MRAA recently added three new team members to better support the Marine Industry Certified Dealership program, industry advocacy and MRAA Member Benefits.
“Marine retailers have seen success in the past 18 months despite unprecedented conditions, and we have been proud to support them as they navigate uncharted waters,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Looking ahead, we see some clear areas where we think MRAA can offer solutions to what we believe will be the next set of market challenges, and these hires were made specifically with that in mind. We were lucky to find great teammates who embody the passion we have for this industry, and I look forward to further strengthening MRAA’s services for the industry moving forward.”
The new additions are:
Jake Kolling, Certification Sales Manager
Jake works closely with MRAA’s Certification team to continue to grow the program and get more dealerships Certified. Jake grew up in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where his love of boating began at a young age. His previous experience building strong relationships with dealerships goes back to his time at Arctic Cat/Textron Specialist Vehicles, where he managed accounts, floor plan levels with Wells Fargo, and also sold parts, oil, garments and accessories. When he is not working, Jake enjoys fishing, hunting, ATVing, snowmobiling and spending time outdoors with his wife and son.
Chad Tokowicz, Government Affairs Manager
Chad is based in Washington, D.C., where he advocates for the priorities of marine dealerships. He previously served as the Inland Fisheries Policy Manager for the American Sportfishing Association, leading the association’s efforts at a state and federal level on a variety of issues impacting inland fisheries, conservation, natural resources and the tackle industry. Chad has additional experience on Capitol Hill, where he worked on the House Committee for Natural Resources and, prior to that, as a Government Affairs Intern at Trout Unlimited. He is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he graduated summa cum laude with a major in Environmental Studies and double minor in Political Science and Entrepreneurial Studies.
Jason Walz, Director of Programs
Jason leads the development of new MRAA programs and benefits, while strengthening existing offerings to increase the value of membership to the dealer community. He brings over 20 years of experience creating and growing manufacturers and dealers, solving problems, training, and caring for customers through roles in sales and sales management. In his free time, he’s often on a bike, a boat or by the water, spending time in the outdoors with his family and friends.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, contact us at 763-315-8043.
