Take the MRAA Workforce Assessment Survey Now
A primary purpose of the workforce assessment survey will be to give MRAA the data needed to address the shortage of skilled marine technicians. Responses will provide MRAA with a clearer picture of how many dealerships need technicians, as well as other positions, and what strategies they’re currently employing to fill those openings.
The survey, available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MRAAWorkforceAssessment, will take less than five minutes to complete. Participants will be asked questions about their company workforce, including whether they have open positions, plans to grow their staff and more.
MDCE 2016 Issues Call for Presentations
Marine industry conference now taking proposals from speakers interested in presenting this December
Marine Dealer Conference & Expo are seeking educational session proposals from potential speakers for the 2016 conference, which will take place Dec. 5-8 in Orlando.
“To create a fresh, high impact educational line-up, first we survey the dealer community regarding the topics that matter most to them,” said Liz Walz, vice president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas — who along with Boating Industry magazine co-host the annual conference. “then we seek out the leading experts on those topics.”
“Whether presenters are from inside or outside the industry, whether they’re a marine retailing coach, a professional speaker or a dealer, MDCE focuses on education that delivers results for attendees,” said Jonathan Sweet, editor in chief of Boating Industry magazine.
A total of 1,147 marine industry professionals from throughout North America and as far away as Australia traveled to Orlando last November for MDCE 2015, which is co-produced by Boating Industry magazine and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA).
https://mraa.com/?page=MDCE_Presentations or contact Liz Walz at 315-692-4533 (liz@mraa.comAbout the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo
The marine industry’s only dealer-specific educational conference, MDCE offers an in-depth lineup of educational topics, 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 Educational Tracks, Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, and the all-new Learning Labs. The 2016 event will be held Dec. 5-8 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. 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.
Torqeedo Finalizes New MRAA Premier Partner Membership
The global leader in a growing electronic boat drive sector has joined the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) as a Premier Partner.Founded in 2005, Torqeedo offers 25 different electric drives now available in more than 40 countries.
“We have seen the value MRAA provides to North American boat dealers, and we are proud to support an organization with such a long history of staunch advocacy and respected voice,” Steve Trkla, president of Torqeedo, Inc., said.
Water taxis, charter companies and boat rental operations across the globe have adopted Torqeedo propulsion systems for commercial applications in recent years. Vessels propelled by Torqeedo electric engines now extend from recreational catamarans and speedboats to barge pushers. Motors range from 1 to 80 horsepower and come in inboard, outboard, saildrive and pod drives.
“Committing to a Premier Partner Membership is just one way Torqeedo demonstrates its commitment to supporting the boat dealer community here in the United States,” says Matt Gruhn, president of MRAA. “Torqeedo plays a major leadership role in charting the course for electric power and limited access waters, and we’re excited to help Torqeedo’s fantastic team write the next chapter. “
A crucial factor in the creation of Torqeedo were the severe restrictions placed on running boats with combustion engines on Lake Starnberg in eastern Germany. Similar restrictions are being adopted in more and more environmentally sensitive areas around the world, but electric offer an advantage for users on private lakes — or anywhere fuel is difficult to access. By 2005 it was clear electric drive systems would play an pivotal role in shaping the sector’s future.
The solution to accessing these natural wonders: electric boat drives. By 2005 it was clear electric drive systems would play an important role in shaping the sector’s future.
Torqueedo joins a continually growing roster of boat manufacturers and suppliers who wish to support the dealer community through a partnership with the MRAA. A full menu of partner benefits can be found here.
Leaders Convene for Congressional Briefing on State of Boating
Four of the boating industry’s most influential organizations were on Capitol Hill this week
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Members of the Congressional Boating Caucus and their staff gathered this week for a briefing on the state of the nation’s recreational boating and fishing industries. Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association, joined with leaders of three other industry associations to update lawmakers on key policy issues important to the marine industry.
Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, opened the meetings, which took place in both the House and Senate, with his annual overview of the boating industry; Mike Nussman, president & CEO of the American Sportfishing Association, followed with an overview of the state of the recreational fishing industry. Gruhn joined Margaret Podlich, president of BoatU.S., to answer policy related questions alongside Dammrich and Nussman.
“It was an honor to represent our great industry at this meeting of the Boating Caucus,” Gruhn said. “We’ve done a lot of great work as a united front in this industry, and it was rewarding to be able to demonstrate that to members of Congress and their staff members.”
Gruhn highlighted several issues this week on Capitol Hill: the marine industry’s technician shortage, quelling the spread of aquatic invasive species and the importance of the Great Lakes region. Citing the growing shortage of skilled technical workers in the marine industry, Gruhn asked Congress to place a greater emphasis on programs and policies that will improve the boating industry’s technical workforce. Additionally, he noted the importance of the Great Lakes Region to both boating and fishing and made a convincing case for prioritizing the fight against aquatic invasive species in our nation’s waterways.
“Our members and constituents have voiced to us that these issues are of utmost importance to the success of their businesses,” explained Will Higgins, public policy manager for the MRAA. “It’s crucial that we regularly update the folks on Capitol Hill so that lawmakers who have expressed support of the boating industry have a strong working knowledge of our issues, and an understanding of the impact that the business of recreational boating and fishing has on our nations economy.”
More than 122 members of Congress belong to the Congressional Boating Congress, which was formed in 1989 to advocate for the political interests of the boating industry.
Interested in taking an active role in political advocacy on behalf of the boating industry? The annual American Boating Congress, taking place this year May 9-11, offers boat dealers, marina owners, and all other friends of recreational boating a chance to gather as an industry and meet with elected leaders on Capitol Hill. Tucker Carlson, anchor of Fox and Friends Weekend, and Paul Begala, political strategist and commentator for CNN, will be joining the lineup for ABC as the 2016 Keynote Speakers. Find more information online.
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Introducing the Boating Industry’s Election HQ
Tuesday marked the first election on the path to the White House for the Republican and Democratic candidates for President. The Iowa Caucuses were the first test of which of these 15 candidates will have a chance to be their respective party’s nominee.
Election Center 2016.
BoatPAC.org, which will serve as the online home for NMMA’s and MRAA’s political efforts on Capitol Hill.
comprehensive calendar of primary and election dates for the 2016 Presidential campaign.
For more information or questions about BoatPAC contact Will Higgins at William@mraa.com.
ABC Announces 2016 Keynote Speakers
The American Boating Congress has announced the addition of TWO new keynote speakers to the 2016 agenda. Join MRAA and the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association this year for face-to-face meetings with your members of Congress, networking with your peers plus election analysis from respected experts from both sides of the aisle.
Register for the 2016 American Boating Congress Now!
Paul Begala is a commentator for CNN, where he is part of the political team that has won both an “Emmy” and a “Peabody Award.” Begala was an advisory to President Clinton and in the 2012 campaign he was a senior adviser for the pro-Obama Super PAC, making Begala one of the few people to play a critical role in electing two different presidents.
CLICK HERE to book your room. Space is limited!
ABC is your chance to meet elected officials to discuss your policy concerns; Speak directly with policymakers in your Congressional district; Learn more about the Congressional process and how you can stay involved year round; Hear from elected officials, policy makers, and distinguished speakers; and join peers from all segments of the industry to help ensure a healthy future for recreational boating.
New York Times Publishes Scathing Review of U.S. Ethanol Policy
The Feb. 1 edition of the New York Times included an extensive feature story headlined “Ethanol Mandate, a Boon to Iowa Alone, Faces Rising Resistance.” The article explored the underwhelming effects of a 2005 Congressional mandate requiring oil refiners to blend ethanol into gasoline and cited the legislation as a leading cause of higher food prices and burdensome regulations.
Boaters join a growing list of oil companies, environmentalists, grocery manufacturers and farmers seeking to repeal the nation’s ethanol mandate.
See how your congressional representatives voted on the 2005 “Ethanol Bill.”
Industry Invited to Help Shape MDCE 2016
Organizers of the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo have begun planning for the 2016 educational agenda, and seek the help of prospective attendees from throughout the boating industry to shape the itinerary. The time commitment? Just three minutes.
Take the Pre-MDCE 2016 Attendee Survey Now
Each year, the process of building the MDCE educational lineup begins with a thorough review of the session evaluations from the prior year, post-event CSI surveys and feedback from attendees and the dealer-led MRAA Education Committee.
Organizers from co-hosts Boating Industry and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas then create a pre-event survey designed to identify topics most relevant to and desired by the dealer community. Those results are paired with speaker research and input from MDCE’s annual Call for Presentations to develop a fresh and impactful educational lineup.
“We design all of the MDCE educational sessions and experiences to generate a new slate of results for our attendees,” says Liz Walz, Vice President of MRAA. “The survey ensures that as our attendees’ needs change, MDCE is there to fulfill them.”
With educational tracks concentrating on sales, marketing, leadership and service, MDCE serves the entire marine retail community — from dealerships and ship’s stores to boatyards and marinas. All are encouraged to take just three minutes to complete the Pre-MDCE 2016 Attendee Survey.
“Each marine retailer is unique,” says Boating Industry Editor-In-Chief Jonathan Sweet. “That’s why we ask all of you to fill out the survey. We aim to drive growth for every single MDCE attendee.”
The 2016 MDCE will take place from Monday, Dec. 5 through Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel. The annual conference saw a 4-percent increase in retail attendance in 2015, a 21-percent jump in Pre-Conference Workshop registrations, as well as a sold-out Expo Hall with more than 100 exhibitors. Total participation included 1,147 marine industry professionals from throughout North America and as far away as Australia.
marinedealerconference.com.
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.
Merv Wood Added to MICD Team as Consultant
Click here for a video of Jerry’s chat
Jerry went on to say Certification is “an amazing tool to hold us accountable, give us ideas and provide us benchmarks.”
Look for more posts and videos from MICD Certified boat dealers in future editions of Insider newsletter sent each month to MICD Program participants..
MRAATraining.com and click on the “Get Certified” tab.
sonja@mraa.com. Click here to learn more about the MICD Program.
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