MRAA President Matt Gruhn was recently featured in an article by Boating Industry magazine, recognizing the progress that MRAA has made in 2012. The “Bold Moves” that MRAA has made have resulted in huge increases in membership. Read the article here.
MRAA News
MDCE Keynote Speaker: A Must-See Event!
If you want to drive more sales in your business in 2013, you won’t want to miss the keynote presentation at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo: “How the Best Get Better” from world-renowned speaker and author Robert Stevenson. Stevenson will give you actionable tips you can use in your business right away to improve […]
75 (and counting) unique exhibitors at MDCE
This year’s Marine Dealer Conference & Expo features more than 75 exhibitors that you can see only at MDCE. “We made some significant changes to the floor plan and event flow at last year’s MDCE, and those changes were received very well by both the dealers and the exhibitors,” explains Kathy Johnson, national sales manager […]
NMDA signs on to provide MDCE Educational Funding Support
ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Marine Distributors Association has signed on to provide Educational Funding Support for this year’s Marine Dealer Conference & Expo. Support from the group made it possible to assemble the strongest lineup of speakers in the history of the event in 2012, including 22 all-new educational sessions. The lineup can be […]
Presidential candidates differ over CAFE standards
In September, the Obama Administration announced the most strict new vehicle fuel efficiency standards that would require auto manufacturers’ fleet average (CAFE) for automobiles to be 54.5 mpg by 2025. This move was strongly opposed by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, but had the support of the auto industry and environmentalists. The new […]
Sequestration looms large with fiscal cliff and Bush tax cuts in balance
The talk on the Hill these days is the Lame Duck Session that is coming after the election and the great concern about the fiscal cliff with its forced 10 percent across the board cut in the federal government budget (known as sequestration) that is due to hit on January 1. Members of both parties […]
Schumer introduces boating capacity standards bill
Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) introduced S. 3537, the Boating Capacity Standards Act, on Sept. 13. It would require the Coast Guard to set maximum passenger capacity and maximum weight capacity standards for recreational vessels no matter the size. It would also require manufacturers and operators of passenger vessels to permanently display in a legible […]
Young introduces House Resolution praising hunters, anglers, boaters and industry
On Sept. 20, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced H. Res. 801 to recognize America’s hunters, anglers, trappers, recreational boaters, recreational shooters, the industry, state fish and wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their leading role in restoring healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. There is one co-sponsor. A […]
MRAA shares concern over proposed loan restrictions for liveaboards
MRAA joined with the National Marine Bankers Association to voice strong concern about a recent proposed rulemaking by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would adversely impact the ability of liveaboards to obtain financing on boat purchases. In a letter responding to a Federal Register docket, MRAA President Matt Gruhn and Chairman Dave Foulkrod expressed […]
Two events that boost the bottom line
By Norm Shultz, Soundings Trade Only From all accounts, last week’s International BoatBuilders Exhibition and Conference produced another strong showing as one of the industry’s two biggest educational events. Next up from Nov. 11-14 is the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla. Read the entire blog.