The Water Sports Foundation has named veteran marine journalist Wanda Kenton Smith of Kenton Smith Marketing to head communications and public relations for its latest U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Outreach Grant.
Over her 35-year career in the marine industry, Kenton Smith has been editor of multiple marine consumer and trade publications. She currently serves as national marketing columnist for Soundings Trade Only, a post she has held since 1998; she has also held positions as marketing vice president for a global marine manufacturer, chief marketing officer for the world’s largest boat club, and head of marketing for the top ranked boat retailer in North America.
She currently consults with or manages a handful of national marine marketing accounts and is chief marketing officer of Emerald Coast Marine Group.
“We are very excited to welcome Wanda aboard as our communications director as we develop strategic marketing and public relations outreach strategies to reach and engage national media in an effort to better promote and gain greater national coverage of boating safety,” said WSF executive director Jim Emmons in a statement. “I know she brings not only a wealth of marine marketing and national PR experience to this post, but perhaps equally important, an enormous amount of personal passion for boating safety and its messaging.”
Kenton Smith joins a team tasked with developing a robust new website for both marine industry and media consumption. In addition to WSF-specific content, the site will also host an abundance of boating safety content, graphics, imagery, reports and data, along with a compilation of expert contacts designed for easy media access and consumption.
