Recreational Boating & Fishing: Riding the Wave of Participation

RBFF President Frank Peterson and SVP of Marketing & Communications Stephanie Vatalaro provide attendees with the latest boating and fishing participation numbers, give an update on their “Get on Board” campaign and share trends that are driving 2020 participation.

Frank Peterson

President/CEO, Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation

Frank Peterson joined the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) as President and CEO in 2007. Peterson began his career developing and implementing successful corporate strategies for Mobil Oil Corporations’ U.S. marketing and refining segments.

At RBFF, Peterson turned his organizational and marketing skills to increasing participation in recreational boating and fishing. He established close relations with RBFF stakeholders, including boating and fishing industries, and expanded programs that support state agency efforts to attract more people to boating and fishing. He also spearheaded research studies that guide RBFF and stakeholder initiatives, and mobilized broad-based expertise to support RBFF objectives.

In 2008, Peterson led the re-branding of RBFF’s Take Me Fishing™ consumer outreach campaign and website, TakeMeFishing.org, transforming it into a popular, interactive, content-rich site. He also led the development of RBFF’s highly successful state marketing programs, moving them from pilot efforts to nationwide outreach campaigns. Peterson spearheaded the development of the fishing and boating industry’s first-ever Hispanic outreach campaign and website, Vamos A Pescar™ and VamosAPescar.org. He has also been instrumental in expanding all of RBFF’s digital tools to keep up with consumer technology, developing mobile-friendly versions of the campaign websites, an interactive Places to Boat and Fish Map, and a Boat Ramp App.

Stephanie Vatalaro

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, RBFF

Stephanie Vatalaro is the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications at the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), where she leads the consumer and stakeholder outreach strategy for RBFF and its Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ brand campaigns.

A communication professional with 20 years’ experience in corporate, agency, non-profit and newsroom settings, Vatalaro has devoted the last 13 years of her career to getting more people out on the water fishing and boating and conserving our nation’s aquatic natural resources. 

Vatalaro received her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University. She grew up in the Florida Keys and is the daughter of a flats fishing guide. She now spends summers fishing and boating with her family on the Potomac River in Virginia. 

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