Alan J. Freedman Award

Mr. Blackburn serves on the Boards of the Thomas G. Faria Corp. and Faria Watchdog Incorporated, a satellite communications company of which he is also President and CEO; the Board of Acme Wire Corporation; and is a past Director on the Boards of the Marine Accessories Manufacturers Division of the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) and the NMMA Board of Directors.

 

Mr. Blackburn has also served on the NMMA’s National Conference and Boat Show Committees and was the first Chairperson of the Boating Week Committee, as well as the first Chairperson of an industry task force formed to develop a set of industry wide best practices. Until recently he served as the Chair of the IBEX Planning Committee.

 

Representing the NMMA in Washington, Mr. Blackburn pursued legislation to severely penalize companies and individuals who import counterfeit goods. He has testified numerous times on counterfeiting and IP before groups such as the U.S. House Committee on Small Business and the United States China Commission, and spoke on counterfeiting issues before a gathering of International Marine Industry Executives and Chinese Government officials in Guangzhou, China. For his efforts he was invited to Washington for the President’s signing of HR 32-the “Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods” act. Currently he is supporting efforts to pass additional anti-counterfeiting legislation.

 

Dave’s leisure time is consumed by his love of boats, the water and fishing. He holds a 100 ton Masters license from the Coast Guard and traveled every ocean in the world. He enjoys fishing and boating around Block Island Sound with his grandchildren, and hopes they will develop the same enthusiasm for boating that has had such a positive impact on his life.