• National Marine Trades Council (NMTC) Hosts Annual Conference to Discuss Workforce Development, Advocacy, Marketing and More
PORTLAND, MAINE, August 13, 2025 – The National Marine Trades Council (NMTC) successfully concluded its annual conference, hosted July 21-24 by the Maine Marine Trades Association (MMTA) at the Portland Harbor Hotel in Maine. The event brought together marine industry leaders, association representatives and stakeholders from across the country for engaging discussions, informative presentations and valuable networking.
This year’s sessions covered a wide range of topics, including workforce development, industry advocacy, boat show strategies, legislative updates and marketing initiatives. Highlights included workforce-focused presentations from Yamaha and industry insights from Discover Boating. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) held a forward-looking discussion on the future of marine retail. Attendees also explored the impacts of tariffs, regulatory and legislative trends, and shared best practices from state legislative sessions.
“Every year, NMTC is where marine trade leaders come together to talk, connect, and learn from each other,” said Lori Wheeler, 2025 Conference Chair. “It’s all about working together to support our members, grow our industry, and keep it thriving for the future. A big thank you to the Maine Marine Trades Association and Stacey Keefer for hosting us this year.”
Additionally, the conference showcased Portland’s charm and rich boating heritage. Attendees enjoyed a ferry trip to Great Diamond Island for lunch and afternoon sessions focused on boat shows. Those sessions were followed by a traditional Maine lobster bake that encouraged both networking and storytelling.
“I’m excited to keep building on the momentum we’ve created with NMTC and to continue delivering value for marine trade association professionals while strengthening industry connections,” said Matt Gruhn, 2025 Conference Vice Chair. “As we look ahead to 2026, we’re ready to grow participation and make this annual event even more impactful.”
Conference Sponsors
The NMTC extends its gratitude to Randall Lyons for his leadership as last year’s chair and to the sponsors who made this year’s event possible:
- Platinum Level: Discover Boating, Informa Markets
- Gold Level: Yamaha
- Silver Level: Yachtr
- Bronze Level: American Boat and Yacht Council, BoatUS, AdStrategies, MRAA, Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, Tix Online Now, U.S. Superyacht Association
- Association Level: Ohio Marine Trades Association, Boating Ontario, Massachusetts Marine Trades Association, Boating Trades Association of Metropolitan Houston, Maine Marine Trades Association, Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, Michigan Boating Industries Association, Marine Industries Association of South Florida
About NMTC
The National Marine Trades Council (NMTC) is an informal coalition of marine trade associations dedicated to promoting and supporting the marine industry through advocacy, education and collaboration. The annual conference unites leaders from across the country to share ideas, address challenges, and strengthen the marine trades community.
Media Contacts:
- Lori Wheeler – lori@miasf.org
- Matt Gruhn – matt@mraa.com
