Our first 2019 Award Winner, Dawn Schieferdecker has long served the industry and its customers  – perhaps a lifetime in fact.  Growing up in the family business at Essex Island Marina and learning from the bottom up – literally.... bottom clean, bottom wax and bottom paint and moving through the ranks learning every aspect of marina operations before, during and after college.

But her work didn't stop on the Island.  Dawn's dedicated significant volunteer time included to her town and community from the Essex Board of Trade to the Conservative Women’s Committee and beyond.  However it has been her dedication to CMTA that has lifted up so many others.

Joining the Board in 2002 she tackled education and workforce before it was on the industry’s radar, spearheading scholarship efforts for school students looking to careers in the marine industry.  She invested hours upon hours in work with the DEEP and others in the creation of the Clean Marina Program.  She continued to serve on several committees until assuming the Chairman of the Board position in 2015 with an agenda focused on education and taxation.

Known for her passion about safety and training she put more people safely on the water as she broadened her industry knowledge branching into sales and customer service….which sadly for us…has lead her to the warm shores of Florida and a career changing roll with a major manufacturer. 

But her Connecticut roots run deep as does our appreciation.  It is the pleasure of CMTA to award the 2019 Jeanne Czel Person of the Year to Dawn Schieferdecker formerly of Essex Island Marine, American Boating Service and MarineMax. 

A big thank you with deep appreciation to Dawn Schieferdecker.