MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is accepting nominations and applications for its Young Leaders Advisory Council.
“YLAC has been an incredible benefit to the MRAA,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “Not only does this group bring a new level of energy to the association, but its members also add a new perspective and a longer-term approach to our thinking, which helps us better fill the needs of all of our members in addition to attracting and fostering a new generation of leadership within the marine dealer body.”
The MRAA created YLAC as an advisory group to represent the needs and the thinking of the next generation of marine retailers and to provide additional insight and direction to the MRAA Board of Directors. The council’s creation was based on a desire to help develop future leaders to aid in the progress and growth of the boating industry.
Since its inception, YLAC has successfully infused the MRAA with new ideas and insights. One initiative YLAC recently launched is the Young Leaders community, a networking group for MRAA members. This group is growing with conversation surrounding the industry’s hottest topics.
In order to continue YLAC’s successful momentum, the association is looking to add new members to this vibrant group. Applications can be submitted by anyone interested in joining the group, and individual nominations of potential YLAC candidates can be submitted directly to the MRAA who will then contact each nominee.
Applicants or nominees should be willing to meet face-to-face with the group twice a year and provide their ideas and insights, in addition to working jointly with other council and MRAA board of directors members on subcommittees. Applicants or nominees for this group must be under 40 years of age, must hold a position of significance in a dealership, and must have a minimum of 5 years of marine industry experience.
Nominations must be submitted by July 15th, 2013:
Applications must be submitted by July 31st, 2013:
Please contact Matt Gruhn, MRAA President, at matt@mraa.com or 763-315-8043 or Ryan Hebert, YLAC Chairman, at ryan@texasmarine.com or 409/898-7632 for more information.
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
