Kayla Horrocks Named 2017 Marine Industry College Scholarship Recipient

Kayla Horrocks, office assistant of Idaho Water Sports in Burley, Idaho, and full-time student at Boise State University, has been selected as the recipient of the second annual MRAA Marine Industry College Scholarship, announced the MRAA Educational Foundation yesterday. The scholarship was presented to Kayla on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Opening Night Awards Celebration at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

Recommended by college personnel as a person of high integrity and professionalism, Kayla is actively involved in community service events, including Project Rudolph and the annual Cinco De Mayo Festival.  In addition, Kayla has a busy schedule as a full-time employee and full-time student who is putting herself through school. However, she makes sure to find time to enjoy her newly found passion for watersports.

The Marine Industry College Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Priority One Financial Services, the Boater Rewards Association 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 her scholarship application, Horrocks shared how much she enjoys her work, where no two days are the same, and how proud she is to be the first person in her family to attend college. She wrote, “It is so empowering to grow and become someone I have always dreamt of. Winning this award would be such a blessing for me.”

“It’s nice to see someone new to boating immerse themselves so fully into the boating lifestyle,” says Jeff Siems, president of the MRAA Educational Foundation Board of Directors. “We believe awarding Kayla this scholarship will further fuel her passion for the industry, and that passion will transfer to those around her.” 

About MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades.For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

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 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. 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 MRAA.com.

Wanda Kenton Smith named Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year

Wanda Kenton Smith of Freedom Boat Club has been selected as the recipient of the thirty-first annual Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award, announced the MRAA Educational Foundation yesterday.  The scholarship was presented to Kenton Smith on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Opening Night Awards Celebration at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

Joining the marine industry in 1980, Wanda wears multiple hats on a daily basis, including chief marketing officer of Freedom Boat Club, president of Kenton Smith Marketing, marketing columnist for Soundings Trade Only, president of Marine Marketers of America, chair of RBLC New Market Task Force, and member of Boating Writers International.  During her career, she has been an editor of WaterSki Magazine (formally World Waterskiing), WaterSki Business, and WindSurf Magazine. A pioneer, Kenton Smith was the first to provide a unified voice to marine marketers when she founded the Marine Marketers of America. She was also the first to recognize outstanding achievements in marine marketing professionals through the creation of the annual Neptune Awards nine years ago. She launched Freedom Boat Club’s national charitable campaign with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, All On Deck, providing boating opportunities to young people who may never otherwise have boating opportunities.  And she developed Boaterz n Bikers of America, a touring group of industry enthusiasts that bring awareness to the recreation.

Wanda’s contributions to the advancement of women in the marine industry are astounding. She founded Marine Marketing to Women, an educational firm that provided training on the impact of women on buying decisions for consumer products, including boats.  Kenton Smith also created an organization called International Women in Boating, reaching a membership of 350 before it was taken over by NMMA.  Her most recent contribution was the launch of Freedom Boating Divas, an educational and networking program for female members of the Freedom Boat Club.

The Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award is named after the late Darlene Briggs of Wayzata, Minn., who was admired for her tireless dedication to the marine industry. The MRAA and Boating Industry magazine together present the award to honor her memory. It is presented annually to an outstanding woman who is actively involved in the marine industry at any level. It recognizes long and devoted service, untiring commitment, and the advancement of women in the marine business. The recipient receives an award and a check for $500 to be used for her professional development.

“Wanda Kenton Smith’s continued pioneering for the advancement of women in the boating industry over the past 37 years makes her an obvious choice for this year’s Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award,” comments Jeff Siems, president of the MRAA Educational Foundation Board of Directors.

In her application, Kenton Smith wrote “I feel extremely fortunate to have worked my entire adult career other than one year in the boating industry. I have been taught and inspired by many women along my walk, and I’m grateful for the experience and the people who have crossed my wake, and for the opportunities I’ve had to grow and continue to learn.” 

About MRAA Educational Foundation

As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades.For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

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 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. 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 MRAA.com.

Martin Boyer Named 2017 Duane Spader Scholarship Recipient

Martin Boyer, President of Austin Boats & Motors, Austin, Texas, has been selected as the recipient of the fifth annual Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship, announced the MRAA Educational Foundation yesterday. This year’s scholarship recipient was unveiled on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Opening Night Awards Celebration at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. 

Devoting his career to his family’s business, Boyer began by washing boats and worked his way up through the dealership over the past 20-plus years. He credits his knowledge of the industry not only to his father, but also to those who managed him in each role as he ascended the rungs of his career ladder.

Armed with a persistent desire to learn and hands-on experience from multiple roles within the company, Boyer has been able to successfully lead and grow Austin Boats & Motors into a dealership ranked in the Top 20 of Boating Industry magazine’s Top 100 Dealer Program. 

The Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship was founded by Spader Business Management and the MRAA Educational Foundation in 2013 to honor the marine industry service of Spader founder Duane Spader, as well as his leadership philosophy of lifelong learning. The recipient receives full tuition to attend the Spader Leadership Development Program, valued at $14,875. Applicants must be employees of a Marine Retailers Association of the Americas retail member.

“Unfortunately, we ran out of time before my father passed in January 2014 to impart all of his extensive knowledge and critical wisdom of the marine industry and our family’s business on to me,” wrote Boyer in his application. “This is why I wholeheartedly think the Spader Leadership Development Program is the perfect opportunity for me to be able to gain that next level of critical operational knowledge and management expertise.” 

His involvement in a Spader Marine 20 Group, the MRAA Young Leaders Advisory Council, and the MRAA Board of Directors, combined with multiple letters of recommendation, confirm Boyer’s continuous and passionate dedication to the growth of the marine industry and his role within it.

The Spader Leadership Development Program is a 15- to 18-month program for current and future leaders that involves five, three-day sessions in Sioux Falls, S.D. In between sessions, participants are tasked with putting what they’ve learned to work in their dealership and tracking the results of those efforts.

“It’s a pleasure to award this scholarship to someone who is the next generation of a family business, and already so highly regarded and involved in the marine industry,” states Jeff Siems, president of the MRAA Educational Foundation Board of Directors. “It will contribute tremendously to his already highly evolved skill set.”

About MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades.For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), 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. 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 MRAA.com.

Krissy Vaughn Named 2017 Kevin Lodder Scholarship Recipient

Krissy Vaughn, bookkeeper of Fay’s Marina, Inc. of La Porte, Ind., has been selected as the recipient of the 2017 Kevin Lodder Scholarship, announced the MRAA Educational Foundation yesterday. The scholarship recipient was unveiled on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Opening Night Awards Celebration at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

This scholarship was founded in memory of Kevin Lodder of Lodder’s Marine in Fairfield, Ohio. Kevin worked in his family’s dealership and was dedicated to the marine industry from an early age until his untimely passing. The recipient of this scholarship will receive tuition to attend the Spader Total Management 1 Workshop in Sioux Falls, S.D., (a $2,995 value) and a stipend of $800 to offset travel expenses.

A newcomer to the boating industry, Vaughn came on board with the 45-year-old family dealership in October 2016. Before applying for the scholarship, she had researched the Total Management 1 course and had specific goals for how she might put its teachings to work to improve and grow the business, including learning more about the gross margin method, Costline pricing and pay plans, and understanding the department expense ratio guidelines.

Ed Fay, the current owner of Fay’s Marina, Inc. took the Spader Management 1 Workshop when it was newly developed in the 1980’s.

The Spader Total Management 1 Workshop is a five-day program in Sioux Falls, S.D., geared toward decision makers, leaders, and key employees. Topics covered include decision-making processes, business adaptability, pricing practices, inter-department profit plans, and communication skills. 

“It’s gratifying to award this scholarship to someone who wants to aid in the success of the next generation of a family business,” states Jeff Siems, president of the MRAA Educational Foundation Board of Directors. “The workshop is sure to enhance and broaden her accounting skills.”

In her scholarship application, Vaughn wrote, “I am excited about an opportunity to learn and grow, and feel that the Spader training courses that are designed for the dealership industry would be a great chance to hone my skill set and become more of an asset in the business.”

About the MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades. For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), 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. 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 MRAA.com.

CMTA Named Technical Scholarship Recipient

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA), Essex, Conn., has been selected as a recipient of a 2017 Marine Trade Association Technical Scholarship, the MRAA Educational Foundation announced. The scholarship was presented to Kathleen Burns, Executive Director of CMTA, on Sunday evening, Dec. 10, during the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Opening Night Awards Celebration at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.

The CMTA is committed to encouraging a new generation of marine industry employees through its scholarship program, and serves as many qualified awardees as possible. The association holds an annual golf tournament to raise money for its scholarship program, which hands out funds during three award periods per year. The program fulfills the state association’s mission to build a strong and professional workforce for the future of the industry.

Initially underwritten by the OMC Foundation, the purpose of the Marine Trades Association Technical Scholarship is to offer financial assistance for technical training of marine dealership personnel. Applicants must show evidence of plans to offer a scholarship for technical training of marine dealership personnel in the year ahead, commit to matching the $1,500 scholarship amount if selected, and submit qualifications that determine scholarship recipient.

“The MRAA Educational Foundation’s Technical Scholarship Selection Committee was impressed by CMTA’s robust, year-long, scholarship program,” comments Jeff Siems, President of the MRAA Educational Foundation Board of Directors. “It gave us confidence in the association’s ability to put the scholarship funds immediately to work to strengthen the technical skills of the marine dealership workforce.” 

About MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades. For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), 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. 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 MRAA.com.

Dealer, Yacht Broker Certification Programs Collaborate

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program and the Yacht Brokers Association of America’s Certified Professional Yacht Broker Program today announced a collaborative effort to further the development of their respective members.

CPYB certification is the boating industry’s brand of excellence for yacht sales professionals throughout North America. The CPYB designation is the most prestigious accreditation a yacht sales professional can earn within the recreational marine industry and CPYB professionals must attain a minimum number of educational credits in order to maintain their Certification.

“The CPYB program raises the level of professionalism throughout our industry,” says Colleen McDonough, CPYB program manager. “The program gives yacht sales professionals a benchmark against which to measure their skills, abilities and overall performance, while at the same time enhancing their value in the market.”

Similarly, Dealership Certification is the highest level of business accreditation that marine dealers can achieve. The program drives excellence in operations, customer service and employee engagement at the dealer level through a series of requirements, and the all-new Continuous Certification curriculum helps dealers grow their business with quarterly educational courses once they’ve become Certified.

With the introduction of the MICD Program’s Continuous Certification curriculum, the CPYB announced that it will award continuing education credits to any Certified Yacht Broker that completes a quarterly MICD Continuous Certification course. Additionally, the CPYB Program will award credits to MRAA members that are CPYBs, just for participating in association membership. And, finally, yacht brokers that have achieved Dealer Certification are eligible for member pricing on the CPYB exam, offering savings of $550 on the testing itself.

“Dealer Certification and the CPYB Program share the goal of raising the professionalism and sophistication of our industry’s front lines,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We see this collaboration as a great way to strengthen the marine industry’s sales and customer service efforts in delivering the boating lifestyle to today’s boaters.”

“CPYB Certification is a great opportunity for Marine Industry Certified Dealerships’ sales personnel to solidify their namesake among the industry’s elite,” McDonough adds.

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 the Certified Professional Yacht Broker Program
The CPYB certification program, created in 2002, is a growing trend among professional associations nationwide to identify those within their ranks who have mastered the core competencies in their respective fields. Upon approval by the CAC (Certification Advisory Council), exams are offered to yacht sales professionals who have at least 3 years experience in the field of yachts sales.  After passing the exam, recertification takes place every 3 years and requires a minimum of 30 Continuing Education Units.

The CPYB program is endorsed by the seven major yacht sales professional associations in North America: Yacht Brokers Association of America; International Yacht Brokers Association (formerly Florida Yacht Brokers Association); Northwest Yacht Brokers Association; California Yacht Brokers Association; Boating Ontario; British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association; and Gulf Coast Yacht Brokers Association. If you are serious about your profession and our industry, visit the CPYB website, CPYB.net or contact Colleen McDonough, CPYB Program Manager, at 410-940-6349.

Galey named first MRAA Lifetime Achievement recipient

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it has selected Don Galey, Galey’s Marine, Bakersfield, Calif., as the recipient of the organization’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.

With more than 62 years working in the marine industry, Don grew up in his parents’ appliance, boat and motorcycle store and worked there through high school and college. Upon graduation, he purchased the business and soon thereafter eliminated appliances and motorcycles from the company’s offerings, renaming the company Galey’s Marine Supply, Inc.

Galey, who was noted by several colleagues as one of the most respected marine dealers, led the evolution of several major milestones within the industry, including the creation of the MRAA, the launch of Spader Business Management / MRAA 20 Groups, and the introduction of floorplan financing for marine dealers. He served as a board member and chairman of both the MRAA and the Southern California Marine Dealer Association. He sat on numerous manufacturers’ advisory boards, and he found time to chair local organizations, including the Better Business Bureau, Bakersfield College Alumni Association and Ducks Unlimited.

“Don Galey’s name has been synonymous with leadership in the marine industry, beyond just the dealership level, for decades,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “Don has been a leader for the MRAA, for the boat brands and other partners he represents, for his community, and for his dealer colleagues across North America. He epitomizes the type of individual MRAA seeks to recognize with this Lifetime Achievement Award, and it’s an honor for us to be able to hold him up and celebrate his numerous incredible contributions to our industry.”

At 81 years old, Don still works alongside his son and grandsons on a daily basis, at Galey’s Marine. He remains a member of a Spader 20 Group, stays connected with lifelong friends made in the marine industry, and still gives back to his community, currently as the chairman of Union Cemetery, the oldest operating cemetery in California.

“Wow! What an honor,” Galey says. “Time passes so quickly. It seems like just yesterday when I graduated from college and bought the business from my parents. I have many fond memories of the original six dealers working to create MRAA and the hurdles that we had to overcome. It makes me very proud to see the incredible growth fueled by Matt and his crew. Thank you to MRAA, the dealers, and manufacturers that add their passion to the recreational boating industry.  MRAA’s Lifetime Achievement Award will hold a special place in my heart.”

The MRAA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the MRAA Opening Night Awards Celebration, as part of the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, on Sunday, Dec. 10th at 6 p.m. Anyone registered and attending the MDCE is welcomed to join the celebration in honoring Galey and the other award and scholarship recipients.

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.

Pier 33 Marina to Host Marine Technician Training Workshops

The Marine Career Training Institute of North America has announced its dates and technical training courses for the 2018 National Marine Service Expo. NMSE ’18 will be in St. Joseph, MI Jan. 23-26, 2018, at Pier 33 Marina.

After conducting NMSE in Florida exclusively since 1992, this will be the first of a new series of rotating training sites that will have NMSE presented in various parts of the U.S. Each year MCTINA’s training will be in a different part of the country, offering closer access to students and the organization’s supporters.

“We felt it was time to bring our training programs to other parts of the country”, MCTINA president, Joe De Marco said. “With engine and boat system technology advancing so rapidly in our industry it is important that we make our training programs more accessible to all technicians. It is imperative that the marine industry’s technical workforce is up to speed to service these systems. We are excited to have the support and sponsorship of The Michigan Boating Industries Association in bringing our training to Michigan for 2018. Michigan is one of the largest boating states in the U.S, and we felt it was a perfect location to launch our new training format,” said DeMarco.

Pier 33 in St. Joseph was selected as the host facility after Pier 33 General Manager Tighe Curran reached out to DeMarco to discuss bringing MCTINA’s courses to the Midwest. Centrally located in the Great Lakes region, St. Joseph is nearly midway between Chicago and Detroit. Pier 33’s facility offers ample meeting areas, plus a large heated service shop for hands-on training for attendees. “This is our opportunity to help technicians throughout our region elevate their expertise, hopefully enhancing the boating experience for boaters in Michigan and beyond” commented Curran.

NMSE ’18 will offer four courses per day. Courses offered will include training on inboard engines and outboard motors. The class topics include Advanced Inboard EFI Theory, EFI and MPI Inboard Troubleshooting, MerCruiser Alpha and Bravo Outdrive Service, Marine Catalyst Systems, 4-Stroke Outboard Systems and EFI, 2-Stroke Systems and DFI, and CAN Bus Systems. A copy of the NMSE brochure is available on-line.

For more information and registration for NMSE ’18 please visit http://www.mctina.org, or call 770.720.4382.

MRAA introduces all-new membership structure

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it has launched an all-new retail membership structure in an effort to better serve today’s boat dealers.

With three levels of membership now available to dealers, service shops, marinas and other retailers, the MRAA has built great value to drive the return on investment dealers seek from their support of the association.

“Over the course of the last six years, our MRAA team has created immense value by introducing numerous programs and services for our members and the industry at large” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We’ve more than doubled the benefits we offer; expanded our annual conference; brought Dealership Certification in house; launched workforce assessment and compensation studies; created a full-featured career center; introduced a robust online learning system; increased the number of resources we have to offer; and much, much more.

“This new structure was driven by our board of directors, and we’re excited to roll it out and offer all-inclusive memberships that appeal to different types of dealers.”

The Bronze Member level is MRAA’s standard membership. It includes access to numerous member benefits, and allows for the purchase of products and services on an a la carte basis. At the Silver Member level, MRAA has included access to its growing catalog of educational programs at MRAATraining.com, giving dealers direct access to nearly 100 courses for the member location’s entire staff. Then, Gold Members will have access to the member benefits, the MRAATraining.com course catalog, in addition to MRAA custom publications and the all-new Continuous Certification program. Dealers must be previously Certified in order to access the Gold level membership.

“This new membership structure mirrors the way that dealers move through their MRAA engagement,” explains Nikki Duffney, Membership & Benefits Specialist at the MRAA. “The path they follow typically engages them first with a membership; then it drives a performance increase with education and training programs; and finally, it helps guide them to become industry-leading dealers through the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program. We’re excited to roll out this program to offer today’s dealers a visible path to becoming the best that they can be.”

A full perspective on the new membership tiers can be viewed here.


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.

Member Spotlight: Roger Moore

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When the opportunity to purchase Nautical Ventures in Dania Beach, FL presented itself to Roger Moore (and business partner Jeff Garcia), in 2010, they jumped on the chance to turn the then kayak and sailboat retailer into the boat dealership it is today. Check out the interview we had with Roger to learn about his personal feats (like sailing around the world) and how Nautical Ventures have grown in the last few years.

Q: How did you get started in the boating industry?

Moore: I was a successful California businessman-turned-entrepreneur who one day sold everything to buy a 63-foot Cheoy Lee Motorsailor and embarked on a 13-year, 42,000 nautical mile journey around the world with my wife Samantha. In 2006 we dropped anchor in Ft. Lauderdale, where I retired my Cheoy Lee and bought an 84-foot Delta Expedition Yacht. In the process I met a local broker, Jeff Garcia, became a yacht broker myself, and the two of us partnered to form QPS Marine, a marine company that refurbished and resold boats. In 2010 our business neighbor, Nautical Ventures, mentioned he was selling the business. At the time, Nautical Ventures was primarily a Hobie Kayak and Sailboat retailer. But I saw the opportunity to turn it into a boat dealership. So, we bought the company and turned it into the dealership it is today.

Q: What is the most interesting aspect of your current role at the dealership?

Moore: I feel it’s in the brand development and brand maintenance of our dealership – Nautical Ventures. This constantly requires new and innovative approaches to grow the business. This would include new product & brand acquisitions, expansion in to key geographical markets, hiring key personnel who support our vision, establishing financial conduits to supply strategic capital when needed, and creating innovative marketing programs to get the word out about Nautical Ventures.

Q: Nautical Ventures has been growing its operations. What would you say is the secret to your success?

Moore: Customer satisfaction across all departments. We offer top quality water sports products and support along with a highly trained and caring staff. We are dedicated to educating and advising our customers, so as to provide an extra-ordinary buying experience.

Our waterfront location, along with our motto, “Try-It-Before-You-Buy-It” affords customers that opportunity and it has proven to satisfy our customers and build relationships.

Q: You are going through Dealer Certification. What compelled Nautical Ventures to become a Certified Dealer?

Moore: In order to provide our customers with an extra-ordinary buying experience, then we have to be an extra-ordinary dealership, complete with sales staff and service personnel who can treat our clientele in a manner they expect. I feel that by going through the Dealer Certification program, the MRAA lays out a definable path for us to follow, so as to become the best dealership possible.

Q: As a dealer that puts an emphasis on growing and continuously learn, what would you say was the most important thing you learned in the business this year?

Moore: I would say it’s the importance of sales training and having a system in place to take full advantage of the narrow window of opportunity we have with potential new customers. Customer inquiries move at a very fast pace these days. A timely response by an attentive and knowledgeable sales person can make all the difference in making the sale.

Q: What are 5 things that people may not know about you?

Moore:

  1. I live full-time on my boat and haven’t owned a house in 30-years.
  2. I’m a self-taught classical guitarist.
  3. I’m a former pilot, one of the youngest hired by TWA.
  4. I hold several patents in the field of water purification.
  5. I once owned a monkey who traveled 3-years with us on our round-the-world voyage.

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If you have a nomination for the Member Spotlight section of our newsletter, please send an email to mickaela@mraa.com.