The Norfolk Propeller Club was proud to celebrate National Maritime Day alongside so many colleagues, partners, and friends from across the maritime community. ⚓

This celebration would not have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and the many industry professionals who joined us. The photos capture just a small glimpse of the strong turnout that made the event such a success. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day memorable.

We were especially pleased to recognize Mason Keeter as the recipient of the Maritime Industry Service Award. His dedication and contributions to the maritime industry exemplify the leadership and commitment that continue to move our industry forward.

We also extend our appreciation to Stephen Carmel, Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), for serving as our keynote speaker. His perspective and insights provided an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on the issues and opportunities shaping the maritime sector.

National Maritime Day is an opportunity to recognize the people, partnerships, and organizations that strengthen our maritime community every day. We are grateful to everyone who participated and look forward to continuing to celebrate maritime successes throughout the year.

From the first tee shot to the final raffle drawing, the inaugural National Maritime Day Golf Classic was filled with great golf, great networking, and even better company. Our sponsors went above and beyond with incredible hospitality tents featuring everything from delicious carne asada tacos to specialty cocktails that kept players refreshed throughout the day. The AR Golf Gun brought plenty of excitement and laughs, and the raffle prizes kept everyone engaged right up to the very end.

A huge congratulations to our Grand Raffle Prize winner, Brian Langley, who rode away with an incredible E-bike! We also want to extend a special thank you to Conte's Bike Shop for partnering with the Club and helping us provide such an amazing grand prize. Your support helped make this year's event even more memorable.

Most importantly, thank you to every golfer, sponsor, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this year's National Maritime Day Golf Classic such a tremendous success. Events like these are only possible because of the strength and generosity of our maritime community.

The response to the Inaugural National Maritime Day Golf Classic exceeded our expectations, and we're excited to share that planning for next year's event is already underway. If this year's success is any indication, 2027 is going to be bigger and better than ever.

Thank you again for making this event such a memorable day. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the course next year! ⛳

We are so grateful for everyone who came out to our Spring Oyster Roast!

It was an incredible night filled with great company, delicious food, and awesome vibes. Guests were welcomed with fresh oysters, BBQ chicken, and of course, cold beverages!

A special shoutout to Snackbar Jones for putting on an amazing live music performance that truly brought the whole experience, and crowd, together.

We’re also excited to share that our 50/50 raffle brought in nearly $800, with the retained portion being donated to the ODU Student Propeller Club; thank you to everyone who participated and supported this cause! ️

A sincere thank you to the ODU ROTC program for their support and for helping cater to our guests throughout the event, you played a huge role in making the day run smoothly.

We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible and to our dedicated committee for their continued hard work and commitment year after year. We appreciate each and every one of you who joined us and helped make this event such a success. 

What a night to remember. Thank you to everyone who joined The Propeller Club, Port of Norfolk and The Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Newport News for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day Ball. It was an evening filled with connection, celebration, and a shared commitment to giving back.

Thanks to your generosity, we packed 250 bags in support of the Roc Solid Foundation, bringing hope to children and families battling childhood cancer. We were also proud to stand alongside the Newport News Club as they presented their annual donation of $2,000 to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, a nonprofit with deep personal connections to both clubs. Being welcomed into this event was an incredible honor, one we hold with deep gratitude and respect.

From cocktail hour conversations to dancing the night away, the evening was a beautiful reminder of the strength of our maritime community and a meaningful salute to the people, industries, and traditions that strengthen our region and our country, as well as the 250th commemorations of our Nation, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps.

A big thanks to all our sponsors, Collins Machine Works, CROFTON, In-Place Machining Company, CTR Group, Riggins Company, Colonna's Shipyard, Steel America, Avoler Group, LLC, Main Industries, Sunbelt Rentals, Inc., McAllister Towing, MES - Nationwide Blast & Paint Rentals & Supplies, Advex Corporation, Técnico Corporation, Arc3 Gases, EMS Industrial, Inc., Solomon Shipyard, NORFOLK COATING SERVICES LLC, CMP Global, Fairlead, Hot and Cold Supply, Allstream Services & Rental, Hampton Roads Shipping Association, Trade Team, Greener Blast Technologies, Kelly Gish Floral Design, Marine Machinery Association

We love celebrating leaders who are truly shaping the future of our maritime community, and this one hits especially close to home. 

Please join us in congratulating Elspeth McMahon, Ph.D., on being named one of CoVaBIZ Magazine’s “Women on the Leading Edge.” This recognition is so well deserved.

Dr. McMahon serves as the Associate Vice President of Maritime Initiatives at Old Dominion University and is involved with the Propeller Club – Port of Old Dominion University, where she plays a pivotal role in mentoring and guiding the next generation of maritime leaders. She was also honored in 2025 as a recipient of the Propeller Club Port of Norfolk’s Women’s Wavemaker Award, recognizing her impact, leadership, and commitment to our industry.

As Dr. McMahon shared in her interview:

“What motivates me most are the people I work with, including students, faculty, and maritime professionals, whose dedication and curiosity drive progress and innovation in our field.”

That people-first mindset is exactly why her influence is felt so deeply across our port, our university partners, and the broader maritime community.

Read her full interview here:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/uthw/COVABIZMAG-2026-02-03-VBOOK/#p=37

Congratulations, Dr. McMahon! 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for ODU Industry Night! ⚓

It was a great evening of basketball, networking, and support for ODU Student Scholarships. Thanks to your participation, we were proud to donate $5000 to benefit ODU students. We’re grateful to our members, guests, and sponsors who helped make the night a success and continue to invest in the next generation of industry leaders.

Industry Night is all about collaboration! It was inspiring to see companies from across industries come together in one space to connect, share ideas, and engage with ODU’s soon-to-be graduates. These collective efforts create meaningful pathways for students while strengthening relationships between the university and our industry partners.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, Bay Power Solutions
Their generous support made this night possible and, more importantly, helped turn a fun evening into meaningful impact for ODU students.

Thank you for showing up, investing in our students, and helping build a stronger future together. 

The Annual Membership Meeting & Holiday Party was a wonderful celebration of community, collaboration, and the impact we create together. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event such a success! ✨

One of the highlights of the evening was welcoming our new board members, who were officially sworn in. We’re excited for the vision they’ll help guide in the coming year!

We’re also proud to share that, thanks to the generosity and commitment of our members, we donated $42,500 to local non-profit organizations. These funds will support vital programs that strengthen our community and make a real difference for those who need it most.

In the words of our now Past President,Terrell Moses, it was a night — reflective of the year — built on gathering, growing, and giving; a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.

THANK YOU to all who have supported us in 2025, here’s to an inspiring 2026 ahead!

Check out this article highlighting our recent event where we honored two ladies as "Women's Wavemakers"!

View The Article Here!

Take a look at what our Past President has been up to lately! Congrats Jeanne, The Norfolk Propeller Club is proud of all that you continue to accomplish!

Navigating Greatness, Celebrating Women in Maritime ⚓ was everything we hoped it would be, and more! ✨

From our inspiring guest speaker, Ann Phillips, to our outstanding featured students, Finley Stoops and Shivani Patel, the program was engaging and enlightening for everyone in the room. We were privileged to highlight some of the best leaders we’ve had the honor of working with — Dana Truxell, Judy Barrett, and Camille Crofton Cherry — whose dedication continues to shape our industry. Rounding out the celebration were our Women’s Wavemaker Award winners, Dr. Elspeth McMahon and Amanda Ahlemeyer Robinson, who have defined what it means to Navigate Greatness throughout their careers thus far.

A heartfelt thank you to our Leadership Lighthouse Sponsors, Avoler Group and Hampton Roads Shipping Association, along with our partners at WISTA and the Virginia Maritime Association whose steadfast support made the night possible. You’ve once again helped create a space where relationships flourish and our industry continues to thrive.

From start to finish, we witnessed women uplifting one another and men standing proudly beside the many ceiling breakers in the room. Here’s to continued progress, partnership, and the powerful wave of women shaping the maritime future! ⚓