Captain Mike McElroy has been proudly serving the passenger vessel industry for 34 years. He is currently employed as the Director of Marine Operations and Regulatory affairs for Wendella boats and Chicago water taxi. He also serves as the MTSA required Company security officer responsible for maintaining the Company security plan, a robust training regimen, drills, and exercises.

Mike has previously served the marine passenger vessel industry as Captain, Engineer, and Chief Engineer on USCG inspected commercial passenger vessels. Mike has proudly trained hundreds of marine crew members and related personnel in topics ranging from MTSA, Safety, Engineering and Passenger Vessel Operations.

Mike has a passion for safety, security and hospitality. He satisfies this passion through engagement and partnerships as the current President of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee (CHSC) where he also serves as agency liaison, education committee chair, and emergency preparedness committee chair. Mike has also previously served the CHSC in the capacity of passenger vessel Sector director and later Vice President prior to being elected President.

On a national level Mike is a current member and former Chair of the Passenger Vessel Association Safety and Security committee and the Chair of the PVA Engineering committee. Through his work with the PVA he has authored and co-authored articles in the trade magazine “Foghorn” on active shooter training, COVID preparedness and de-escalation training for the marine employee. He has also Authored several PVA member online resources tools including de-escalation tactics for the passenger vessel employee’s, Looking beyond the trash can fire and recognizing the dangers of carbon dioxide in your marine environment.

Mike worked with the CHSC and PVA to establish safe operating procedures during the COVID 19 pandemic. He also authored a video on Civil unrest during the COVID 19 pandemic lessons learned for his national trade organization.

He is an elected official in the Village of Worth, Illinois and serves as the Worth Park District President. He is the former appointed life safety officer for his hometown. He also chaired the Village Life safety committee. This Committee was tasked to work directly with Congressman Dan Lipinski’s office to investigate the potential consequences of placing dredged material in a local natural area and assist in finding alternatives to the placement site for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Mike is a former BSA scout master and member of good standing of the Sons of the American legion post 991 and the Worth Lions Club.

Mike has also been awarded the USCG meritorious public service award twice for his contributions to the USCG’s mission by discovering major flaws with fixed firefighting systems that resulted in national safety alerts, developing training products, assisting first responders on the Chicago River, Collaborating with USCG headquarters to clarify vessel automation policy and for publishing MTSA anti-terrorism quick reference tools for passenger vessel operators.

Mike has also been awarded multiple challenge coins from the USCG, PVA, FBI and Secret Service for his assistance in marine related activities and investigations.

Mike was also awarded the PVA Roger Murphy safety awardfor contributions to marine safety through development of his training programs that target an increase in safety culture.