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Boating Standards Panel Welcomes New Members

By Taylor Kirshe posted 01-22-2025 12:25 PM

  
BSP
Boating Standards Panel Welcomes New Members

The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the members of the National Boating Standards Panel (BSP) are pleased to welcome three new members to the BSP: Mike Folkerts, Lee Gatts, and Lt. Jason Luce. They officially joined the 15-member panel on January 1, 2025.
 
Mike Folkerts joins the panel representing the Federal Boating Agency category. As the Recreational Boating Safety Specialist for the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska, Folkerts has a long history of involvement in boating safety and education throughout the region. He is widely recognized for his advocacy of voluntary boating education in Alaska and plays a vital role in developing and implementing boating safety programs across the state.

Lee Gatts joins the panel representing the Commercial category. Gatts is the Director of Government Affairs for the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA). In this role, he leads WSIA’s advocacy and grassroots initiatives nationwide, focusing on developing best practices, maintaining waterway access, educating participants, promoting safety, and fostering sustainable industry growth. He also delivers WSIA’s "Wake Responsibly" curriculum to law enforcement agencies across the country, refining the program based on feedback and regional needs.

Lt. Jason Luce joins the panel representing the State category. Luce currently serves as the Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for Maine. Since joining the Maine Warden Service in 1999 as a district warden, he has dedicated most of his career to the Sebago Lake region. Luce’s extensive experience includes serving as a Game Warden Investigator, where he managed complex cases involving fatal boating, recreational vehicle, and hunting-related incidents.

The BSP is excited to welcome these new members and looks forward to a productive year of collaboration and panel work.

If you're inspired to get involved with BSP, please contact us at standardspanel@nasbla.org. Together, we can continue shaping the future of recreational boating safety!
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