Blue Tech Economy and the 'View from the Top'

From November 12-13, 2014 the McMillin Companies Event Center in sunny San Diego, Calif. played host to The Maritime Alliance’s 6th Annula Blue Tech & Blue Economy Summit, an event which has grown stronger year-on-year. This year’s two-day event, of which Marine Technology Reporter served as a media sponsor, was packed with many leading executives from industry, academia and government, local, regional and national.
The conference highlight of day one was “Panel 5: View from the Top,” moderated by Greg Trauthwein, Editor of Marine Technology Reporter. The panel was unique in that it featured six industry executives participating in a free-wheeling discussion on the means and mechanisms needed to drive the Blue Economy further faster. Participants in the panel included:

Brett Andrews, President, Hydranautics
William Kikendall, President, Teledyne Marine Sensor & Systems
David Millar, President, Fugro Pelagos
Casey Moore, President, Sea-Bird Electronics
Drew Stephens, Ocean Industry Manager, Esri
Christopher Ward, Vice President, Xylem Analytics

The overall highlight from day one inarguably was the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, complete with a keynote address by Dr. Rick Spinrad, NOAA Chief Scientist, delivering a talk entitled “Blue is the new Green – Promoting OceanSTEM, Maritime Workforce Development and a National Blue Voice.” 2014 Award Winners included:

Alliance Building: MiraCosta Community College
Educational Outreach: Brand Architecture
Environmental Leadership: Pacific Tugboats
International Maritime Partner: Southampton             University and the National Oceanography Center (UK)
Marine Science Teaching: Rosie Beck, St. Martin of         Tours Academy
Maritime Technology Lifetime Achievement:             Nancy Taylor, Exploring STEM Careers Initiative
Maritime Community Leadership: Port of San Diego
Rober & Laura Kyle Chair in Mariitme History at         the Maritime Museum of San Diego:                 Dr. Mark Hanna, UCSD
Sustainable Seafood: Tuna Harbor Dockside Market
TMA Cluster Supporter of the Year: Julia Rauner         Guerrero, U.S. Commercial Service

For more on the Maritime Alliance, visit  www.themaritimealliance.org

(As published in the November/December 2014 edition of Marine Technology Reporter - http://www.marinetechnologynews.com/Magazine)