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Who We Are

WISTA USA, founded in 1997, is among the largest National WISTA Associations (NWAs) worldwide, with over 800 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 Brennan

WISTA USA Board Member

Commander
United States Coast Guard
Sarah.E.Brennan1@uscg.mil

Sarah Burroughs

WISTA USA Board Member

Sr. Manager, Audit programs Holland America Group
SBurroughs@HollandAmericaGroup.com

Jeanne Grasso

WISTA USA Board Member

Partner
Blank Rome, LLP
Grasso@blankrome.com

Meredith Kirby

WISTA USA Board Member

General Counsel
International Registries, Inc.
mkirby@register-iri.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.
lourdes.evans@kongsbergdigital.com

Lauren Kinky

Delaware River & Bay Area Chapter President

Maritime Compliance Manager
HudsonAnalytix
lauren.kinky@hudsonmarine.com

Alexandra Sible

DC Metro Chapter Co-President

Assistant Program Manager
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
asible@hotmail.com

Liz Lowe

DC Metro Chapter Co-President

Partner
Venable LLP
eklowe@venable.com

Rebecca Garcia-Malone

Florida Chapter Co-President

Director, Business Development
Curtin Maritime
reb.gar12@gmail.com

Maija Harju

Florida Chapter Co-President

Director of Operations
Fassmer Technical Projects
maija_harju@hotmail.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

Kelsie Brien

Hampton Roads Chapter President

Director of Logistics,
ADS, Inc.
kelsie.brien@gmail.com

Lauren Beagen

New England Chapter Co-President

Principal & Founder
Squall Strategies, LLC
LaurenBeagenLaw@gmail.com

Lauren Lamm

New England Chapter Co-President

Marine Vessel Test Lead
Sea Machines Robotics
lalamm91@outlook.com

Lauren Bridges

New Orleans Chapter Co-President

Attorney
Liskow & Lewis
lbridges@liskow.com

Barrett Rice

New Orleans Chapter Co-President

Partner
Broussard and Williamson
Barrett@bwtriallawyers.com

Hara Gisholt

New York/New Jersey Chapter Co-President

Director, Maritime and Legal Affairs
Core Assurance CR Marine
hara.gisholt@coreassurance.com

Lauren Wilgus

New York/New Jersey Chapter Co-President

Attorney
Blank Rome LLP
lauren.wilgus@blankrome.com

Sarah Scherer

Pacific Northwest Chapter Co-President

Maritime and Manufacturing Advocate
City of Seattle, Office of Economic Development
sscherer@trans-inst.org

Elizabeth Strunk

Pacific Northwest Chapter Co-President

Associate
Nicoll Black & Feig
estrunk@nicollblack.com

Doreen Badeaux

Texas Chapter Co-President

Secretary General
Apostleship of the Sea of the USA
aosusa@sbcglobal.net

Hallie Pendleton

Texas Chapter Co-President

Strategic Planning
Biehl & Co
hallie.pendleton@biehlco.com

Sarah Sangmeister

West Coast Chapter Co-President

Managing Partner
Peacock Piper Tong + Voss
ssangmeister@peacockpiper.com

Alison Torbitt

West Coast Chapter Co-President

Partner
Nixon Peabody LLP
atorbitt@nixonpeabody.com

Alison Wilson

West Coast Chapter Co-President

Senior International Counsel
IRI/Marshall Islands Registry
awilson@register-iri.com

Rae Velez

WISTA USA Membership Secretary

Firefighter/Paramedic
City of Tamarac
membership@wistausa.com

Amanda McElroy

Press Secretary

Strategic Marketing Manager for Marine
American Bureau of Shipping
amanda.mcelroy@rocketmail.com

Kathy Haines

WISTA USA Treasurer

Board Member; Advisory Board member; Principal
GENCO Shipping & Trading Limited, Sea-Machines Robotics; Holbridge LLC
khaines@holbridge.com

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Founded in 1997, WISTA USA is the largest National WISTA Association, with more than 800 members across 12 chapters. WISTA USA is a proud member of WISTA International.

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