World Aquaculture 7 in the next issue of World Aquaculture. The trade show was well attended, both from the perspective of the number of commercial suppliers with booths and from the foot traffic of conference participants, many of whom took the opportunity to wander over to the nearby poster area. Feed companies seemed particularly well-represented at this meeting. Novus Aquaculture was a Premier Sponsor of the conference. Along with Novus, the Gold Sponsors— Aquatic Eco-systems, Firestone Specialty Products, Aquaculture Systems Technologies, Empyreal 75, Innovative Heat Concepts, and Kasco Marine—generously sponsored the numerous coffee breaks and late-afternoon happy hours. By the number of intense conversations going on during those occasions, it was clear that these opportunities for networking and information exchange were valued by conference goers. Of Ted Batterson receives Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from USAS lect and real-world understanding. He was a skillful consensus builder, with the ability to turn a broad vision into a set of ambitious but achievable goals. He has provided the leadership in building the team responsible for molding the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center into a successful and well-recognized program. He was responsible for developing much of the original vision for the NCRAC and is commended for his wisdom in relying on and involving his colleagues and co-workers to assist him in making the vision a reality. These characteristics have translated into a positive impact on the continued development of the aquaculture industry in the Midwest over the past two decades. His dedication to US aquaculture can also be demonstrated by his participation on countless panels and review committees as well as his service to numerous professional organizations and workgroups. While serving as USAS President his plan for USAS was forward thinking and methodical and the policy and procedures that he outlined for awards, as well as the roadmap he co-developed through the Five-Year Strategic Plan, will allow the Society to not only maintain the status quo but to advance in a way that benefits not only the US Chapter but the entirety of US aquaculture through the goals and benchmarks that he defined for both. One of his greatest legacies is the growing list of professionals on whom he has left his mark. They have learned many things from Ted, not least of these is the power of process and group consensus on the development of effective research and extension aquaculture programs in the Midwest. The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has made contributions and broad impacts throughout their career to aquaculture in the United States through research, education, extension, and/or industry development. This award recognizes a long-term commitment of service to aquaculture that is deemed highly significant and enduring. For more than 20 years Ted Batterson has energetically supported aquaculture development in Michigan, the North Central Region, and the U.S. He has been an active member in a number of professional aquaculture organizations including the World Aquaculture Society, United States Aquaculture Society, Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society and the Michigan Aquaculture Association. In 1997, he was received a Leadership Award from the Michigan Aquaculture Association for outstanding service, leadership and promotion for aquaculture in the state. Through exceptional personal effort and initiative for over 20 years, he has directed a nationally respected research program that has supported a diverse array of topics and has never lost sight of the need to connect research to stakeholders. The level of organization with which he managed the North Central Regional Aquaculture Center (NCRAC) pays testament to his driven personality. His talent for building effective collaborations among a variety of academic, federal and aquaculture industry personnel allowed the NCRAC to leverage its limited funding and help maintain the fledgling Midwestern aquaculture community against long odds. He was an administrator who exhibited a rare combination of research intelcourse there were a number of additional scheduled opportunities for socializing, including the President’s Reception, the always-rollicking NAA auction, and the increasingly popular Closing Happy Hour. Between the solid offerings of the conference and the entertaining attractions of Las Vegas, every conference participant was dealt a winning hand. — John A. Hargreaves Editor-in-Chief
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