Innovation Awards

Ben Stein (Chair)

Ben Stein is editor of Panbo.com covering marine technology. He also writes a monthly Getting Technical column for Soundings Trade Only and serves as electronics editor for Power & Motoryacht. Stein chairs the NMMA’s Innovation awards at IBEX and co-chairs the awards at the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. Additionally, he is a member of DAME design awards jury at Metstrade and chairs the National Marine Electronics Associations new product awards. After 15 years in financial services technology, he left the corporate world to pursue his passion in boating. Stein is a past president of Boating Writers International, a USCG 100-Ton Master, and ABYC certified marine electrical technician.

Tim Murphy (Co-Chair)

Tim Murphy is the education director for the American Boat & Yacht Council. A contributing editor to BoatUS magazine, and a Cruising World editor-at-Large, Murphy has worked as a marine journalist for more than 35 years. Having directed and judged Cruising World’s Boat of the Year program for two decades, he has sea-trialed more than 600 new boats in that time. He co-wrote Fundamentals of Marine Service Technology (ABYC 2012). He is the author of Adventurous Use of the Sea (Seapoint Books, 2022). Murphy holds a USCG 100-Ton Master’s license.

Steve Davis

Steve started sailing at seven years old and has raced sailboats for more than 20 years. After earning his USCG 100-ton master license, he served as a charter captain in the British and U.S. Virgin Islands as well as a delivery captain along the Pacific coast. He is the former managing editor of Dockwalk, a superyacht captain and crew publication, editor-in-chief of Southern Boating, and has previously judged the IBEX Innovation Awards. Steve is currently president of Boating Writers International.

Tony Esposito

A 30-year marine industry veteran, Tony Esposito is a contributor to speedonthewater.com and U.S. Correspondent for International Boat Industry / IBI, following a management career with Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing and Custom Marine, Inc.

Pim Van Hemmen

Pim Van Hemmen is the former deputy editor of Soundings magazine. In a previous life he spent 25 years in the newspaper industry and another decade as a nautical photographer. He is a lifelong boater and when he isn’t photographing or writing about boats, he can be found on the water aboard his Zodiac RIB.

Steve Mitchell

Steve Mitchell is a year-round Pacific Northwest cruiser aboard his 50-foot steel trawler and a lifelong boater with experience in both sail and power. With decades in the technology industry and over 20 years of hands-on experience designing and installing marine electronics, electrical systems, and optimized solutions for customers, he blends technical expertise with real-world cruising insight. As founder of SeaBits, he tests, reviews, and consults on the latest marine technology, and contributes to 48° North and other boating publications.