Ethan Vorchheimer from Ess-Kay Yards Inc. in Brewerton, N.Y., and Frank Didonato from Port Harbor Marine in South Portland, Maine, were selected as recipients of a pair of scholarships sponsored by the MRAA Educational Foundation and American Boat & Yacht Council. The scholarships were presented to Vorchheimer and Didonato by MRAA Educational Foundation President Ed Lofgren of 3A Marine Service Inc. Nov. 19, during the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo Awards Breakfast at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
Vorchheimer received the ABYC Basic Scholarship, which provides complimentary access to ABYC’s Introduction to Basic Marine Electric & Corrosion Protection, a four-day course that addresses fundamental electrical theory. It is valued at $985.
Didonato took home the ABYC Advanced Scholarship, which grants him complimentary access to one of ABYC’s Marine Certifications, which include Marine Systems, Marine Electrical, Marine Corrosion, ABYC Standards, Marine Diesel Engines, Marine Gasoline Engines, Marine Composites, and Marine A/C-Refrigeration Certification. These also are four-day courses, valued at up to $1,170 each.
“ABYC believes that boat owners should have access to the best service possible,” says John Adey, ABYC president. “Offering scholarships to dealership employees is one way of enhancing the customers’ service experience, one ABYC Certified technician at a time. Congratulations to Ethan and Frank; we wish them both well as they start their courses and continue providing exemplary service to their respective dealerships’ customer base.”
The ABYC Scholarships were founded to offer financial assistance for technical training and certification of dealership personnel. Employees of MRAA Retail Members are eligible to apply for the ABYC Basic and Advanced scholarships.
For more information, contact Liz Walz at 315-692-4533 or liz@mraa.com.
About MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades. For more information, visit MRAA.com/foundation.
About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, 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. The 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.
