Gontarski wins regional award
Joe Gontarski, often referred to as the dean of the Tampa Bay maritime community, has been selected as the Propeller Club of the U.S. Southeast region's person of the year.
Gontarski, senior director and special assistant to the executive director at Port Manatee, was named person of the year by the Port Manatee Propeller Club earlier this year. The most recent honor was presented Friday in ceremonies at Charleston, S.C.
With the regional award, Gontarski become eligible for consideration as the International Maritime Person of the Year, which will be announced in October in ceremonies in Athens, Greece.