SAN DIEGO - APRIL 17, 2025

GOVX PARTNERS WITH MARGARITAVILLE AT SEA TO CELEBRATE “HEROES MONTH” IN MAY WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND CABIN DROP AND DEDICATED PROGRAMMING

“We believe these frontline heroes deserve more than just our gratitude, they deserve a chance to relax and enjoy unforgettable experiences at sea.”

-Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea

San Diego, CA — GOVX, the online shopping platform exclusively for current and former military, first responders, emergency medical professionals, and other government personnel, has partnered with the cruise line Margaritaville at Sea to build on its successful, industry-first "Heroes Sail Free” program.

A new wave of exclusive offers and programming to celebrate Heroes Month in May will be highlighted by an ultra-exclusive release of free cabins for two guests on 7-night Caribbean sailings, fundraising efforts with special partners, and dedicated onboard tributes and community-building programs.


“We believe these frontline heroes deserve more than just our gratitude, they deserve a chance to relax and enjoy unforgettable experiences at sea,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “Whether it’s a well-earned vacation, a special moment of recognition, or a chance to build community, we’re dedicated to giving back as the #1 cruise line for heroes.”

Launched in 2022, the Margaritaville at Sea “Heroes Sail Free” program was created to demonstrate the cruise line’s unwavering appreciation for those who serve our country and communities and to honor their hard work and sacrifice. Since launch, Margaritaville at Sea has brought over 135,000 heroes onboard.

"On behalf of GOVX, I'd like to extend my deepest appreciation to Margaritaville at Sea for recognizing and honoring all those who've served through the Heroes Sail Free program," said Alan Cole, GOVX CEO. "Each voyage has made a lasting impact on the GOVX community, and we look forward to continuing to deliver more well-deserved moments at sea together during the month of May."


Margaritaville at Sea is also dedicated to creating programming onboard to honor Heroes and give them opportunities to build community. The beloved “Salute to the Heroes” event, currently hosted on Islander, will now be featured on Paradise beginning on May 2.

This signature event will also include special toasts throughout the month of May to honor specific groups of frontline workers, ensuring their contributions are acknowledged and celebrated: Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9), Nurses Appreciation Week & International Nurses Day (May 6-12), and Memorial Day (May 26). To gain access to exclusive heroes offers and onboard programming, visit https://margaritavilleatsea.com/offers/heroessailfree/.

About Margaritaville at Sea 

Margaritaville at Sea brings Margaritaville’s iconic hospitality to the open ocean for a one-of-a-kind offshore vacation experience. The cruise line’s maiden vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, offers easy-breezy getaways from Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island, while the new flagship vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, sails out of Port Tampa Bay on four- and five-night adventures to Key West and Mexico. Guests aboard Margaritaville at Sea can relax and unwind in comfort, featuring a range of fully redesigned suites, and balcony, ocean view and interior staterooms dressed in nautical details and colors inspired by the sea, sand, and sky.

The ships also feature numerous inclusive and specialty dining restaurants centered around chef-crafted, island-inspired cuisine, uniquely themed bars and lounges that provide non-stop live entertainment paired with premium cocktails, kids’ clubs and arcades, the action-packed Margaritaville Casino, the St. Somewhere Spa & Salon, multiple pools, hot tubs, and plenty of quiet spaces to soak up the Caribbean sun. Sail away to an island state of mind at MargaritavilleAtSea.com.

About GovX

GOVX is dedicated to serving those who serve our country and communities – military service members, first responders, law enforcement officers, emergency medical professionals, educators, and other government service personnel. With a customizable suite of solutions, GOVX provides leading brands who share in our mission with a unique opportunity to support this deserving audience. Through our flagship ecommerce site, GOVX.com, brands can authentically reach a growing community of 10M+ members with their own storefront.

More than 1.5K trusted brands currently have a storefront on GOVX.com, offering unbeatable deals to those who serve. With our verification app, GOVX ID, brands can easily enable service member discounts within the checkout flow of their own sites. More than 3K brands currently utilize our GOVX ID technology to honor service members. By leveraging GOVX marketing services solutions, brands can effectively amplify their products or services within our engaged and exclusive community and reinforce their support for Americans who make a difference. In addition to providing unmatched value to those who serve, GOVX also donates a portion of every order to non-profits who serve the military and first responder community. To date we have donated nearly $2M through our GOVX Gives Back initiative. For more information, visit https://www.govx.com.


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CHRIS BOHNERT - CPO

Chris joined GOVX in 2015, bringing more than 15 years of product, marketing and general management experience in the consumer internet space. As head of Product at GOVX, Chris leads product management, design and business intelligence for the entire product portfolio.


Chris began his career at Active Network in 2002 and helped grow the company from start-up to a successful IPO in 2011. During his time at Active Network, Chris managed several teams and product-lines, including the flagship media property, Active.com and the eCommerce division.


In 2012, Chris joined Takelessons, an online education marketplace matching students with qualified teachers. As VP of Product and Technology, he led a cross-functional team, including engineering, product management and design.


Chris earned a BA from the University of Arizona and an MBA from San Diego State University.

ADAM HOMZE - VP ENGINEERING

Adam joined GOVX in 2014 as the Vice President of Software Development and is responsible for leading the software development group, how our applications are built, and scaling the GOVX tech stack.


Since 2005, Adam has actively participated in the growth phase of several startups; holding multiple technical and leadership positions. Over that time, he has developed a wide range of skills to tackle the challenges inherent in building technology companies.


Adam earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego.

AARON PELANDER - CHIEF BRAND OFFICER

As the leader of the Brand Marketing team at GOVX, Aaron is responsible for crafting and executing a comprehensive brand strategy that supports GOVX’s business goals and mission. Working closely with the wider marketing and creative teams, Aaron brings the GOVX identity to life through creative storytelling, consistent brand messaging, strategic marketing channel investments, impactful partnerships and sponsorships, and alignment with key non-profit organizations, all aimed at increasing GOVX brand awareness and recall.


Before joining GOVX in 2014, Aaron held senior marketing and management roles at the Active Network and Provide Commerce. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Arizona and his MBA from San Diego State University.

CAROL SCHNUGG - CFO

Carol serves as Chief Financial Officer for GOVX and oversees all financial, accounting and administrative matters for the Company as well as negotiating and administrating Brand-Partners’ wholesale pricing. Prior to joining GOVX, she served as Controller for Billabong’s Sector 9 company, where she oversaw its acquisition by Billabong and was recruited to oversee all financial and accounting matters along with managing its e-commerce site.


Carol previously owned and operated her own accounting and tax practice and was an accountant with Deloitte & Touche.


Carol received a B.S. in finance from San Diego State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

ALAN COLE - CEO/PRESIDENT

Alan began his career as co-founder and President of DELTYME Corporation, a San Diego-based web services firm working with national clients including Target, Cisco Systems, Costco and Garden Fresh.


After stepping away from an operating role at DELTYME, Alan attended business school at the University of Texas with a focus on entrepreneurial management. During his time in Austin he took on due diligence responsibilities at Gefinor Ventures (an early stage venture firm) and worked in marketing and business development roles in several Austin-area startups including Convio and Metreos.


Alan ultimately moved back to San Diego to join Active Network, where he held executive responsibility for the company's $50M Media + Marketing division. After six years with Active Network, Alan moved on to serve as COO of TakeLessons, an online education marketplace connecting students with qualified teachers. In late 2016, Alan joined GOVX as CEO.

Alan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Santa Clara University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.