If you are going to have trouble with the electronics on your boat, the place to have the gremlins rear their heads is in Seattle. You want to be in Seattle because that is where the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) Technician of the Year lives and works. Steve Wallace of Lunde Marine Electronics won the award at the recent NMEA convention in Florida. So steer toward Seattle when things go wrong and Wallace will set you on the right course. (in the accompanying picture David Hayden, right, President and Executive Director of the NMEA, presents the Technician of the Year Award to Steve Wallace, service manager of Lunde Marine Electronics of Seattle, WA.)
From the press release: The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) has named Steve Wallace the 2009 NMEA Technician of the Year. Wallace is the service manager for Lunde Marine Electronics of Seattle, WA. The prestigious award, given recently at the NMEA Convention & Expo in Ft. Myers, FL, recognizes the best marine electronics technicians in the nation.
“Steve has performed exceptional work throughout his career,” said Greg Whittle, owner of Ocean Systems, who nominated Wallace. “His customer service skills are tops and he has the ability to troubleshoot virtually any marine electronics system.”
After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard on the East Coast, Wallace began his employment at Lunde in 1981. He began his career as an electronics technician and was promoted to the position of Lunde’s service manager. Wallace now directs a team that includes 8 technicians with FCC licenses and 5 who are NMEA CMET (Certified Marine Electronics Technician). His team also includes two electrical engineers and 8 CMET sub-contractors (installers).
Wallace has worked on projects in recreational, commercial, and fishing fleets in Alaska, Washington, Alabama, Norway, Canada, South America, and Asia.
“The NMEA Technician of the Year award recognizes technicians who are at the absolute top of their game,” said David Hayden, NMEA’s President and Executive Director. “We are very pleased this year’s NMEA award has been made to Steve Wallace.” Training and professionalism are high priorities of the NMEA, Hayden pointed out. The NMEA currently offers technical training programs in marine electronics service and installation throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Founded in 1957, the NMEA has led the way in establishing technical standards for data exchange in marine electronics, with the widely accepted NMEA 0183 data protocol, NMEA 2000® and certification standards for marine electronics technicians. NMEA standards and programs focus on insuring that the boating consumer is provided reliable products and professional service. For more information, visit the NMEA Web site at www.nmea.org or call (410) 975-9425.
