Propeller Club of Jacksonville Hosts Change of Command Ceremony

The Propeller Club of the United States – Port of Jacksonville held its Change of Command ceremony on June 16, honoring outgoing President Virginia Bailey of Zim Lines and welcoming incoming President Tammy Emerson of W&O Supply.The annual event and formal pinning ceremony marks a transition of responsibility from one individual to another. It represents a longstanding tradition conducted before club members, guests and dignitaries to formally demonstrate the continuity of the club’s mission and the camaraderie and fellowship between club members.In her farewell remarks, Bailey spoke of the club's community outreach over the past year, including raising over $25,000 toward efforts such as the club's endowment and scholarship fund to UNF, and donations to Safe Harbor Boys Home, Pine Castle and the families of those lost in the El Faro tragedy.Emerson assumed the presidency of the Jacksonville club following 7 years of involvement with the Propeller Clubs of Jacksonville and Tampa. Emerson is a distinguished Navy veteran, having served for over 23 years and earning such recognition as the Military Sealift Command Sailor of the Year and the Space Coast Sailor of the Year and various other military awards. In 1988, she joined W&O Supply, the world's largest suppliers of marine piping, valves, and fittings in the US, as the Assistant to the VP of Operations. Emerson held many different titles at W&O including Purchasing Manager, Training Manager, Inside Sales Manager, and Assistant Branch Manager. She left W&O in 2001 and went to work for Geometric Marine as the Inside Sales Manager from 2002 to October 2008. She worked both her civilian and military jobs simultaneously from 1988-2005. She returned to W&O in October 2008 as a Senior Outside Salesperson, which is her current position. From her office in Jacksonville, Emerson's territory includes customers in Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Savannah and even Freeport, Bahamas. Emerson was W&O's Employee of the Year in 2013 and was awarded the W&O Supply Captain’s Circle Award in 2014. She is married to Reed Emerson, a retired SMSGT with 28 years combined service active duty and National Guard. They have a 23 year old son and an 20 year old daughter.Emerson says that she is passionate about ensuring membership retention and growth for the club this year, stating, "I want to add value to this membership. I want to add more members. I want to get our members more involved and engaged. If so, our club can make even more of a difference. I joined this organization because I wanted to make a difference." She added, "I am convinced that if we work together we can build on an incredible foundation and legacy, and that we can be even better. At the end of the year I hope that we will have transformed new possibilities and opportunities into stories of success."The club’s next event – the annual Membership Social - will be held in September at Fionn MacCool’s, with date, time, and more info planned for release soon.