May 14th, 2024
We are honored to feature a special address by Mike Alfultis, President of SUNY Maritime College, delivered at the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Foremost. His speech highlights the strong relationship between Foremost and SUNY Maritime College, emphasizing the significant contributions and support provided by Dr. James S.C. Chao and the Foremost Group towards maritime education and training. Below is the full text of President Alfultis’ heartfelt and inspiring speech.
Speech by Mike Alfultis, President of SUNY Maritime College
Good evening. I am Mike Alfultis, President of SUNY Maritime College located right here in New York City, and it is my honor and privilege to be able to participate in the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Foremost Group.
Maritime College’s relationship with Dr. James S.C. Chao and the Foremost Group began in October 2014 with a meeting in his Manhattan office. Dr. Chao was very interested in establishing a student exchange program between Maritime College and the National Taiwan Ocean University or NTOU. Since this meeting, we were successful in formalizing this student exchange program with the help of Dr. Chao and the Foremost Group, who enable NTOU students to participate in this program by providing support for travel and lodging. Today, in addition to their support for the NTOU student exchange program, the Chao family and the Foremost Group provide Maritime College students with scholarships and summer internship opportunities, and employ our graduates. Dr. Chao is an avid champion and advocate of higher education as well as maritime training and education. He and the Foremost Group also support Massachusetts Maritime Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, as well as several other maritime institutions, colleges, and universities. On behalf of the SUNY Maritime College students who have benefitted from your generosity as well as my colleagues from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the Coast Guard Academy, I would like to thank Dr. Chao and the Foremost Group for the many ways in which they support our students in attaining their goals.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank you, Dr. Chao, for your example as a principled leader. Although it was almost 10 years ago, I will always remember that first meeting I had with you. It was readily evident from that meeting how strongly you valued honor, integrity, and being a person of your word, and how these core values were the very basis of your leadership and management of the Foremost Group. I left our first meeting, and I just said, WOW. The strong sense of personal values that you use every day to guide and manage the Foremost Group is an inspiration to me and everyone here tonight. Thank you again for your passionate support for maritime education, and more importantly thank you for serving as an example of a principled leader to everyone that you encounter.
My wife Kim and I wish you and the Foremost Group the very best as you celebrate this important milestone.