“It is with great pleasure that, as Acting President, I announce to you that the RISAA Board of Directors has hired a new RISAA Executive Director, Greg Vespe.” said the first line of the press release from the Rhode Island Saltwater Angler’s Association (RISAA).
Many who follow recreational fishing in New England have been waiting with baited breath to find out who would take the place of the widely beloved and all-around great guy Steve Medeiros, who passed away suddenly earlier this year. Steve left behind some big shoes to fill, but what we know about his replacement Greg Vespe suggests that he will be more than up to the task.
Vespe is well-known in RISAA circles as a knowledgeable angler who is generous with his time and who genuinely cares about the organization and recreational fishing. He has served on many RISAA committees, delivered dozens of informative seminars and has played a supportive role in countless RISAA events. If you’ve attended any RISAA events from the RISAA Show in Providence to smaller seminar events, you have probably seen Greg Vespe lending a hand.
The official release from RISAA went on to say that Greg stood out among the other candidates because he was so genuinely interested in seeing the organization continue to thrive and hoped to carry the torch from where Steve left off, with an eye toward taking RISAA to an even higher echelon; a force and voice for the recreational fisherman. In addition, he shared the hopes and aspirations of the Board with regard to carrying on their events schedule, most importantly the New England Saltwater Fishing Show which is set to return – in person – March 11 through 13, 2022.
The Board and RISAA membership know and openly admit that a smooth transition will not be possible after the tragic loss of Steve Medeiros who served as Executive Director and President. But they remain confident that Vespe is the right guy for the Executive Director’s job and they are excited to introduce him to the fishing public and feel the that the future of RISAA remains bright. Greg will officially assume his new position on November 15.
