The South Carolina Maritime Association honored Brenda Dasher with the “Beacon Award” for her contributions to the maritime industry. The event, a black tie affair with more than 450 people in attendance, was held in the Crystal Ball Room of the Charleston (S.C.) Marriott.

Dasher, a native of Springfield, retired last July after 45 years in the ship agency business. She began her career with Southeastern Maritime in Savannah and moved to Charleston in 1969.

In 1986, she returned to Savannah as vice president and remained there until 1990, when she accepted a position with Lavino Shipping in Philadelphia. She joined Strachan Shipping Service as the East Coast general manager in 2000, relocating to Savannah.

In 2004, she moved her office to Charleston, which was Strachan’s largest office on the East Coast at the time. She stepped down in 2007 and took over as port manager of the Charleston office.

Since retirement last year, Dasher has moved to Rincon and now lives in Lost Plantation.