Contact: Caroline Chetelat at ABYC
(410) 990-4460,
x22
cchetelat@abycinc.org
Contact: Regina Fexas at Tom Fexas Yacht Design
(772)
287-6558
tfydre@aol.com

Designing Boats
& Careers: Westlawn and Tom Fexas Yacht Design
Working
Together for Over Four Decades
April 29, 2008 Annapolis, MD: Over the past four
decades, Tom Fexas Yacht Design (TFYD) has repeatedly
turned to the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology for first-rate design
talent. Most recently, Westlawn alumnus Mark Bowdidge, was placed at TFYD making
an incredible seven Westlawn alumni to be employed there.

Founded
in 1966 by the renowned designer Tom Fexas, Tom Fexas Yacht Design has
pioneered some of the most unique and influential powerboat designs of the
second half of the 20th century. With about 1,000 vessels to their designs,
ranging from 17-ft. launches to 160-ft. motoryachts, the Fexas office has
remained incredibly busy for decades, with designs from the famous Midnight
Lace series, to projects for Palmer Johnson, Cheoy Lee, American Marine,
Burger, Derecktor, Royal Denship, Knight and Carver, Mikelson Yachts, and
others.

In
order to gain the skills needed for such an influential career, Tom took the
Westlawn course in yacht and boat design, in addition to his engineering degree
from SUNY Maritime. As his office grew and projects piled up, Westlawn
continued as one of the principle sources for design talent. TFYD has employed
the following Westlawn alumni: Tom Fexas, Jay Coyle, George Rodzon, Earl
Alfaro, Stuart Kityama, Nick DiMatteo and Mark Bowdidge.

Mark Bowdidge
Not
only does TFYD rely heavily on Westlawn to supply top-flight talent, but Tom
served on Westlawn’s Board of Directors for several years, and TFYD designer
Nick DiMatteo was also a Westlawn instructor for several years.

Dave
Gerr, Westlawn Director commented, “Westlawn offers an online Jobs Site to help
all current and former students find employment. We enjoy a long-term
relationship with TFYD (as well as other design and boatbuilding firms), and we
are always happy to work with other companies and organizations in this
capacity.”

Although
Tom passed away in 2006, the TFYD office remains busy as ever with numerous
projects in all phases from early development through recent completion, and
the design firm’s reliance on Westlawn talent and training has continued
unabated. Furthermore, Tom’s wife Regina Fexas has taken the reigns as
president of TFYD. Deeply involved in TFYD since 1987, she has inspected
vessels all over the world and operated their two boats for years. Regina also
worked with Tom on his many published articles and in the daily operation of
the firm. To further consolidate her knowledge and ensure the continuation of
the extraordinary design quality TFYD is known for, Regina has also signed up
to take Yacht
Design Lite, bringing the total to eight Westlawn people at TFYD over a four-decade
relationship.
Tom Fexas Yacht Design is one of the
foremost yacht design offices in the world, and has been in business since
1966. In 1977, the office was moved from Mystic, Connecticut to Stuart, Florida where it grew from
a one-man operation to the staff of seven designers. Tom Fexas Yacht Design,
Inc. prides itself on its technical expertise and innovation. Visit www.tomfexas.com for more information on
the design firm.
Founded in 1930, the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is
the only nationally accredited and state-certified distance-learning school of
small-craft design in the United States. As the not-for-profit educational affiliate of the American Boat and Yacht Council, the mission of
the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology is threefold:
■ To provide our students with the skills and knowledge
required to build a rewarding career in the
profession
of yacht and small-craft naval architecture.
■ To support continued growth of the
recreational and small-craft marine community through the development of
well-trained, safety-oriented, boat designers developing better products for
the benefit of the boating public.
■ To provide continuing education to marine-industry
professionals.
To learn more about
Westlawn, please call (860) 572-7900 or visit the Westlawn website at: www.westlawn.edu.