Kristen Frohnhoefer, President of Sea Tow Services International Inc. has been selected as the recipient of the thirty-four annual Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award. The award was presented to Kristen by the 2019 award recipient, Sara Anghel, on Wedneday, Dec. 9, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Awards Celebration.
Part of the founding family of Sea Tow, Frohnhoefer grew up working at Sea Tow. She returned in a fulltime capacity to Sea Tow in 2003 after receiving a Masters in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Kristen worked in or supervised nearly every department, learning the business and expanding her skill set in ever-increasing roles until she became President in 2015. As President, Frohnhoefer is responsible for overseeing all internal operations such as the membership program, finance, marketing, sales, the technology infrastructure and the call center that supports the nationwide network. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Sea Tow Foundation, the 501c3 non-profit, that promotes safe boating practices.
“Kristen has demonstrated an encouraging and inspiring spirit for women in the marine industry,” said Natalie Briggs Carlson, executive director of the MRAA Educational Foundation. “Her ability to bring fresh and successful ideas to the industry and serve as a leader to all made her the perfect recipient for the 2020 Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award.”
The Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award is named after the late Darlene Briggs of Wayzata, Minn., who was admired for her tireless dedication to the marine industry. The MRAA Educational Foundation and Boating Industry magazine together present the award to honor her memory. It is offered annually to an outstanding woman who is actively involved in the marine industry at any level. It recognizes long and devoted service, untiring commitment, and the advancement of women in the marine business. The recipient receives an award and a check for $500 to be used for her professional development.
“I have always admired the accomplished women who have been recognized as the Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year and am honored and humbled to be recognized amongst them,” Frohnhoefer said. “It is times like these where I reflect on my own female role models throughout my life who made moments like these achievable. I am blessed to be supported by my amazing team at Sea Tow, including my mom, Georgia Frohnhoefer, who helped Sea Tow get started with my father in 1983.”
Past recipients include: Sara Anghel of NMMA Canada; Angela Pilkington of Correct Craft; Wanda Kenton Smith of Kenton Smith Marketing; Susan Bonivich of Volvo Penta; Melissa Danko of Marine Trades Association of New Jersey; Margaret Podlich of American Boat & Yacht Council; Rallee Chupich of Lakeshore Holding; and Debbie Meigs of Cobalt Boats.
For more information, visit www.MarineEdFoundation.org/DarleneBriggsAward. Please contact Natalie Carlson with any questions at (512) 940-4156 or natalie@mraa.com.
About MRAA Educational Foundation
The MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation, was founded in 2004 to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine industry. The Educational Foundation is dedicated to the growth of the marine industry through workforce development. For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MarineEdFoundation.org.
