Navy Pier Marina’s Randy Podolsky Named the 2025 Chicago Yachting Association Yachtsperson of the Year

Navy Pier Marina is proud to announce that project founder and developer Randy D. Podolsky has received the Yachtsperson of the Year Award from the Chicago Yachting Association. This annual CYA award recognizes exceptional efforts and endeavors to enhance the boating experience for recreational boaters on Lake Michigan and beyond.

Randy is an entrepreneur, avid boater, and proud member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Navy Pier Marina has long been his passion project, developed to provide boaters with 5-star pleasure-craft docking and convenient access to dining, lodging, and entertainment in the Chicago area.

As one of the Chicago Yachting Association’s highest honors, the Yachtsperson of the Year Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to boating and yachting in the Chicago area throughout the year. “The award honors Randy Podolsky’s leadership and service to the boating community; through his vision and dedication, Randy has created an accessible, premier tourist attraction in Navy Pier Marina, where visitors from all over can experience Chicago’s lively city, beautiful lakefront, and rich culture,” said James Caldwell, CYA Commodore.

The 2025 CYA awards were presented on October 19th at the organization’s annual members meeting. “I could not be more humbled and honored to be recognized by the Chicago Yachting Association for this prestigious award,” said Randy. “The members and directors of CYA are all proud and active Chicago boaters and represent significant yacht clubs and boating organizations dedicated to promoting the boating community and safety along Chicago’s shoreline. Their selection of me as Yachtsperson of the Year is very meaningful to me.”

In a single season, Navy Pier Marina has cemented Chicago’s role in Great Lakes cruising, created a major stopover point for transient vessels and Loopers, and has enriched the integration of boating culture with urban life. Thanks to the marina’s stellar first season, Chicago’s waterfront experience has been undoubtedly elevated. Now, rather than simply passing by or docking far from downtown, recreational and commercial boaters can anchor right in a central, high-amenity urban location—hourly, overnight, or even seasonally.

Navy Pier Marina is also ideal for accommodating group rendezvous, wherein boat and yacht clubs, marinas and other businesses, or groups of boat-loving families and friends can dock together. Nowhere else can 5 – 50 boats moor together in the heart of Chicago! Designed by boaters, for boaters, this transient-focused marina brings convenience and world-class amenities to Lake Michigan’s boating community; it has already established itself as the premier boating destination that offers flexible docking options, 5-star accommodations, and top-tier entertainment in the heart of Chicago. To learn more, visit navypiermarina.com.

About NPM Venture

NPM Venture LLC was formed by Chicago native Randy D. Podolsky. Randy has envisioned a recreational marina at Navy Pier, which would allow previously never-allowed incredible waterborne access to the People’s Pier, since he started his boating adventures in 1983. Randy has been an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary since 1991 and served as the elected District Commodore of the Ninth District Western Region in 2009 & 2010, overseeing the operations of over 1,100 uniformed volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary members. To provide financial and physical resources for local Auxiliary units, Randy formed the NFP Waukegan Water Safety Association in 2001. Since 1976, Randy has been an active member of the Chicago-area commercial real estate scene, starting his career at Arthur Rubloff & Co. and from 1979 at Podolsky & Associates in Riverwoods, IL. He has been working on the development of Navy Pier Marina since 2016 and is excited to make this a reality for all recreational boaters.

The Chicago Yachting Association

The Chicago Yachting Association has been serving and supporting the Chicago boating community for over 50 years. A nonprofit organization of Chicago Area yacht clubs and other groups with marine interests in the metropolitan area, the Association provides a forum for issues involving the marine community. Their goal is to foster public-private partnerships that support all things affecting the recreational boating community in the greater Chicago area. Its members include the past commodores of all the Chicago area yacht clubs. To learn more about the Chicago Yachting Association and the Yachtsperson of the Year Award, visit http://chicagoyachtingassociation.org.