World first Certified Marina Operator (CMO) acknowledged

The first Certified Marina Operator (CMO) designation has been awarded to Rod Williams, Marina Manager, at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club in Sydney.

In response to demands within the marina industry, the USA based International Marina Institute (IMI), a subsidiary of the Association of Marina Industries (AMI), is now certifying marina operators. These are the individuals who handle daily operations at a marina or manage a segment of a large facility, but are not the full-charge facility managers. This past week, the Institute awarded its first CMO designation to Rod Williams.

Jim Frye, P
resident of AMI said: “We have received many requests for training that is geared specifically toward marina operators. We’re pleased to provide it and very proud to be certifying our first operator.”

The new CMO designation targets managers who may not be eligible to apply for the well-established Certified Marina Manager (CMM) designation due to the size of their facility or their job scope.

“IMI recognizes that these managers make a tremendous contribution to the landscape of the industry and they deserve their own certification,” Frye said.

Williams CMO has been enthusiastic about working in the marina industry since his first experience on leaving school in 1983 at a ship chandler in Sydney.
Other than a few years when he undertook a number of roles outside of the industry in the late 1980s, he has studied and continued to further his career in marina management.

More recently, Williams commenced as the dockmaster at the Middle Harbour Yacht Club in 2006 where he quickly progressed to marina manager in 2007.
In addition to handling day-to-day operations of the yacht club, he is currently overseeing a refurbishment of the marina.

MIAA President and IMI Board member, Jeff d’Albora said the designation of the first CMO was an important milestone within the international marina industry. “This is another step in building a solid internationally recognised career pathway for those working in the marina industry. The IMI and MIAA offer congratulations to Rod Williams CMO for his achievement”.

Photo: Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s marina manager Rod Williams.