sales Manager
Kongsberg Digital Simulation, Inc.
wistalourdesevans@gmail.com
Lauren Kinky
Delaware River & Bay Area Chapter President
Maritime Compliance Manager
HudsonAnalytix
Alexandra Sible
DC Metro Chapter Co-President
Assistant Program Manager
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
asible@hotmail.com
Rebecca Garcia-Malone
Florida Chapter Co-President
Director Business Development
Curtin Maritime
reb.gar12@gmail.com
Valerie Cannon
Florida Chapter Co-President
Product Marketing Manager, BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair
valericannon@gmail.com
Kirsten Buccigrossi
Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter Co-President
USCG NMC Course Approval SME, RiverTech, LLC (an Altima company)
kbuccigrossi@gmail.com
Amy Buhl
Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter Co-President
Marine Group Global Service Operation Leader, Europe and Americas
Weathernews, Inc.
Amyebuhl@gmail.com
Lauren Beagen
New England Chapter Co-President
Principal & Founder
Squall Strategies, LLC
LaurenBeagenLaw@gmail.com
Jessica Di Giulio
New England Chapter Co-President
Vice President, Moran Shipping Agencies Inc.
jdigiulio@moranshipping.com
Claudia Botero Götz
New York/New Jersey Chapter Co-President
Senior Lawyer
Gard (North America) Inc.
claudia.gotz@gard.no
Lauren Wilgus
New York/New Jersey Chapter Co-President
Director – North America
Steamship Mutual Insurance Services North America, LLC
lauren.wilgus@simsl.com
Anusha Pillay
Pacific Northwest Chapter Co-President
Partner
Collier Walsh Nakazawa LLP
anusha.pillay@cwn-law.com
Sarah Scherer
Pacific Northwest Chapter Co-President
PNW General Manager Maritime Institute
sscherer@maritimeinstitute.com
Hallie Pendleton
Texas Chapter Co-President
General Manager
Greenwave Transportation
hallie.pendleton@gwtllc.net
Sarah Sangmeister
West Coast Chapter Co-President
Managing Partner
Peacock Piper Tong + Voss
ssangmeister@peacockpiper.com
Alison Wilson
West Coast Chapter Co-President
Senior International Counsel
IRI/Marshall Islands Registry
awilson@register-iri.com
Emily Sinclair
Press Officer
Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Brand Management
The Pasha Group
emily_sinclair@pashanet.com
Kathy Haines
WISTA USA Treasurer
Board Member; Advisory Board member; Principal
GENCO Shipping & Trading Limited, Sea-Machines Robotics; Holbridge LLC
khaines@holbridge.com
