Rod Whitfield (my late husband) formed R. J. Whitfield & Associates in October of 1986. His background in boats began when he was eight years old and his grandfather gave him a sailing dinghy. Since that time, he had owned 27 sail boats (one of which he built of aluminum) and operated approximately 125 others.

In conjunction with his employment history, he had operated the berthing tug "Otas Wach" in Nova Scotia (1956 to 1958); was engine representative for Caterpillar Tractor Company (1959 to 1964); engineered and supervised, for Rader Pneumatics (1964 to 1978), the installation and turn key operation of some 80 plus saw mill wood chip loading operations, including 11 bulk ship loading facilities.

During this time span, he also fished commercially on both coasts of Canada, operated his own log salvage business in the Howe Sound area of British Columbia, was involved as a principal in Wake Sails of Vancouver, BC, and Pope Rigging Service (Pacific Spar). He became a 50% owner of Tradewinds Sailing Center (1979 to 1981) in Sacramento, CA, a dealership for C & C, Catalina, Lancer, O'Day and Coastal Recreation, where he reorganized the rigging and maintenance department with hands on effort; owned and operated Highriggers Marine Services (1981 to 1989), a yacht brokerage and full service repair facility, including hands on building and installation of the physical facility; formed the professional marine surveying firm of R. J. Whitfield and Associates, Inc. (1986 to present), which became his full time occupation in 1989.

At the time that he passed away, he was the Executive Vice President of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors®. Not only was Rod my husband, he was my mentor in the fields of sailing, boat repair and (most important of all) marine surveying. My boating background began in the middle '70s with the operation of small (up to 26') power boats in the San Joaquin Delta and local mountain lakes. I then became totally hooked when I assisted Rod in passaging a Holland 47 sail boat up the coast from San Diego to San Francisco in 1983. Since that time, I have assisted teaching basic sailing through Highriggers Marine and helped in the development and operation of Highrigger's repair facility, including performance of all types of FRP repairs and lift operation.

I have been surveying full time since April 1989 and achieved Accredited Marine Surveyor® status in 1990.

Our corporation was formed in October of 1986. Since that time, we have performed over 2,375 condition and valuation surveys. In addition, approximately 50% of our work involves property loss investigations for various insurance companies. Our work is accepted by virtually all major and local financial institutions and insurance carriers.

We thank you again for your attention and hope that we can be of service to you now or in the future.

Yours truly,

R. J. WHITFIELD AND ASSOCIATES, INC.

Peggy J. Feakes, SAMS® AMS®