The opening of the 28,000-square-foot West Marine store in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, marked the beginning of a new partnership between West Marine and the Center for Environmental Education and Research, Inc. (CEERI).
Erik Rimblas, store manager, contacted CEERI prior to the store opening requesting to use the Boater 101 TV Series and SWIM 101 Video in displays at the new store. West Marine has added a new kids section to the store, including a big screen TV that will air the CEERI program videos.
Susan Engle, President of CEERI said, “Erik Rimblas and West Marine have always been supportive of our educational programs. When we were shooting the Boater 101 TV Series, Erik offered his store as the location for one of our safety segments. In addition, Pam Wall, a West Marine sales representative, was interviewed for two of our episodes.” Engle concluded, “I see this new development as a continuation of our partnership that will open the door for future opportunities.”
Erik Rimblas of West Marine said, “The best part of CEERIs programs is that they encourage kids to get involved with boating.” Rimblas continued, “Partnering with CEERI is a win-win situation for us.”
The Center for Environmental Education and Research, Inc. (CEERI) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote boating, water safety, environmental awareness and marine careers to the public through educational programming. CEERI has been developing programs such as Boater 101, the Clean Marina Program and SWIM 101 in an effort to expose communities, families and students to the positive aspects of the marine industry. To learn more about CEERI or its programs, contact CEERI at (954) 730-6889 or visit www.CEERI.org.
