Rev. Mark Wodka, Executive Director of the Canaveral Port Ministry has been named the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral’s Maritime Person of the Year for 2026. Wodka is recognized for his dedication and service to Seafarers and the Maritime Industry community through his leadership of the Ministry.  He was presented the award at the March Luncheon by Jim Dubea who was the recipient of this honor in 2012. He has served with the Ministry since 2009 and has been Director since 2012.  Under Wodka’s leadership, the Ministry has gone from hosting 38,000 visitors in 2018 to over 100,000 in 2025.  He supervises a team that works to fulfill the Ministry’s mission of meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of seafarers by operating a center near the Port which aims to be a home away from home for crew members working aboard the ships which call at the port. Multiple services are provided including postal services, Wi-Fi, money transfers, a small shop, transportation to local shopping, and hot meals. Spiritual needs are met with chapel services up to three times a day with gospel materials available in over 70 languages.  The team works with crew members to support bible study groups aboard the ships. Team members also visit cruise and cargo ships at the dock to reach crew members who are unable to get off the ship.  Wodka steered the organization through the COVID epidemic where efforts included suicide prevention videos to comfort crewmembers trapped aboard their vessels.  He has led efforts to raise funds to buy additional land adjacent to the facility for future expansion.  Wodka has worked closely with the Canaveral Port Authority and the Port Canaveral Maritime community and has had a long-time relationship with the Propeller Club of Port Canaveral to help further the Ministry’s mission.  For more information visit cpm.life!