• Olsen assumes the newly created role of Senior Director of Engagement.
MINNEAPOLIS, August 28, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has hired Freya Olsen as its Senior Director of Engagement, the association announced today.
With nearly 20 years of marine industry-based association experience, Freya brings a wealth of proven expertise in marketing, membership, education, industry relations and program management. Most recently, Freya held the position of Director of Industry Relations at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, where she served as one of the leads for Discover Boating, working side by side with manufacturer and dealer stakeholders since the program’s inception.
“In MRAA’s continued growth and evolution, adding someone of Freya’s caliber helps us multiply the ways in which we serve our industry and impact the success of our members,” says MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “I believe that her leadership and her presence on an already incredibly strong team will help to elevate MRAA to new heights in all areas of our business.”
As Senior Director of Engagement, Freya will oversee the creation and implementation of MRAA’s membership engagement strategies, leading a team of professionals to increase participation in MRAA member programs and services used to serve, support and protect their businesses and the marine industry at large.
“I have long admired the work of the MRAA and am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the dealer segment alongside a team of talented and passionate professionals,” Freya says. “Matt Gruhn and the entire MRAA team inspire me with their unwavering commitment to creating growth opportunities to help elevate marine dealers across North America, all while prioritizing kindness, integrity and authenticity within their work and culture.”
Freya continues, “In my new role, I’m eager to leverage my marine industry and association management experience to develop a strategic approach to member engagement. My goal is to meet both potential and current members exactly where they are and help get them to where they want to be, by supporting their business goals through access to MRAA’s impactful resources and dedicated staff support.”
MRAA Membership programs offer Bronze, Silver and Gold Memberships for dealers – which provide escalating access to MRAA’s vast catalog of online education and Dealership Certification program benefits. For Partners, MRAA offers Standard, Platinum, Education Champion and Strategic Partner levels for membership consideration. MRAA Partners – manufacturers, suppliers and service providers to dealers – can select their level of engagement and gain access to more and more benefits as they grow their participation.
MRAA’s Retail Membership business has grown by more than 100 percent since 2019, while MRAA’s Partner Membership business has grown by more than 80 percent. To learn more about MRAA membership, please visit www.mraa.com/join-mraa.
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, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
