The Retirement of Our Remarkable Leader
Announcement:
We are honored to announce the retirement of Cheryl M. Zimmerman, who has been an integral part of FarSounder’s success and growth. Throughout her more than two-decades-long career as CEO before transitioning to Chairman of the Board and Market Development Strategist at FarSounder, Cheryl has been a role model of leadership, dedication, and professionalism.
Career Highlights and Contributions
As CEO, she commercialized this innovative technology, focusing on the global expedition cruise ship, recreational, and defense markets.
She led the FarSounder team in receiving numerous honors over the years, including the 2015 Tibbetts Award for Innovative and Outstanding Contribution to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
In 2023, she was awarded the Marine and Oceanographic Technology Network (MOTN) Annual Steve Withrow Award.
What Cheryl Means To the FarSounder Team
“I’ve learned a lot about running the Company from Cheryl. Though FarSounder is not a family business, I was very fortunate to have been able to work so closely with my mother for many years. Throughout our working relationship, she was always “Cheryl” to me. Now I’m looking forward to spending more time with “Mom” and continuing to learn from her in other ways.” — Matthew Zimmerman (CEO)
“She is a leader, mentor, and friend to us all. Her hard work and passion for FarSounder’s mission have set the company on the road to success. She will be missed. ” — Cassie Stetkiewicz(Director of Operations)
“Her guidance has helped me navigate challenging projects and inspired me to put forth my best efforts for the company” — Kim May(Administrator)
Inspiring the Next Generation
As Cheryl enters retirement, she shares valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women striving for leadership roles:
“I would advise all of women who aspire to lead in the superyacht industry to stay focused and determined on what they want to accomplish. A lesson I learned and would encourage other women to do is to help each other. I also encourage the next generation to embrace change and innovation. Do not forget, integrity and kindness will take you further.”
The End of a Chapter, The Start of a New Journey
Cheryl’s retirement is not just the end of a chapter; it is the beginning of a new journey. Her contributions significantly shaped our organization and provided the company with a solid foundation. The company is honored that she will remain as Chairman of the Board and continue to share her knowledge and expertise in this role.
Thank you, Cheryl, for being a fantastic colleague, a mentor, a leader, and a true friend. Your remarkable dedication to the marine industry, along with your commitment to empowering women who aspire to step forward in their career paths.
