With a background in the automotive industry and experience serving both retail and wholesale customers, Longstreth has built his career around a reputation for improving dealership processes, strengthening long-term business planning and continuous client improvement.
“Bob brings a career’s worth of lessons and experience to the MICD Program, and his impact on the team will be felt right away,” Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA, said. “Bob has seen for himself the tangible benefits dealerships reap by completing the Certification process, and he will play a key role in the continued evolution of the MICD Program.”
More than 300 of the nation’s premier marine dealers currently participate in the MICD Program, which has seen rapid growth and expansion during the last two years.
“Marine Certification isn’t new to me,” Longstreth said. “I’ve completed over 500 dealership Certifications for 250 unique stores. I believe in Certification because I know it will make you a better dealership and improve both employee and customer satisfaction.”
Longstreth and the rest of the MICD team have already begun work on strategy for 2016 and beyond. The consultant team, lead by industry veteran Bob McCann, met for several days in Minneapolis last week to discuss how best to continue providing dealers with standards, business processes and best practices to streamline retail operations, increase sales and improve customer and employee satisfaction.
“I believe in the Certification process because I’m confident it will improve customer and employee satisfaction,” Longstreth said. “I’m looking forward to working with the entire MRAA team and dealers who have made adoption of best industry practices a top priority.”
For more information about the MICD Program or to enroll, contact Bob via email at BobL@mraa.com
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the companies that interact with the boater in their community must thrive. Those businesses determine the boater’s experience and are the leading factor in the industry’s success. MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit 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 MRAA.com/certification.