Richard “Dick” Valdes and Maurice V. Threinen founded Glass Laminates, a fiberglass contract company, in 1958.

The company eventually focused its development expertise on sailboats and became Glass Marine Industries (GMI), marketing their boats under the Columbia nameplate.

Total sales of the Whittaker Marine Group reached between $250 and $350 Million in the early 70's during Valdes' tenure.

Following Dick Valdes' departure from Columbia Yachts in 1972, the company offices and plant were relocated to Virginia, and eventually sold to Hughes Boat Works based in Huron Park, Ontario, Canada in 1979, and later to Aura Yachts also based in Huron Park, Ontario in 1982.

The new company’s first offering was the Columbia 30 Sports Sailor, designed by Tim Kernan, with a Southern California OWC PHRF rating of 51.