The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is off to a great start in 2012! I’m thrilled to let you all know that not only is 2012 the association’s 40th anniversary, but we’re expecting this year to be one of our best years yet. Why? Well, we have numerous initiatives underway that will make membership […]

Historically, I’ve been fairly poor at understanding economics. I barely skated by in Econ 101 in college, and my collegiate-level understanding of supply and demand was warped by the ever-increasing demand for the libations of my classmates and the never-ending supply flowing from the local taps. The real world has taught me a lot more […]

The keynote at this year’s Marine Dealer Conference & Expo was by far the most talked about presentation the event has ever had. Not only was it entertaining through its incorporation of humor, but it also hit home because of the clear connection the topic had for the MDCE audience. The topic was simple: There’s […]

Back in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying , “Every man owes part of his time and money to the business or industry in which is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.” As I’ve discovered, in […]

In my work life, the only thing that rivals my passion for the marine industry is my passion for professional development. I’m a lifelong boater, and I’m also a lifelong learner. Unlike boating, it took me quite a while to love educational opportunities. I was an average student in high school, a below-average student in […]

Somehow, I wound up with the “event gene.” I’ve always enjoyed attending and organizing events of all sizes, whether they’re simply social gatherings at my house or events as large as the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo. When I cleaned out my desk at my last job, I emptied out 15 years’ worth of badges, […]

There are days where I sit down to write this blog and wonder if there’s anyone out there … anyone who cares what’s on my mind today. And, truth be told, there are likely few of you right now who do. So why do I do it? For a few reasons. First, I believe an […]

One of the most visible benefits that MRAA members receive is the discount afforded them with their registration to the MRAA annual meeting, also known as the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo. MRAA members save $50 on every employee they register for this event. For some dealers, such as Singleton Marine Group, that $50-per-registrant savings […]

It isn’t very often that we get to realize a long-held aspiration. But as you read this, I am getting that very opportunity, and I’d like to share that story with you. It was about four years ago now that I had what was then an off-the-record conversation with MRAA President Phil Keeter. In that […]