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
Sarah Brennan
WISTA USA Vice President
Director, Cruise Business Development, Canaveral Port Authority
sbrennan@portcanaveral.com
Christina Liviakis Gianopulos
WISTA USA Board Member
Director of Business Development
American Ship Repair
christina@asrny.com
Meredith Kirby
WISTA USA Board Member
General Counsel
International Registries, Inc.
mkirby@register-iri.com
Sarah Sangmeister
WISTA USA Board Member
Managing Partner
Peacock Piper Tong + Voss
ssangmeister@peacockpiper.com
Kassandra Savicki
WISTA USA Board Member
Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright
kassandra.savicki@nortonrosefulbright.com
Sarah Scherer
WISTA USA Board Member
PNW General Manager Maritime Institute
sscherer@maritimeinstitute.com
Jillian Tobias
WISTA USA Board Member
President
LogOn Media Strategies
jillian@logonmediastrategies.com
Leadership Team
Lourdes Evans
Connecticut Chapter Co-President
Digital Services Sales Manager
Kongsberg Digital Simulation, Inc.
wistalourdesevans@gmail.com
Hara Gisholt
Connecticut Chapter Co-President
Attorney (Commodities & Shipping)
Gerald Metals LLC
hara.gisholt@gmail.com
Lauren Kinky
Delaware River & Bay Area Chapter Co-President
Head of Health, Safety, Security & Sustainability
PSA Penn Terminals
Holli Packer
Delaware River & Bay Area Chapter Co-President
Attorney
Blank Rome LLP
Alexandra Sible
DC Metro Chapter Co-President
Assistant Program Manager
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
asible@hotmail.com
Valerie Cannon
Florida Chapter Co-President
Product Marketing Manager, BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair
valericannon@gmail.com
Lisa Drake, PhD
Florida Chapter Co-President
Owner & Founder
Drake Marine Environmental Services
lisadrake101@gmail.com
Amy Buhl
Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter Co-President
Marine Group Global Service Operation Leader, Europe and Americas
Weathernews, Inc.
Amyebuhl@gmail.com
Emily Huggins Jones
Great Lakes/Midwest Chapter Co-President
Partner, troutman pepper locke
emily.hugginsjones@troutman.com
Lauren Beagen
New England Chapter Co-President
Principal & Founder
Squall Strategies, LLC
LaurenBeagenLaw@gmail.com
Jessica Di Giulio
New England Chapter Co-President
Commercial Manager, GAC North America
jessica.digulio@gac.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
Krysia Pohl
West Coast Chapter Co-President
Commander, US Coast Guard
Chief of Planning and Strategy, Pacific Area Command
kvpohl@me.com
Alison Wilson
West Coast Chapter Co-President
Senior International Counsel
IRI/Marshall Islands Registry
awilson@register-iri.com
Ashley Zarella
West Coast Chapter Co-President (So-Cal)
Marine Terminal Specialist
Chevron
azarella@chevron.com
Lauren Williams
WISTA USA Communications Director
Brand & Employee Communications Manager
ABS
lwilliams@eagle.org
Kathy Haines
WISTA USA Treasurer
Board Member; Advisory Board member; Principal
GENCO Shipping & Trading Limited, Sea-Machines Robotics; Holbridge LLC
khaines@holbridge.com
