The Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program has added a new benefit exclusively for Certified Dealerships. Sales personnel at Marine Industry Certified Dealerships are now eligible to become Certified Professional Yacht Brokers, at a savings of $550 per applicant. The three-year CPYB accreditation program was created and is endorsed by the seven major yacht sales professional associations in North America: Yacht Brokers Association of America; Florida Yacht Brokers Association; Northwest Yacht Brokers Association; California Yacht Brokers Association; Boating Ontario Dealer; British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association; and Gulf Coast Yacht Brokers Association.
The new MICD/CPYB relationship means that the proprietor of a Certified Dealership is able to send any of his or her dealership employees through the CPYB program at the co-sponsoring association rate.
CPYB Certification is the boating industry’s brand of excellence for yacht sales professionals throughout North America. Applicants must meet a stringent set of criteria to first apply for the program; afterwards, they are required to successfully pass a written, three-hour exam in order to officially earn CPYB credentials. The CPYB designation is the most prestigious accreditation a yacht sales professional can earn inside the recreational marine industry and is valid for three years from the anniversary of the exam date.
“We are thrilled to join forces with CPYB and be able to offer this incredibly valuable benefit to Certified Dealerships,” says Sonja Moseley, MICD Program director. “The discount on CPYB Certification helps Certified Dealerships become that much more professional by offering their employees an opportunity for additional development and ongoing excellence. The CPYB designation is another mark of prestige that helps set Certified Dealership personnel apart from their competition in the marketplace.”
The initial concept for the CPYB program was announced in 1999 and was several years in development, with significant time spent culling a body of knowledge that yacht sales professionals needed to learn in order to become Certified, in addition to establishing the actual testing process. The industry’s first yacht sales professional was Certified in 2002, and since that time nearly 600 more have completed the program and achieved CPYB status.
“The CPYB program raises the level of professionalism throughout our industry,” says Colleen McDonough, CPYB program manager. “The program gives yacht sales professionals a benchmark against which to measure their skills, abilities and overall performance, while at the same time enhancing their value in the market. Much like the MICD Program, individuals that are CPYB Certified have met a stringent set of industry standards and agree to abide by a Code of Ethics, similar to the Marine Industry Consumer Commitment, fulfill ongoing educational requirements and uphold the highest level of business standards. CPYB Certification is a great opportunity for Marine Industry Certified Dealerships’ sales personnel to solidify their namesake among the industry’s elite.”
Dealerships that have decided to pursue both MICD and CPYB experienced fantastic results and say the advantages to their businesses are clear — and particularly visible when it comes to customer satisfaction.
“As a pilot dealer for the MICD Program launch, Galati Yacht Sales embraces the rigors of the program and the benefits for improving our clients overall customer experience,” says Darren Plymale, vice president of Anna Maria, Fla.-based Galati. “The process and procedures within the MICD Program are designed to track trends and measure a dealers’ customer focus in all aspects of their business. Our sales approach is no different, and the CPYB program allows us to confidently represent every customer buying or selling at the highest level throughout the sales process.
“By the same token, CPYB program criteria assures us that our sales team possesses the knowledge necessary to represent the consumer in all aspects of the brokerage transaction. We are excited for this new relationship between MICD and CPYB, as it will create a greater experience for those seeking to enjoy the benefits our industry offers,” Plymale continues.
To learn more about the MICD Program or the benefits of becoming Marine Industry Certified, contact Sonja Moseley at 763-333-2424 or sonja@mraa.com.
About the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program
Managed by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program (MICD) is dedicated to improving the customer experience at the retail level. The first step in the Certification process focuses on establishing a high level of customer satisfaction through communication, appearance and quality. The second tier of Certification continues to enhance the customer experience by implementing processes for overall dealership functionality. At the program’s Five Star level, established organizational procedures are implemented to ensure smooth operations and happy customers. To learn more about the MICD Program, visit DealerCertification.org.
About the Certified Professional Yacht Broker Program
Since 1999, yacht sales professionals (brokers, dealers and salespeople) nationwide have had a benchmark for measuring their skills, abilities and performance, while also enhancing their marketing value. Boat sellers and buyers are in a better position to select qualified, competent sales professionals with confidence and trust. The Certified Professional Yacht Broker program has made this dream a reality, thanks to the joint efforts of the Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA), Florida Yacht Brokers Association (FYBA), Northwest Yacht Brokers Association (NYBA), California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA), Boating Ontario Dealer, Gulf Coast Yacht Brokers Association (GCYBA) and British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association (BCYBA). Nearly 600 yacht sales professionals throughout North America have earned their CPYB designation to date. CPYB Certification is the industry performance standard for yacht sales professionals throughout North America. To learn more, visit CPYB.net.
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