Otis retired as Faculty Chair for Business, Management, and Public Administration at Rio Salado College and continues as a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University where he teaches Public Sector Leadership online. For over 25 years he has taught classes in entrepreneurship, business statistics, human resources, public leadership, and a wide variety of management courses in both the community college and university setting. Before joining academia, he created and ran two companies. One in the advertising and public relations arena and the other in strategic planning for large family-owned companies. His entrepreneurial career spanned over 21 years and his academic career has continued for an additional 25 years. The family includes his wife Barbara, son Robert and daughter Heather. Between the son and daughter, there are 5 grandchildren. Three are in Minneapolis and two are in Palmyra, VA. His boat is a completely rebuilt classic 22’ Shamrock inboard named Potential II. Barbara and Otis moved to Wilmington permanently in 2016 after retirement but have been traveling here regularly since 2011 to visit grandchildren and family. His local interests include boating on the NE Cape Fear River and the ecology of the river environment as well as the history of the Cape Fear area. He received the grade of Piloting in 2019. Otis and Barbara joined the squadron in 2017 and Otis has served as Member Involvement Chair (1-year), Administrative Officer (1-Year), Executive Officer (1 year), and Commander for 2 years. 2022 is his 3^rd year as Commander.

Rocky relocated to Wilmington from the National Capitol Region in August 2018 following a 30+ year career in the United States Air Force. In his final assignment, Colonel Favorito served as the Commander of the 844thCommunications Group and Director of Communications for the Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, MD. His group provided Information Technology and Cybersecurity support to the Pentagon, Joint Base Andrews, and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Currently, Rocky manages Information Technology and Cybersecurity for the North Carolina State Ports Authority. His educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, a master’s degree in Computer Systems, and various certifications in Information Technology and Project Management. Rocky and his wife Jennifer joined the squadron in May of 2022 and they enjoy taking their children Seairra, Zoe, Sophia, and Little Rocky out on their 19’ Sea Ray.

Barbara is originally from Richmond, Virginia, where she graduated from the Medical College of Virginia with both Baccalaureate and Master of Science degrees in Nursing. Having held a variety of positions in health care she retired from Arizona State University as Professor Emerita of Nursing and Health Innovation after teaching there for 20+ years. She is now enjoying being around the water after all those years in the desert and has been the Foghorn photographer and the Assistant Secretary in the past. She received the grade of Advanced Piloting in 2020. For family information see Cdr Otis White’s, P information above.

I moved to Wilmington with my wife Christy in August of 2020, relocating from Long Valley, NJ. Having recently retired from a 30+ year career in supply chain/ logistics at BASF, preceded by 6 years in the US Marine Corps as a supply officer, I’m really happy settling here in our house in the historic district of Wilmington! We have three grown kids, a boy and two girls, who are making their own way in the world. We just bought our second sailboat, a 41’ Morgan Out Island Classic, DaBlairs, (so we have two money pits – an old boat and an old house!). We cut our teeth sailing on a 1967 Pearson Commander that was moored up at the Nyack Boat Club. That experience helped us to decide to make boating a key part of our lives going forward. Looking forward to getting the boat shipshape and going cruising! As far as other interests go, I love to cook, travel, listen to music and walk around the downtown neighborhoods.

Dawn was raised in Southern California and lived there for over 50 years. She earned her BA in mathematics from North Dakota State University, then moved back to Southern California to teach high school mathematics. She taught for 23 years with various leadership positions including Department Chair and Mentor Teacher. This led her to earn a master’s degree in education administration and to move into administrative positions within her District. She became Principal of the adult school in her District which led her to receive the Adult School Administrator of the Year Award  for the State of California. Her last administrative position was Principal of a large high school with 3,700 students in Ontario, California. She retired from that position in 2015. However, she was not done working. She worked in Long Beach, CA for her husband’s business becoming a business broker and then Vice President of Operations for 10 offices throughout the US, finally retiring for good in 2019. She has two sons and six granddaughters. Her husband, Ron Hottes, has four children and 11 grandchildren. They moved from Long Beach, CA to Wilmington three years ago to be able to boat on the Intercoastal Waterway and to be closer to all the grandchildren. They enjoy the Wilmington area and are incredibly pleased to have made the move. In the past she has been the Squadron's Assistant Treasurer.

Otis retired as Faculty Chair for Business, Management, and Public Administration at Rio Salado College and continues as a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University where he teaches Public Sector Leadership online. For over 25 years he has taught classes in entrepreneurship, business statistics, human resources, public leadership, and a wide variety of management courses in both the community college and university setting. Before joining academia, he created and ran two companies. One in the advertising and public relations arena and the other in strategic planning for large family-owned companies. His entrepreneurial career spanned over 21 years and his academic career has continued for an additional 25 years. The family includes his wife Barbara, son Robert and daughter Heather. Between the son and daughter, there are 5 grandchildren. Three are in Minneapolis and two are in Palmyra, VA. His boat is a completely rebuilt classic 22’ Shamrock inboard named Potential II. Barbara and Otis moved to Wilmington permanently in 2016 after retirement but have been traveling here regularly since 2011 to visit grandchildren and family. His local interests include boating on the NE Cape Fear River and the ecology of the river environment as well as the history of the Cape Fear area. He received the grade of Piloting in 2019. Otis and Barbara joined the squadron in 2017 and Otis has served as Member Involvement Chair (1-year), Administrative Officer (1-Year), Executive Officer (1 year), and Commander for 2 years. 2022 is his 3^rd year as Commander.

Steve retired from the U.S. Army in 1998 and later from the Department of the Interior where he worked in the information security field. Steve and his wife, Susan, moved to Wilmington in late 2011, both now retired. With a deep love of the water, Steve bought his first boat in 2001 and has been active in boating organizations ever since. You may find him on his boat, Forever Dreamin’. He joined our Squadron in 2012 and is a Certified Instructor and a Senior Navigator. He also was the Squadron's Treasurer. While enjoying their boat, Steve and Susan live by one basic rule: The Captain makes all the important decisions; the First Mate decides which decisions are important!

Meg learned to sail at as a teenager at Camp Westminster on Higgins Lake, MI and raced on 470s at the University of Michigan. Throughout her career as an environmental engineer at a consulting firm, she and friends vacationed by bare-boat chartering with sailboats in the Caribbean islands. In 1997 she attended the Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart, FL and earned her USCG 100-ton Captain license. In 2000 she sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with 4 friends on a 50-foot sloop. She recently bought a 40-foot Endeavor sailboat, Détente, and enjoys sailing out the Masonboro Inlet. Meg is a member of the District 27’s Navigator or “N” club and cherishes the comradery of the Cape Fear Sail & Power Squadron. She was part of the Kids and Boating class at the Wildlife Expo and enjoys coordinating the ABC course. She has participated in many of the Squadron courses and is a Certified Instructor. Meg moved to Wilmington in 2011 to be closer to her parents who retired here in 1992.

Rafael is a retired high school teacher from the state of New York. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, near the National Historical Monument, “El Morro”, or “El Castillo de San Felipe”.In his early years, Rafael lived in Berlin, Germany, where he learned to swim in the famously known Olympic Pool. He moved on to live in Atlanta, GA at the start of the civil rights movement, and then settled for a time in Seattle, WA, where his elementary school was chosen to inaugurate the Space Needle at the 1962 World Fair. After all the adventures of living around the world, Rafael’s family settled in the Bronx, NY, during his high school years, and then went on to attend InterAmerican University of San German, Puerto Rico, where he earned a BS in Education. After completing his college education, Rafael went on to join the United States Marine Corps where he spent 10 years working as a Communication Officer, earning a PADI certification in scuba diving and an advanced Red Cross Certification in sailing. Upon completing his time of service, Rafael became a special education teacher back in the Bronx, NY, and then continued his teaching career in New Rochelle, NY. After spending thirty years as a teacher, he retired and moved to Wilmington, NC where he has lived for the past five years.Rafael has four lovely daughters and three grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, boating and all other facets of nautical life. He is an avid environmentalist, concerned with the preservation of nature (especially our oceans!), and dedicates his free time to the education of how communities can take part in helping the Earth on which we live. 

Shelby joined our Squadron in 2011 and Chaired the Public Relations Committee for several years. She has also earned 6 Merit Marks. With her husband, O.B., their boat is a Power 19' C-Dory named River Runner. O.B. and Shelby were Co-Cruise Captains for a 2015 cruise. She earned her Piloting grade in 2012, and she has taken the Weather Course. She earned a Firecracker Award in 2015 and 2017. She also Chaired our Book Club #2 in 2015. In addition, she co-sponsored a new member in 2016. She is home-bred in North Carolina. 

Mark moved to Wilmington in 2003 with his wife Jean to "return to the water." Originally from La Jolla, CA, he grew up on the water and made stops in San Francisco, Houston, Hartford, San Diego, and Atlanta with various sales and marketing positions in the mutual fund business. From 1986 to 1992 he was Vice President of Linsco/Private Ledger, a large independent broker-dealer. From 1992 to 1993 he was Vice President of Marketing with Eden Financial Group, Inc., a wholesaling firm to broker-dealers. From 1993 to 2003 he was a Regional Vice President with Nationwide Financial. And, from 2003 to 2015 he was a Vice President with Nationwide Financial responsible for five top broker-dealers. He retired as a Vice President in 2015. He holds a BA from the University of San Francisco, a Business Management Certificate from the Santa Clara Graduate School of Business, and five Leadership Development Certificates. A Senior Member, Mark joined our Squadron in 2004 after taking Boat Smart. After taking the Squadron Boating Course, he went on to take the first three Advanced Grades courses and seven Elective courses, plus earning the Certificate of Educational Proficiency. He is also a Certified Instructor. Mark was the recipient of the Corinthian Award in 2007, the Outstanding Boater Award in 2012, and the Making a Difference Award in 2019. In the past, he has served the squadron as Boat Show Chair for 3 years, Boating Activities Chair for 3 years, Administrative Officer for 2 years, and Executive Officer and Commander for 1-year each. Currently, he is Past Commander, Flag Lieutenant, and Webmaster for the Squadron.

Al was born and raised in San Francisco. He retired from the United States Air Force after 36 years of active and reserve duty as a C5 Galaxy Flight Engineer. Al’s civilian career was in law enforcement and he retired after 30 years as a Special Agent in Charge with the California Department of Justice. Al and his wife Barbara moved to North Carolina in 2013 to be close to their grandchildren and currently reside in Carolina Beach. He became a Cape Fear Sail & Power Squadron member in 2017 and currently enjoys doing Vessel Safety Checks as one of the Squadron’s Vessel Safety Examiners. Al previously owned a 19-foot Glastron boat but hopes to one day buy a boat and cruise the Intracoastal Waterway.

Ron retired to Wilmington after selling his business in Long Beach, CA, LINK Business Brokers. Ron was in the business brokerage business for 22 years. He got into the business after he wasted 3 years trying to buy a business because he couldn't find a good broker. Previously he was President of White-New Idea Farm Equipment Company, a tractor and farm equipment manufacturer for 11 years. The company got bought by a German company, Deutz-Fahr who Ron’s company built tractors on an OEM basis. He took his severance package and moved to California because he had always wanted to boat on the West Coast. Previously he was VP of Engineering for a Black & Decker division after coming up through the engineering ranks. Ron is a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA. He has 3 daughters and one son that gave him 11 grandkids. His wife Dawn has 2 sons and 6 grandchildren for a combined total of 17 grandkids between them. His son Jake, lives in Baton Rouge and has a Carver 430 Cockpit Motor Yacht. Two of his daughters are in the teaching profession, one has a Ph.D. and is a school principal in St. Louis, and the other teaches Hospital Management in San Antonio, TX. His oldest daughter retired from being a Parole Officer and is now a business broker in St. Louis. Ron is also our Boating Activities Chair. You may see him on a cruise on his boat, La Bella Vita.  

Bob is a retired cardiologist who practiced in New Jersey for approximately 35 years. He and his wife of almost 40 years, Cathy, moved to Wilmington in  2018. Neither had previously spent much time on the water and they joined the Cape Fear Sail & Power Squadron to learn more about boating. They purchased their first boat, a 23 foot Boston Whaler Vantage in 2019. Cathy and Bob enjoy traveling, kayaking, and spending time with their two children and two grandchildren. Bob's other interests include reading, foreign movies, and Italian culture.