A Work in Progress

My 11-year-old son, Nathan, is at the age where he no longer places an unwavering faith in the words and actions of his parents. Rather, it seems he’s constantly questioning what we do and say, looking for confirmation – and undoubtedly finding it – that we’re the flawed human beings he has recently begun suspecting us to be.

Of course, I’ve known about my flawed nature all along. And I’ve worked hard to acknowledge it – both at home and at work. I regularly admit to myself, my family and my team that I’m a “work in progress.”

It’s a way to talk back to my inner voice and send a message to those around me at home and at work. If we don’t accept that it’s okay to be flawed, to be human, to try and to fail, then what are the chances that we’re going to take the risk – when we inevitably fall short of perfection – of trying again, of learning from our mistakes and attempting to do it better the next time?

That drive to continuously grow and improve is at the heart of our work at the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. The one thing that our members have in common is a desire to keep getting better and to ultimately become the best – however you define it. So every benefit, educational program and resource we provide and every partnership we enter into is designed to contribute to that journey.

But if we truly believe in the idea of continuous improvement, then we must actively pursue it ourselves. We can’t call ourselves a “work in progress” if we’re standing still.

That’s the idea behind the launch of the MRAA’s new blog, to be published each week on “Training Tuesday.” By committing to this blog, the MRAA team is promising you that not only will we be working each day and each week to get better at serving you, but we’ll also share what we’re learning along the way. We hope you’ll share what you’re learning on your journey with us too.

After all, the way we see it, we’re in this together. The boating business can’t grow and improve unless marine retailers like you grow and improve. You’re at the heart of this industry, working day in and day out on the front lines, bringing boating to life for families in your local community. We’re here to serve you and your desire to be the best. And like you, we are traveling the sometimes meandering and bumpy path known as progress.

Our end goal is the same. To provide an incredible boating lifestyle that attracts people to the water and to your businesses time and time again.

Make sure you follow along by clicking the subscribe button at the top of this page so you receive notices when we’ve got more to share with you. Until then…

MRAA Announces 2017 Board Members

Joe Lewis will serve as chair of the Marine Retailers Association’s Board of Directors

MINNEAPOLIS, January 11, 2017 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has announced appointments to several positions on its Board of Directors for 2017, including a new chairman.

 

Joe Lewis, who had been serving as the MRAA Board’s Vice Chairman, will become Chairman. He replaces Randy Wattenbarger, who served two years as the Chairman and now moves into the Immediate Past Chair seat. Lewis, general manager of Florida’s Mt. Dora Boating Center, was first appointed to the MRAA Board in 2009 and has also been a longtime member, and chairman, of the Grow Boating Board of Directors.

 

“We accomplished many great things under Randy’s leadership, from growing our membership and our MDCE attendance to bringing the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program in house,” said Matt Gruhn, president of MRAA. “We thank Randy for his many years of service to the marine dealer body and the MRAA, as we also extend a welcome to Joe as he steps into the role.”

 

In addition to Lewis and Wattenbarger, the other MRAA Board positions that were announced are:

  • Joe Hoffmaster, Hoffmaster’s Marina – Vice Chairman;
  • Don MacKenzie, Boats, Incorporated – Secretary/Treasurer;
  • Jeff Hall, Hall Marine Group – Region 4 Director;
  • Jeff Haradine, WakeSide Marine – Region 6 Director;
  • Dave Briggs, Wayzata Marine – Region 7 Director;
  • Martin Boyer, Austin Boats & Motors – Region 9 Director; and
  • Craig Brosenne, Hagadone Marine Group – Region 10 Director
  • Chad Taylor, Taylor’s South Shore Marine – Director At Large

 

The MRAA also announced that its longest-tenured member, Steve Baum – president and CEO of Boat Owners Warehouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – would cycle off the MRAA Board after serving on it for 19 years. Baum, who had been the Immediate Past Chair, joined the MRAA Board in 1998 and attended his last meeting as a board member on Dec. 4.

 

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. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please call 763-315-8043.

Sea Tow joins MRAA as Platinum Partner Member

MINNEAPOLIS, January 9, 2017 — Sea Tow Services International Inc. and the Sea Tow Foundation have joined the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas as Platinum Partner Members, the highest level of membership available for industry suppliers.

 

Based in Southold, N.Y., Sea Tow Services International and its network of local Sea Tow locations, Captains and staff have been providing the gold standard in on-water assistance since 1983.  Later, Sea Tow founder Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer launched the Sea Tow Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit public service organization with a mission to promote safe boating practices that directly reduce accidents, fatalities and property damage related to recreational boating.

 

“Sea Tow has been a long term member of MRAA,” said Kristen Frohnhoefer, President, Sea Tow. “Working closely with marine retailers is critical to our business and we are thrilled to be able to increase our support of MRAA and its members by becoming a Platinum Partner Member.”

 

In addition to the financial support Sea Tow and the Sea Tow Foundation have made to MRAA, the organization is also offering MRAA Retail Members a series of exclusive benefits. They are guaranteeing wholesale rates on full-year Sea Tow memberships for MRAA Members to be able to include with the sale of a boat making on-water assistance standard for all boat buyers. Additionally, Sea Tow offers MRAA Members free newsletter and email content, participation in the Sea Tow Life Jacket Loaner Program, promotion of the Designated Skipper program, distribution and use of safe boating activities for kids and much more.

 

“We are honored to welcome Sea Tow as our newest Platinum Partner,” says MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “It’s always a privilege to us when we can work with an organization who can help our members take better care of today’s boating consumers, and this partnership is a perfect example of that.”

 

To learn more about the benefits that Sea Tow is offering MRAA Members, visit https://mraa.com/?page=SeaTowPartnerProfile.

 

About MRAA

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 Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please call 763-315-8043.

 

About Sea Tow

Sea Tow has been providing boaters with Peace of Mind on the Water longer than anyone else. Our Captains are the local experts in their community that boaters trust and rely on for great boating experiences. Whether you need a timely tow or a tip on a new fishing hot-spot, Sea Tow Captains are standing by 24/7 to help. The Sea Tow Membership gives your customers that direct connection to a USCG Licensed Captain should they ever need help on the water – allowing you to focus on your business of sharing the love of boating with new customers. 

The 20 Group Advantage: An Interview with John Spader

Following Spader Business Management’s launch of a new type of 20 Group, MRAA’s Liz Walz sat down with John Spader to discuss the impact of 20 Group participation on marine dealers, the thinking behind the new type of group being developed, and the new education and training discounts offered to MRAA Retail Members.

Liz Walz (LW): Spader Business Management has a long history as a 20 Group Provider to MRAA Members. For those who haven’t experienced a 20 Group, can you tell us about how they work and the benefits they offer to participating dealers? 

John Spader (JS): 20 Groups are groups of non-competing marine dealers who share financial info and successful practices with one another. Belonging to a 20 Group gives you the opportunity to get ideas and strategies from other marine dealers who may have similar goals and objectives as you. Your 20 group becomes, in a sense, your own personal “Board of Directors” that can help you identify ways to make your business more successful and fulfilling. 
 
LW: When we talk to members who have not experienced a 20 Group before, the three most common concerns we hear about joining are: the time away from the dealership, the sharing of sensitive financial information, and the investment required to participate. Can you speak to these three issues? How do you reassure dealers that it’s worth it to take this leap? 

JS: These are all very common concerns indeed and let’s address those one by one.  

With respect to time away from the dealership, in our 40 years of operating 20 Groups, a common comment we hear is: “Before the meeting, I was trying to figure out how I could carve out the time for this meeting, but after participating in the meeting and gleaning so many new ideas and action items that will significantly help our business, I am so glad I came!” 

Sharing sensitive financial info is another hurdle to overcome, but that is the difference between a 20 Group and just a business meeting where people get together to talk about ideas without the actual results to see how good the ideas are working. The financial info only has value when it can be benchmarked against other data. The sharing of financial info amongst members is a cornerstone to the success of 20 Group members. 

The comment we have had from members in regards to the financial investment is that they save more by attending the first meeting and implementing the ideas learned than the first year of membership costs. And is it worth it? Well, let’s just say our top performing Marine Industry 20 Group Members are earning 8% to 10% plus nets. Is that worth it?
 
LW: In our experience, dealers who participate in 20 Groups have a distinct advantage over those who don’t, as they not only are held accountable by their 20 Group peers and facilitators to show real improvement, but they also have a larger network to turn to for advice and best practices when they encounter challenges or opportunities. Do you have any data to back up the idea that 20 Group members are indeed outperforming the marine market or that 20 Group participation delivers a return on investment?  

JS: Whenever we have had the opportunity to compare the average nets of our 20 Group members to aggregate averages of manufacturers or industry lenders, we typically find the 20 Group members average 1.5 to 2.5 times greater net profits. Also, during the last downturn, there was no doubt that 20 Group members, on a whole, adjusted and fared better than the masses. This was confirmed to us by several manufacturers and lenders as well.
 
LW: Through MRAA’s Young Leaders Advisory Council and Young Professionals Community, we get the opportunity to talk to a lot of up and coming leaders in the dealership. As this new generation takes the helm, they often face the decision of whether to continue their dealership’s participation in a 20 Group or whether to join a 20 Group for the first time. Can you talk about the relationship between succession planning and 20 Group participation?   

JS: In the “Information Era,” it’s not uncommon for younger professionals to question the impact of 20 Groups since, on the surface, it appears to be all numbers. However, our members would likely tell you: “Yes, the numbers are the numbers, but the secret sauce is not only WHAT the numbers are telling you but more importantly HOW others, in the same industry, can and are producing some amazing results.” Not only would I highly recommend 20 Group membership to an up and coming young leader, I would also recommend they get in touch with others who have made the transition and have been thankful to have been part of such a peer group.

After offering 20 Group services for 40 years we have had the opportunity to witness many successions from one generation to the next, and it’s very gratifying to know we’ve played an integral part in many of those successful transitions. So much so that some of our members are 3rd and 4th generation dealerships and a few have recently celebrated 40 years with us. It’s just amazing. Transitions, especially within families, have many emotions, issues and challenges that have already been experienced and overcome by other members in the 20 Group. We have seen firsthand the mentoring that takes place within a group as dealerships transition from one generation to the next. It truly is a great place to share with others, to learn and to be coached. 
 
LW: I understand that Spader Business Management is launching a new 20 Group for the marine industry that is a little bit different than those of the past. What can you tell us about it? 

JS: The objective of this new group is to be more of a developmental peer group for smaller volume dealers who need more hands on training and coaching incorporated into the meetings, seek more coaching and consulting in between meetings and who would benefit from less time away from the dealership. This group will have two face-to-face meetings per year and two coaching/consulting calls between meetings, yet still benefit from the typical benchmarking of data and transfer of successful business practices.  
 
LW: What types of dealerships would most benefit from this new type of 20 Group? 

JS: Smaller volume dealerships that are seeking the benefits of sharing with a peer group but would like to do it in a format that doesn’t require as much time away from the dealership and gives more one to one coaching and consulting both at and between the meetings.
 
LW: Why are you launching this new type of 20 Group now? Is there something happening in the industry or within Spader Business Management that is driving it? 

JS: We’ve identified a need to make the benefits of 20 Group membership available to a broader base of dealerships. 
 
LW: Of course, 20 Groups aren’t all that Spader Business Management offers. You also provide a host of dealer workshops on topics as diverse as leadership, management, hiring, sales and the service department, as well as one-on-one consulting and even virtual training. If a dealership professional is looking to improve their results, how would you recommend they get started working with Spader?  

JS: In our many years working with dealers, we have created dealer assessments that have proven to be very effective at identifying the best course of action for the greatest impact for a dealer. I would encourage these professionals to contact Spader and speak with someone about administering an assessment for their dealership and then use those results to determine the next steps. 
 
LW: The MRAA is proud to work alongside Spader Business Management to help our members improve and grow. Can you outline how MRAA members can benefit from our long-term partnership?

JS: Spader Business Management enjoys long-term relationships with MRAA members coast to coast in the United States and Canada. In nearly every situation presented to us, we know of another dealer with the same or similar challenges, how they addressed it and where they are today. A relationship with Spader and MRAA is a combination of not only excellent networking opportunities, but also decades of knowledge, best practices and trends that everyone can benefit from. Both organizations are truly interested in the improvement and profitability of those with which we interact.

SeaDek Sponsors MRAA Retail Compensation Study

MINNEAPOLIS, December 15, 2016 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced recently that SeaDek Marine Products has come on board to support MRAA’s efforts to field and finalize a retail compensation and benefits study.

 

As a manufacturer of non-skid, closed-cell EVA traction products, SeaDek has demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting the marine dealer body with its new membership with the MRAA and its participation in the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo. SeaDek COO Serenity Gardner and VP of Marketing/Advertising Jason Gardner have also voiced a desire to help the industry work to solve its workforce issues.

 

“We talked with the SeaDek team about its sincere interest in supporting industry efforts on the workforce front as far back as the American Boating Congress event,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “We’re honored to work alongside them on this compensation and benefits study, as one of our first steps in identifying and addressing the workforce issues our industry is faced with.”

 

This first-of-its-kind study has already seen participation from hundreds of retail outlets in the United States and Canada. The deadline to submit compensation data, which will be collected in confidence, is today, December 15th. Retailers have received an invite and two follow-up reminders to date. If they have not received an invite but would like to participate in this survey, please contact Matt Gruhn at matt@mraa.com or 763-333-2421.

 

This compensation study follows an intensive Workforce Assessment project conducted by MRAA, which outlined that, among other factors, one of the largest issues the marine industry faces in hiring and retaining employees is its ability to compete with the compensation rates of other industries.

 

“As a fast-growing U.S. manufacturer, hiring and retaining employees is an important issue we face every day,” says Jason Gardner, VP of Marketing for SeaDek Marine Products. “The only way to properly address a complex challenge such as this is with a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors at work. We feel that this study will help our industry better comprehend and contend with the issues surrounding this problem.”

 

The survey itself asks dealers to provide some demographic information, such as geographic location, total revenue category, type of retail operation, employee benefits offered, and service rates, in addition to specific compensation data for 34 common job titles. MRAA partnered with Readex Research, a third-party firm that specializes in self-administered research methods, association research projects, and specifically, salary and benefits surveys to conduct the survey on MRAA’s behalf.

 

 

About MRAA

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 Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please call 763-315-8043.

 

About SeaDek Marine Products

SeaDek manufactures a wide range of EVA non-skid products for OEM boat builders, aftermarket customers, and dealers. In addition to custom products, SeaDek offers an extensive line of retail items, including DIY sheet material, anti-fatigue helm station pads, coaming bolsters, and more. As a safe and comfortable alternative to molded-in non-skid, paint-on textures and other marine traction products currently available, SeaDek provides exceptional traction and aesthetically pleasing stylistic options. Made from UV protected non-absorbent EVA foam, SeaDek utilizes an acrylic-based 3M™ pressure sensitive adhesive for a lasting bond and simple peel-and-stick application. In 2014, SeaDek became an employee owned company with the implementation of an ESOP profit sharing plan. With a wide array of colors, textures, and thicknesses available, there is a place for SeaDek on every boat. Learn more at http://www.seadek.com.

Pre-Conference Workshops Open MDCE Educational Sessions

More than 250 dealers attended workshop sessions as the 2016 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo gets underway

 

ORLANDO, Dec. 6, 2016 — Educational sessions began at the 2016 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo Tuesday morning with more than 250 dealers attending Pre-Conference Workshops that traditionally kick off the education portion of the event.

 

The 11 morning sessions were attended by 257 dealers who came to learn about topics ranging from leadership to new sales and marketing strategies to social media efforts. MDCE runs Dec. 5-8 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando.

 

After successfully launching the Pre-Conference Workshops in 2013, MDCE organizers have improved and refined the sessions each year. The workshops give marine retailers access to hands-on training with leading experts in areas that have the biggest impact on their future success.

 

“Historically, our Pre-Conference Workshops have been our highest-rated sessions of the entire MDCE,” said Liz Walz, vice president and director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry magazine. “That’s because of the in-depth, hands-on nature of these small group sessions, where dealers can get some work done while they’re here, on site.”

 

This year’s workshops included sessions on leadership, sales, marketing, social media, event planning, pay plans, increasing F&I profits and online chat. Each workshop featured takeaways (pay plans, assessments, workbooks/guidebooks, report cards, tip sheets, etc.) to help attendees implement what they learned without delay.

 

“We’re thrilled to once again have a great turnout for these workshops,” said Boating Industry Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Sweet. “The value-add that these sessions have provided MDCE attendees really is a tangible takeaway they can put to use immediately upon returning to their dealerships.”

 

In addition to the Pre-Conference Workshops, MDCE 2016 features 20 educational sessions and four educational tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. Three keynote sessions, Learning Labs, Innovation Spotlight sessions and more than two-dozen Dealer-to-Dealer Roundtable Discussions are also being offered at this year’s event.

 

The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. To learn more, visit MarineDealerConference.com.

 

About the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo

The marine industry’s only dealer-specific educational conference, MDCE offers an in-depth lineup of educational sessions, a full-featured expo hall and a series of fixed networking opportunities, all of which are designed to help marine dealers connect with and learn from others who can foster their success. MDCE is co-produced by MRAA and Boating Industry, and it features four Educational Tracks, 11 Pre-Conference Workshops, three Keynote Presentations, a Learning Lab, Dealer-to-Dealer Roundtable Discussions, and an Innovation Spotlight. The 2016 event will take place Dec. 5-8 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, with the Rosen Centre as the Host Hotel. For more information, visit MarineDealerConference.com.

 

About Boating Industry

Boating Industry is the leading trade magazine serving the marine industry. For more than 85 years, boating professionals have turned to Boating Industry for market intelligence, product updates, best practices and industry news. For more information, visit BoatingIndustry.com.

 

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting marine retail businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com.

Chaparral, Robalo Upgrade to MRAA Premier Partner Members

MINNEAPOLIS, November 16, 2016 — Chaparral Boats and Robalo Boats have upgraded their membership with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas to a Premier Partner Member.

 

Based in Nashville, Ga., Chaparral Boats and Robalo Boats are one of the longest-standing boat builder members of the MRAA. With more than 50 models between the two brands, Chaparral and Robalo have grown to leadership positions within their respective markets, by continuing to be on the cutting edge of design and technology. Chaparral and Robalo have entered new markets in the past five years and have found great success in their new endeavors.

 

“Chaparral and Robalo are proud to support and continue our partnership with the MRAA,” said Ann Baldree, Sr. VP Chaparral and Robalo. “We feel very strongly about dealer education and dedicate significant resources to provide training to our sales professionals throughout the world. By enhancing our partnership commitment, we are able to further support our dealers and the MRAA.”

 

The MRAA has partnered with Chaparral and Robalo for each of the last three years on dealer education, delivering high-quality educational programs to the boat brands’ dealer networks. Again in 2016, MRAA, through MRAATraining.com, is providing access to several online training modules on the latest sales trends and expert advice to help power boat sales across the network.

 

“MRAA is honored by its long-standing relationship with the Chaparral and Robalo boat brands,” says MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “Our educational programming, whether it’s found at our annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo or online through MRAATraining.com always seeks to provide real-world solutions for today’s dealers, and we’re proud that Chaparral, Robalo and their respective dealer networks continue to find great value in it, as well.”

 

Chaparral and Robalo lead a continually growing roster of boat manufacturers, vendors and suppliers that have chosen to support the dealer community through partnership with the MRAA. Find a full menu of partner benefits here.

 

About MRAA

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 Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please call 763-315-8043.

 

About Chaparral Boats, Inc & Robalo Boats LLC.

Chaparral Boats, Inc. and Robalo Boats LLC are leading manufacturers of fiberglass boats under two brand names: sterndrive, jet and outboard pleasure boats by Chaparral, including H2O Sport and Fish & Ski Boats, SSi and SSX Sportboats, Sunesta Sportdecks, Xtreme Towboats, Signature Cruisers and Vortex Jet Boats, SunCoast Outboard Sportdecks, and outboard sport fishing boats by Robalo.

 

Chaparral Boats and Robalo Boats are subsidiaries of Marine Products Corporation (NYSE: MPX).  For more information about Marine Products Corporation, Chaparral, and Robalo visit our websites at www.marineproductscorp.com, www.chaparralboats.com, and www.robalo.com.

MRAA Launches Retail Compensation Study

MINNEAPOLIS, November 14, 2016 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has embarked on a study of North American retail compensation programs as part of a multi-faceted effort to provide solutions for the marine industry’s workforce crisis.

 

This first-of-its-kind study, which launched last week, invited more than 3,000 retail outlets in the United States and Canada to participate, asking them to provide certain demographic and compensation-related information. It follows an intensive Workforce Assessment project conducted by MRAA, which outlined that, among other factors, one of the largest issues the marine industry faces in hiring and retaining employees is its ability to compete with the compensation rates of other industries.

 

“The fact is that our industry just does not have a complete picture of the types of compensation programs or the compensation levels that our retailers are offering,” explains Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “But we can’t really define the problem, let alone offer any possible solutions, until we have a complete understanding of our current situation. This study will give us that insight.”

 

The survey itself asks dealers to provide some demographic information, such as geographic location, total revenue category, type of retail operation, employee benefits offered, and service rates, in addition to specific compensation data for 34 common job titles. MRAA partnered with Readex Research, a third-party firm that specializes in self-administered research methods, association research projects, and specifically, salary and benefits surveys to conduct the survey on MRAA’s behalf..

 

“I’ve personally worked with Readex for a number of years in the publishing industry, and I know how well-respected they are,” Gruhn says. “Most importantly, though, our survey participants can rest assured that Readex will handle the sensitive information they collect with the utmost confidentiality. Not even MRAA will see any specific organization’s answers in any other form than the aggregate report.”

 

The MRAA Compensation Study will remain open for participation until December 15th to give retailers ample time to complete the survey. The results will be shared in three formats in early 2017: An executive summary, an in-depth report, and an online calculator, where retailers can search for compensation information in their specific region. Those retailers that participate will receive free access to some data and discounts on the larger report. If you’re a retailer and you did not receive an invite but would like to participate in this survey, please contact Matt Gruhn at matt@mraa.com or 763-333-2421.

 

About MRAA

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 Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please call 763-315-8043.

Brooks Marine Group becomes MRAA Premier Partner

Minneapolis — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that Brooks Marine Group has joined MRAA as a Premier Partner Member, in what will be a multi-tiered relationship that will create several benefits for MRAA members.

 

Nationally recognized as a top management recruiting firm dedicated to serving the marine industry, Brooks Marine Group shares with MRAA a desire to bolster the industry’s workforce. The relationship has been designed to foster new tools, resources and opportunities for marine dealers.

 

“We’re excited to partner with the MRAA to help address the workforce challenge that exists across the marine industry,” says Neal Harrell, President of Brooks Marine Group. “Our organization has a deep appreciation of how difficult it has become to find, attract, train and keep a great trades workforce.”

 

In addition to its financial support of the MRAA, Brooks Marine Group president Neal Harrell will assist and advise MRAA on the creation of a guide to successful employee on-boarding.

 

“Our members come to us regularly for assistance with acclimating employees to working within their dealerships,” explains MRAA President Matt Gruhn. “This relationship with Brooks Marine Group gives us direct access to expert insight on solutions that can help our members help their employees make a successful transition into their workforce.”

 

MRAA and Brooks Marine Group are closely aligned in their workforce endeavors. Brooks Marine Group offers recruting services and a jobs board, and MRAA has worked extensively to develop a Career Center with numerous tools and resources for dealers to use. Harrell is also lending his expertise to deliver relevant content to be included in MRAA’s Pre-Conference Workshop called “Training: A Simple Path to Continuous Improvement,” to be held at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, on Dec. 6, 2016 at 8:15 a.m.

 

“We believe this is just the beginning of a relationship that will prove to be greatly beneficial for the marine industry,” Gruhn says.

 

About MRAA

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 Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please visit MRAA.com or call 763-315-8043.

 

About Brooks Marine Group

Brooks Marine Group is nationally recognized as the leading recruiting firm specializing in placing talent across the recreational marine industry. BMG’s clients include recreational boat builders, yacht builders, boatyards, marinas, boat dealerships, yacht brokerage agencies and marine industry suppliers. The firm also assists recreational marine companies in ‘trades’ workforce initiatives to include training & development, internships, apprenticeships, workforce assessments, on-boarding, employee retention and the establishment of career ladders. Based in Newport, RI, Brooks Marine Group searches are conducted nationwide for talent in marine industry disciplines such as design & engineering, manufacturing management, sales & marketing, operations management, QA, service management, project management, human resources, purchasing and finance. 

MRAA Releases 2016 Workforce Assessment

Minneapolis — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas today released the marine industry’s first comprehensive Workforce Assessment, outlining the issues faced by boat and engine dealers across North America when it comes to hiring, developing and retaining employees.

Featuring insights from 517 respondents, who represented more than 1,300 individual dealership locations, the 2016 MRAA Workforce Assessment delivers 35 pages of statistics and commentary on everything from current staffing demographics to the skill deficiencies of new hires and from dealership training budgets to opinions on why the marine industry has such a difficult time finding and retaining quality employees. This guide is a free download for MRAA members at https://mraa.com/careercenter

“What this study tells us is that our industry is facing a workforce crisis unlike it’s ever seen before,” says Matt Gruhn, president of MRAA. “Dealers are operating their businesses at less than 80 percent of their staffing needs, and they expect to need even more employees over the course of the next three years. This problem is only getting worse as Baby Boomers are retiring from the workforce and our industry finds itself needing even more employees in order to support its current growth trajectory.”

Responses to the MRAA Workforce Assessment show that more than 21 percent of the positions dealers had budgeted to have on their payrolls in 2016 remain unfilled, and more than 90 percent of dealers have multiple positions unfilled. Coupling those staffing needs with the six additional positions dealers expect to need to fill over the next three years, the study shows that the marine industry could be faced with a deficit of nearly 10 employees per dealership location, or 30,000 total employees — at just the dealer level — in the very near future.

“This report should serve as somewhat of a wake-up call for the marine industry,” Gruhn says. “We’re glad that we finally have real life data to support the anecdotal evidence we’ve had on this problem, but now it’s time to get busy acting on this very specific insight into the challenges that our dealers, and in fact our entire industry face every single day.”

About MRAA
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 Marine Retailers Association of the Americas 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, please visit MRAA.com or call 763-315-8043.