Sunstream CEO Ken Hey Named 2026 Alan J. Freedman Memorial Leadership Award Winner
by Sunstream Boat Lifts 18 Feb 14:43 PST
Sunstream® Boat Lifts, the leading manufacturer of premium boat lifts and the SwiftShield™ Automatic Boat Cover System, announced today that its Founder and CEO has been awarded the 2026 Alan J. Freedman Memorial Leadership Award.
The award, presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), recognizes individuals who've made outstanding contributions to the marine accessories industry through leadership, creativity and personal motivation. Hey was presented with the award during the Industry Breakfast at the Discover Boating® Miami International Boat Show®.
Hey founded Sunstream in 1996 after creating the world's first freestanding hydraulic boat lift, establishing hydraulics as the industry standard. He went on to introduce the first hydraulic floating lift, the first automatic boat cover system and smartphone-enabled marine controls, earning multiple NMMA Innovation Awards and repeated recognition from Boating Industry as a Top Products honoree.
As an avid lifelong boater and 100-ton USCG captain, Hey is intimately familiar with everything that consumers want and need to make boating more fun and accessible in today's fast-paced world. He also brings that passion and expertise to serve the industry at large, currently serving on NMMA's Marine Accessory and Components Division Board of Directors.
"Ken's leadership and innovation have, raised the bar for performance and integration across his many products and patents geared at improving the boating experience," said Frank Hugelmeyer, president and CEO of NMMA. "His work reflects the spirit of the Freedman Award and its focus on lasting industry impact."
"Thank you to the NMMA for honoring me with this coveted award," said Ken Hey, CEO of Sunstream Boat Lifts. "While this recognition is personal, I have to acknowledge the entire hardworking team behind Sunstream. One of the keys to our track record of industry-transforming breakthroughs is the risk-taking culture in our development team. In fact, each member is encouraged to have one 'innovation failure' a year in the lab to make sure we are all pushing our limits. This drive is what makes Sunstream the leader in boat lifts that many can try to keep up with but can never duplicate. We are proud to have greatly enhanced the boating experience such that people are boating more often, with more fun, and keep boating practical for today's busy lifestyle. We are attracting new boaters and keeping them boating for a lifetime."