The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) recently attended the digitalNow 2025 conference by Sidecar — a premier gathering of association leaders focused on harnessing artificial intelligence to drive innovation and improve member engagement.
Through immersive sessions and collaborative networking, MRAA gained actionable insights to strengthen AIMIE, our intelligent member experience platform and refine our content strategy. The conference provided a unique opportunity to explore how AI can be practically applied to better serve our members and elevate the boating industry.
Programming That Delivered
The digitalNow programming struck a rare balance:
- Forward-thinking enough to challenge assumptions.
- Practical enough to leave with concrete ideas ready for implementation.
- Thought-provoking enough to move beyond “What is AI?” to “How can AI work for us?”
It was a firehose of insights — much like Dealer Week can be for you dealers — and that’s exactly what we needed to stretch our thinking and vision. Learning is essential to our development — from daily sessions to deeper dives!
Shoutouts That Matter
While the entire SME lineup was strong, a special shoutout goes to the Grennans — Connor and his son Finn. Their father-son perspective on AI from both seasoned and emerging lenses was refreshing.
Finn’s stage presence and insights gave us hope for the future of AI and critical thinking. As a father of a 16-year-old, it was a confidence boost in the next generation of leaders.
And of course, Marcus Sheridan wowed the crowd. We’re excited to see him bring that same energy to Dealer Week next month in Tampa!
Human Connection in an AI World
Despite the tech-heavy focus, digitalNow reinforced the importance of human connection — a theme we also explored at the Discover Boating Marketing Leadership Summit in October.
From breakfast chats to foyer conversations and bowling, the event fostered genuine relationships. It was a powerful reminder that even in an AI-driven future, relationships remain the foundation of everything we do.
