Florida Dealers: Has Your Business Been Affected by Algae Blooms?

If your dealership has been affected by the devastating red tide algal blooms plaguing South Florida, you may be eligible for a low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)s from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SBA Administrator Linda McMahon made the loans available in response to a letter from Gov. Rick Scott on Aug. 21, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. MRAA, NMMA, and other members of the recreational marine industry wrote Governor Scott last year asking for assistance during this difficult time. The declaration covers Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties and the adjacent counties of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hillsborough and Polk in Florida.

Eligible businesses may qualify for loans up to $2 million. The SBA offers economic injury loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The rates on these loans are 3.385 percent for small businesses and 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Eligibility for these working capital loans are based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

For more information, visit here.
To view the complete press release, click here.

If you have questions, please contact MRAA Public Policy Manager, Will Higgins.

Dealer to Dealer: January

What did your dealership accomplish in 2018 that you’re most proud of?

In light of a record sales year, receiving several top industry awards, and signing on a variety of marquis brands, I think I’m most proud of the strides we made with our personnel. We’re now over 100 employees strong and in 2018 we implemented new policies, procedures and benefit programs to insure a harmonious work place with a work environment that offers an atmosphere of growth, stability and teamwork. – Roger Moore, Nautical Ventures

The 2018 year was a huge challenge for our team. We ended 2017 by losing two key long term managers and our top sales guy. During our busy spring, our service writer quit without warning leaving us with two technicians instead of our typical three.  At the end of 2018, our sales office administrator left with our gel coat technician soon to follow. Needless to say, we were short handed with the workforce being more difficult to obtain the correct team members. We got through the year though and ended up very successful with serving our customers with the high standards we hold ourselves to and even being profitable. I am very proud of our other employees that took the initiative to step up and get the tasks done to provide our customers with stellar service and products. – Marc Shallcross, Reed’s Marine

Staff Development.  We filled open positions with great people and provided resources to help them grow in their roles. – Joe Lewis, Mount Dora Boating Center

The biggest achievement/accomplishment we made in the last year was to hire a General Manager for the store and to start a training process for him. During this last 7 months, a milestone was taking him to his first 20 group meeting this fall. Additionally, in terms of curiosity, we added a ninja course and redemption games to our showroom for the winter. It is based primarily on a shoppertainment retail business model. We had over 500 paying ninjas over the Christmas break. – Adrian Spiker, Deep Creek Marina

Each month, MRAA connects with dealership management on a timely and relevant topic and publishing their insights at MRAA.com. Tell us what you have to say about this month’s question by commenting below and participating in the conversation. Also, watch for next month’s question.

President Trump Signs the Modern Fish Act

The recreational fishing and boating community is celebrating the enactment of the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2018 (Modern Fish Act), which was signed into law by President Trump December 31. The Modern Fish Act finally recognizes in federal law the differences between recreational and commercial fishing and adds more appropriate management tools for policymakers to use in managing federal recreational fisheries.
 
“Millions of American families take part in saltwater recreational fishing and boating activities and support multi-billion dollar industries that generate hundreds of thousands of jobs in our country,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Sportfishing Policy. “Today, we are thankful for this important milestone for federal fisheries management and marine conservation, and we look forward to continuing to improve public access to our nation’s healthy fisheries.”
 
The Modern Fish Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Garret Graves (R-La.), enjoyed strong bipartisan support from a long list of cosponsors representing coastal and non-coastal states alike. On December 17, the Senate unanimously passed the Modern Fish Act (S. 1520) followed by overwhelming approval in the House (350-11) on December 19.
 
“This is historic for the recreational boating and fishing community, capping years of hard work to responsibly modernize recreational saltwater fisheries management,” said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “The Modern Fish Act is a critical first-step solution towards establishing a framework for expanding access to recreational saltwater fishing, while ensuring conservation and sustainability remain top priorities in fisheries management. We thank President Trump and Congress for making the Modern Fish Act the law of the land and look forward to working with them in the coming years to advance policies that protect and promote recreational saltwater fishing.”
 
“The recreational fishing industry is grateful to see this legislation enacted,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association. “We look forward to continuing to work with Congress, as well as NOAA Fisheries and the regional fishery management councils, to improve the management and conservation of our marine fisheries.”
 
“The Modern Fish Act signed by the President provides an opportunity for significant, positive change on behalf of millions of recreational anglers who enjoy fishing in federal waters,” said Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. “We look forward to working with NOAA Fisheries, the regional fishery management councils and the states to fully implement the provisions of the bill and improve federal fisheries management for America’s saltwater anglers.”
 
“CCA is proud to be a part of this important coalition, and we are grateful to our champions in Congress who stood by us during the intense, sometimes contentious negotiations on this legislation,” said Patrick Murray, president of Coastal Conservation Association. “There is still work to be done, but this is a valuable first step. We are hopeful this opens the door to an ongoing discussion of tools and processes that can be developed to better manage recreational fisheries in federal waters in all regions of the United States.”
 
“This bill becoming law is the most significant step forward in federal recreational saltwater fishing management in the forty-plus years of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,” said Whit Fosburgh, president of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “Recreational fishermen, conservationists and businesses united around a set of principles and worked together to get this bill passed and we will continue to work together on priorities like forage fish management and improving data collection in the future.”
 
The recreational fishing and boating community would like to thank the sponsors of the Modern Fish Act, Senator Wicker and Congressman Graves, who led this bipartisan effort in the 115th Congress to improve federal fisheries management for America’s 11 million saltwater anglers. We also appreciate the support of Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.), and Congressmen Steve Scalise (R-La.), Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Gene Green (D-Texas), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), and Austin Scott (R-Ga.).
 
The Modern Fish Act will provide more stability and better access for anglers by:

  • Providing authority and direction to NOAA Fisheries to apply additional management tools more appropriate for recreational fishing, many of which are successfully implemented by state fisheries agencies (e.g., extraction rates, fishing mortality targets, harvest control rules, or traditional or cultural practices of native communities);
  • Improving recreational harvest data collection by requiring federal managers to explore other data sources that have tremendous potential to improve the accuracy and timeliness of harvest estimates, such as state-driven programs and electronic reporting (e.g., through smartphone apps);
  • Requiring the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the process of mixed-use fishery allocation review by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Regional Fishery Management Councils and report findings to Congress within one year of enactment of the Modern Fish Act, and
  • Requiring the National Academies of Sciences to complete a study and provide recommendations within two years of the enactment of the Modern Fish Act on limited access privilege programs (catch shares) including an assessment of the social, economic, and ecological effects of the program, considering each sector of a mixed-use fishery and related businesses, coastal communities, and the environment and an assessment of any impacts to stakeholders in a mixed-use fishery caused by a limited access privilege program. This study excludes the Pacific and North Pacific Regional Fishery Management Councils.

If you have questions, please contact MRAA Public Policy Manager, Will Higgins.

U.S. House Passes Modern Fish Act

First-Ever Sportfishing-Focused Legislation to Pass Congress Heads to President’s Desk
 

Washington, D.C.  – The U.S. House of Representatives passed S.1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). Today’s vote was the final step toward sending the landmark legislation to the President’s desk after it passed the Senate on December 17.
 
“The Modern Fish Act is the most significant update to America’s saltwater fishing regulations in more than 40 years and the recreational fishing community couldn’t be more excited,” said Johnny Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops. “On behalf of America’s 11 million saltwater anglers, we’re grateful to Speaker Ryan, the 115th Congress and all the elected leaders who came together to support and enhance recreational fishing across America.”
 
The priorities of the recreational fishing and boating community were identified and presented to federal policy makers in 2014 by the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management in a report “A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries.” The Commission was known as the Morris-Deal Commission, named for co-chairs Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, and Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boat Group. Four years later, many of the recommendations of the Morris-Deal Commission are found in the Modern Fish Act.
 
“America’s anglers and members of the recreational fishing and boating industry are among the most responsible stewards of our marine resources because healthy fisheries and the future of recreational fishing go hand-in-hand,” said Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boat Group. “A huge thank you to our congressional leaders who answered the call of the recreational fishing community to improve the way our fisheries are managed.”
 
America’s 11 million saltwater anglers have a $63 billion economic impact annually and generate 440,000 jobs, including thousands of manufacturing and supply jobs in non-coastal states. Furthermore, $1.3 billion is contributed annually by anglers and boaters through excise taxes and licensing fees, most of which goes toward conservation, boating safety and infrastructure, and habitat restoration.

“It is a historic day for America’s 11 million saltwater anglers thanks Senator Roger Wicker, Congressman Garret Graves and our many champions in Congress who fought until the very end for recreational fishing to be properly recognized in federal law,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Sportfishing Policy. “For the first time ever, Congress is sending a sportfishing-focused bill to the President’s desk.”
 
The Modern Fish Act will provide more stability and better access for anglers by:

  • Providing authority and direction to NOAA Fisheries to apply additional management tools more appropriate for recreational fishing, many of which are successfully implemented by state fisheries agencies (e.g., extraction rates, fishing mortality targets, harvest control rules, or traditional or cultural practices of native communities);
  • Improving recreational harvest data collection by requiring federal managers to explore other data sources that have tremendous potential to improve the accuracy and timeliness of harvest estimates, such as state-driven programs and electronic reporting (e.g., through smartphone apps);
  • Requiring the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the process of mixed-use fishery allocation review by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Regional Fishery Management Councils and report findings to Congress within one year of enactment of the Modern Fish Act, and
  • Requiring the National Academies of Sciences to complete a study and provide recommendations within two years of the enactment of the Modern Fish Act on limited access privilege programs (catch shares) including an assessment of the social, economic, and ecological effects of the program, considering each sector of a mixed-use fishery and related businesses, coastal communities, and the environment and an assessment of any impacts to stakeholders in a mixed-use fishery caused by a limited access privilege program. This study excludes the Pacific and North Pacific Regional Fishery Management Councils.

The coalition of groups supporting the Modern Fish Act includes American Sportfishing Association, Center for Sportfishing Policy, Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, International Game Fish Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Recreational Fishing Alliance, The Billfish Foundation and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
 
America’s recreational fishing and boating community applauds Congress for this historic vote and looks forward to final enactment of the Modern Fish Act following the President’s signature.

U.S. Senate Passes Modern Fish Act

Washington, D.C. – This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S.1520, the Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017 (Modern Fish Act). The legislation, which would make critical updates to the oversight of federal fisheries, marks a big step forward for America’s angling community and now moves to the U.S. House for final passage.

“Today is an important day for America’s 11 million saltwater anglers thanks to the leadership of Senator Roger Wicker and a broad, bipartisan coalition of senators,” said Jeff Angers, president of the Center for Sportfishing Policy. “Senate passage of the Modern Fish Act proved today that marine recreational fishing is a nonpartisan issue, and anglers are closer than ever to being properly recognized in federal law.”
 
The Modern Fish Act, introduced by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in July 2017, enjoyed strong support across the aisle from more than a dozen Senate cosponsors representing coastal and non-coastal states alike. In addition, a coalition of organizations representing the saltwater recreational fishing and boating community endorsed the Modern Fish Act and highlighted the importance of updating the nation’s fisheries management system to more accurately distinguish between recreational and commercial fishing.
 
“We applaud the U.S. Senate for approving this commonsense legislation, which will modernize our federal fisheries management system and protect recreational angling for generations to come,” said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. “The recreational boating industry – a uniquely American-made industry that contributes $39 billion in annual sales and supports 35,000 businesses – now calls on the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately take up, pass, and send the Modern Fish Act to President Trump’s desk.”
 
On July 11, 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Modern Fish Act (H.R. 2023) as part of H.R. 200. However, differences between H.R. 200 and S.1520 require that the full House take a vote on S.1520 before it is sent to the President’s desk. America’s recreational fishing and boating community is urging the House to quickly advance the Modern Fish Act to the President’s desk before the conclusion of this Congress.
 
“The Senate’s passage of the Modern Fish Act demonstrates a clear recognition of the importance of saltwater recreational fishing to the nation,” said Glenn Hughes, president of the American Sportfishing Association. “This version of the Modern Fish Act helps to advance many of the collective priorities of the recreational fishing community for improving federal marine fisheries management. There are 11 million saltwater anglers in the U.S. who have a $63 billion economic impact annually and generate 440,000 jobs.”
 
If passed, the Modern Fish Act will provide more stability and better access for anglers by:

  • Providing authority and direction to NOAA Fisheries to apply additional management tools more appropriate for recreational fishing, many of which are successfully implemented by state fisheries agencies (e.g., extraction rates, fishing mortality targets, harvest control rules, or traditional or cultural practices of native communities);
  • Improving recreational harvest data collection by requiring federal managers to explore other data sources that have tremendous potential to improve the accuracy and timeliness of harvest estimates, such as state-driven programs and electronic reporting (e.g., through smartphone apps);
  • Requiring the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the process of mixed-use fishery allocation review by the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Regional Fishery Management Councils and report findings to Congress within one year of enactment of the Modern Fish Act, and
  • Requiring the National Academies of Sciences to complete a study and provide recommendations within two years of the enactment of the Modern Fish Act on limited access privilege programs (catch shares) including an assessment of the social, economic, and ecological effects of the program, considering each sector of a mixed-use fishery and related businesses, coastal communities, and the environment and an assessment of any impacts to stakeholders in a mixed-use fishery caused by a limited access privilege program. This study excludes the Pacific and North Pacific Regional Fishery Management Councils

“We are proud of the extensive work that went into producing this bill and are grateful to our champions in Congress who worked to establish recreational angling as an important component in the management of our nation’s fisheries, at long last,” said Patrick Murray, president of Coastal Conservation Association. “Thanks to this effort, the recreational angling community is better positioned than ever to address ongoing shortcomings in our nation’s fisheries laws and we look forward to continuing this work with our elected officials to ensure the proper conservation of our country’s marine resources and anglers’ access to them.”
 
“The Modern Fish Act is a very positive step forward for anglers and conservation,” said Whit Fosburgh, president of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “It will improve fisheries data and encourage managers to think about new ways of managing fisheries to benefit both conservation and access.”
 
In 2014, the priorities of the recreational fishing and boating community were identified and presented to federal policy makers by the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management in a report “A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries.” This diverse group made up of a variety of fisheries stakeholders is also referred to as the Morris-Deal Commission, named for co-chairs Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, and Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boat Group. Four years later, many of the recommendations of the Morris-Deal Commission are found in the Modern Fish Act.
 
“Through the legislative process, the Modern Fish Act has proven to many on Capitol Hill that recreational fishing is worthy of recognition as a driving force for American jobs and the national economy — not just a sport,” said Jim Donofrio, president of the Recreational Fishing Alliance.
 
The recreational fishing and boating community thanks Senator Wicker for leading the Modern Fish Act through the Senate. While certain provisions of the original legislation proved too difficult to enact now, many core provisions of the Modern Fish Act are found in the final bill. We urge the incoming Congress to continue working to improve the way recreational fisheries are managed at the federal level.

Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Names New Executive Director

Washington, D.C. –  The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Board of Directors announced the appointment of Jessica Wahl as executive director following an extensive national search. Jessica brings a decade of experience navigating the halls of The White House, Department of the Interior (DOI), Capitol Hill, state recreation offices and outdoor lifestyle businesses.

“Jessica is the ideal person to take on the new role of executive director at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable,” said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and chairman of the board for ORR. “Her demonstrated leadership in raising the profile of the Outdoor Recreation Economy combined with her proven skills in championing meaningful policy changes that positively impact the entire outdoor recreation community make Jess the perfect choice. She is a passionate advocate for outdoor recreation, a tireless convener and results-oriented change agent.”

“I am honored to be chosen as the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable’s executive director,” said Wahl. “I have always had a deep personal connection to the great outdoors and have spent my career working to connect more people to these special places. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with America’s leading outdoor recreation organizations to grow the outdoor recreation economy that impacts so many livelihoods and communities. By creating a shared national vision for outdoor recreation, we can improve access to our parks, trails, campgrounds and waters, and ensure a better quality of life for all Americans.”

Prior to the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, Wahl directed Outdoor Industry Association’s outdoor recreation portfolio in Washington D.C. where she successfully gained landmark government recognition of outdoor recreation’s contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product. In 2018, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that outdoor recreation makes up 2.2% of the nation’s GDP and is one of America’s leading industry sectors.

Wahl is also the cofounder and past-chair of the Coalition for Outdoor Access working to reform outfitter and guide permitting systems within federal land agencies, an effort designed to help more Americans gain access to the outdoors. Before OIA, Wahl worked at DOI in the Office of the Interior Secretary where she managed First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside! and Let’s Move! in Indian Country initiatives. She has received a Master of Arts in American Government from Georgetown University.

“We are very excited for Jessica Wahl to take the helm for the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable” said Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “She has already asserted herself as a leader in the outdoor recreation policy space, and we are confident that she will continue to advance the ORR’s priorities”

Wahl joins ORR on January 7 and will succeed Derrick Crandall, the long-time president of American Recreation Coalition (ARC) and current ORR president. Since the April 2018 announcement of the merger between ARC and the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable that formed ORR, Crandall has led the successful integration of the two entities. After a short leadership transition, Crandall will step down from ORR but continue to consult on ORR’s Partners Outdoors and Great Outdoors Month programs as well as continue his distinguished career as the ORR board representative for the National Park Hospitality Association.

About Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable is the nation’s premier coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations and related organizations working to promote the policy reforms needed to enhance the outdoor recreation economy. Combined, ORR members produce an annual $734 billion output for the U.S. economy making up 2.2% of America’s GDP. Please visit www.RecreationRoundtable.org for more information on the coalition’s activities and membership.

MRAA, Dominion Domains Provide Website Marketing Guidance

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in partnership with Dominion Domains, is unveiling the digital publication, Evaluate Your Website’s Domain, Design and Digital Content, today at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla. This guide – authored by Jim Million of Professional Resource Group and Million Learning – is the first in a three-part series titled: The 3Ds of Effective Website Marketing.

Many times, today’s buyer visits a dealership’s website before deciding whether to step foot in the store, making it critical for dealers to get their online visitor experience right. This digital publication, Evaluate Your Website’s Domain, Design and Digital Content, will help dealers identify opportunities to improve their internet presence. Specifically, it offers three checklists dealers can use to assess their current website.

“Our company was founded on the belief that the internet can be a better tool for consumers making life’s big purchase decisions and for the companies that sell those products,” says Jim Schrand, General Manager of Dominion Domains, the operators of the .boats domain name extension. “That’s why a project like this is so close to our hearts. We are thrilled to partner with MRAA to sponsor education that can help dealers improve their online performance.”

This series will lead marine retailers through the three-step process of evaluating their websites, using the results of the evaluation to realign their website strategies, and then finally taking action to implement the changes necessary to improve their results.
 
“As digital marketing technology and consumer behavior change, dealers are tasked with determining what it means to them and how to best adapt,” says Liz Walz, MRAA Vice President and Director of Education. “Through this series of educational publications, MRAA is putting the tools in dealers’ hands to not only answer these questions for themselves, but also take the steps to carry out those improvements. We are incredibly grateful to Dominion Domains for making this project possible.”
 
The first digital publication in the series – Evaluate Your Website’s Domain, Design and Digital Content – is available to MRAA retail members at www.mraa.com/page/guides and to attendees of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo on the event’s digital downloads page.

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.

About Dominion Domains
Dominion Domains provides domain names and related products and services with a focus on five domain extensions including .boats, .yachts, .homes, .motorcycles, and .autos TLDs.  Founded in the belief that the internet can be a better tool for consumers making life’s big purchase decisions and for the companies that sell those products, Dominion Domains works closely with registrars and end-users to help transform the digital identities of businesses and individuals. Their headquarters is located in Norfolk, Va.

MRAA Hosts Industry Leaders for Dealer Week Strategy Session

Nearly 60 leaders from around the marine industry helped craft the vision for MRAA’s rebranded annual conference.

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas fine-tuned its vision and strategy for Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference & Expo, through a collaborative strategy meeting with nearly 60 leaders from around the marine industry.

Featuring a hand-selected group of dealers, manufacturers, suppliers and MRAA staff, the day-and-a-half Dealer Week strategy session was moderated by event experience design consultant David Lutz of Velvet Chainsaw at the Tampa Convention Center, home to Dealer Week 2019. The cohort included members of the MRAA board, Young Leaders Advisory Council and Conference Transition Committee, as well as some of the MRAA Annual Conference’s largest supporting manufacturers and suppliers.

“With Dealer Week we want, first and foremost, to broaden the impact that our world class educational programming can have on the marine industry,” said Matt Gruhn, President of the MRAA. “There was a great deal of passion from each of the dealers, our partners and our staff for taking ownership in driving greater dealer attendance and ensuring that we reach a larger audience with MRAA’s array of tools and resources available through Dealer Week.”

Companies that participated in the strategy conversation include: ARI Network Services, Austin Boats & Motors, Bennington Marine, Blue Springs Marine, Boats Group, BRP Marine, Brunswick Corp., Buckeye Marine, CDK Global Recreation, Clark Marine, Cleveland Boat Center, Correct Craft, Family Boating Centers, Galati Yacht Sales, Global Marine Insurance, Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Hagadone Marine Group, Hoffmaster’s Marina, Infinity Woven Products, MarineMax, Inc., Mount Dora Boating Center, National Marine Distributors Association, National Marine Lenders Association, Nautique Boats, One Water Marine, Port Harbor Marine, Priority One Financial Services, Quality Boats, Reed’s Marine, Smoker Craft, Inc., Spader Business Management, Strong’s Marine, Taylor’s South Shore Marina, Volvo Penta and Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance.

Day One of the strategy session kicked off with a presentation on 21st Century conference experiences, before working groups began discussions and presentations on Dealer Week’s target attendee and their needs, challenges, jobs, pains and gains. That afternoon, the group discussed and brainstormed ideas for differentiating and making the Dealer Week expo experience more effective for dealers and exhibitors alike.

On Day 2, the MRAA team presented its vision for Dealer Week through the perspective of an attendee journey map. The group discussed the vision for each part of the journey and provided feedback and direction for how MRAA and its partners can work together to enhance it further to make it more rewarding and impactful. The meeting ended with an overview of Dealer Week’s marketing plan, the creation of a strategy task force and a vision for maximizing the impact that Dealer Week can have on the marine industry.

“For our team and all of the participants of this session, the focus was on creating greater opportunities for our dealers and our industry,” says Liz Walz, Vice President and Director of Education at the MRAA. “We’re proud of what our annual conference has accomplished over the last decade, but we know that through Dealer Week, we can accomplish more by collaborating with this group of leaders and by keeping our focus on building a great experience for our dealers.”

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world-class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. Learn more at www.DealerWeek.com.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the MRAA, our team believes that for the marine industry to find growth and success, the dealers on the front lines of our industry must first find success. With that in mind, we work to create a strong and healthy boating industry by providing dealers with tools, resources and educational programs — such as MRAATraining.com, the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, and Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference & Expo — and by representing those businesses with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com.

MRAA launches Dealer Week, an all-new dealer conference experience

Rebranded, reimagined annual conference to be held Dec. 8-11, 2019, in Tampa.

The Marine Retailers Association of the America’s annual conference and expo has been rebranded and reimagined as “Dealer Week. The MRAA Conference and Expo,” and the all-new event experience will be held Dec. 8-11, 2019, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.

Celebrating the 43rd anniversary of its annual conference, MRAA has developed a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower boat and engine dealers and their teams so they can continue to lead the marine industry to greater growth and success. This conference evolution has already garnered the support of several MRAA Strategic Partners: Brunswick Dealer Advantage, Correct Craft, Global Marine Insurance, Volvo Penta, and Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance.

In addition to the world-class educational programming that the marine industry has come to expect from the MRAA, Dealer Week will deliver deeper collaborative opportunities and a richer experience that will showcase business solutions in all-new ways.

“We have designed Dealer Week so that dealers of all shapes, sizes and levels of sophistication can engage in a memorable, rewarding learning experience that will make their businesses and their bottom lines stronger,” says Matt Gruhn, President of the MRAA. “Our goal is not to simply educate for the sake of education. Our goal is impact. Everything we’ve designed with this reimagined event experience has been built on a foundation of maximizing the impact that Dealer Week can have for the marine industry.”

MRAA has invested more than two years in designing and building Dealer Week, researching and studying conference experience trends and solidifying a foundation that can deliver real-world value and impact. Attending several conferences, investing in numerous event-production materials, adding to its staff and retaining the services of an event experience design consultancy, MRAA has launched this new era of its annual conference with more expertise and passion than ever before.

“Dealer Week is the in-person embodiment of everything we offer at the MRAA. Our association exists to invest in the growth of the marine dealer body and the marine industry, and you’ll see that investment come to life at Dealer Week,” says Liz Walz, Vice President and Director of Education at the MRAA. “We already offer high-level educational programs, developed specifically for marine dealers, but our event-based education is improving. At Dealer Week, we’re stepping it up by adding new elements, a variety of learning opportunities and deeper dives into the topics that matter most to dealership success. The Dealer Week education experience will be unlike anything our dealers have experienced before.”

About Dealer Week
For more than 40 years, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has delivered world-class educational programming to dealers, retailers and service operations that power the boating industry and serve today’s boaters. Dealer Week evolves as MRAA’s rebranded and reimagined annual conference and expo, a profoundly new event experience designed to engage, energize and empower the dealer community. The MRAA envisions a brighter future for marine retail, and Dealer Week is the preeminent means for bringing that vision to life. Learn more at www.DealerWeek.com.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the MRAA, our team believes that for the marine industry to find growth and success, the dealers on the front lines of our industry must first find success. With that in mind, we work to create a strong and healthy boating industry by providing dealers with tools, resources and educational programs — such as MRAATraining.com, the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, and Dealer Week, The MRAA Conference & Expo — and by representing those businesses with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com.

Goettling Named Marine Industry College Scholarship Recipient

Carter Goettling, a marine technician apprentice at Blue Springs Marine in Blue Springs, Mo., and a full-time welding student at Metropolitan Community College, has been selected as the recipient of the third annual Marine Industry College Scholarship, announced the MRAA Educational Foundation. The scholarship was presented at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo on Sunday evening, Dec. 9, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Opening Night Awards Celebration at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
 
After completely rebuilding his family’s boat, Carter has worked toward a professional career within the marine industry. For the past three years, he has contributed to the success of Blue Springs Marine in many ways. He started in the service department as a Parts Associate and has since earned the title of Technician Apprentice.
 
The Marine Industry College Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Priority One Financial Services, Global Marine Insurance Agency, and the MRAA Educational Foundation. It offers Retail Members of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, their employees, and their dependents the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 college scholarship to financially assist in the training and education of those working in or planning for a career in the marine industry.  For applicants to be considered for the scholarship, they must display a passion for the boating lifestyle, be preparing for or currently engaged in a career in the recreational boating business, and show evidence of enrollment in an accredited college, university or post-secondary technical school program.
 
In his scholarship application, Goettling shared his desire to continue his education after school and become a master technician. He wrote, “I have been a part of the marine industry for most of my life, and I hope that it continues to be a large part of the rest of my life.”
 
“If our industry wants to grow, we need to support the education of people like Carter who are pursuing careers in marine retailing,” says Stacy Greenwood of Cleveland Boat Center and the MRAA Educational Foundation Board of Directors. “We’ve seen what a difference this scholarship can make in the lives of our recipients, and we can’t wait to see how it propels Carter’s career.”