MRAA Named 2015 Association of the Year by MSAE


MRAA) has been selected from a distinguished field of nominees and recently named the “2015 Association of the Year” by the Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE). The award was presented during MSAE’s annual leadership conference in St. Cloud.

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Minneapolis, the MRAA renders educational, developmental, legislative, regulatory and promotional services to boat retailers located in all 50 states and throughout Canada. Membership uncorks a dynamic benefit bundle that includes the industry’s only dealer certification program, customized marketing solutions, discounted insurance rates, warranty processing and access to a vast archive of interactive training material. 

The leading edge of MRAA’s member benefit package centers around the popular Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program, which offers a roadmap to developing and maintaining a successful dealership. Retooled and modernized under the direction of Sonja Moseley, participation in the certification program has grown by more than 50 percent over the last two years and now includes online portals covering areas ranging from techniques to maximize sales and enhancing customer satisfaction to search engine optimization and digitizing inventory. 

Additionally, more than 1,100 retailers, marina owners and boat builders recently attended the annual Marine Dealers Conference and Expo in Orlando—hosted jointly by MRAA and Boating Industry Magazine. The gathering is the largest educational event of its kind in North America and features an itinerary stacked with marquee speakers, laser-focused seminars covering a dynamic array of subject matter and events designed specifically for young professionals.


Coast Guard Bill Placed on Senate Calendar

Coast Guard Bill Placed on Senate Calendar

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 (or S. 1611), sponsored by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, has been placed on the Senate’s calendar for an upcoming vote. The measure authorizes U.S. Coast Guard funding through 2017. 

contents affecting U.S. boat dealers include $1.5 million for the National Recreational Boating Survey and reauthorization of the Sportfish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act. Additionally, the bill’s contents direct the Coast Guard to begin developing a model for a national recreational vessel training curriculum and education standards for operators of recreational vessels equipped with propulsion machinery of any kind.

Learn more and read the bill’s text by clicking here.

How You Can Support the Miami International Boat Show

How You Can Support the Miami International Boat Show

As both members of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and dealers representing hundreds of boat lines across North America, you know and understand the important role boat shows play in introducing new and current boaters to the boating lifestyle’s latest and greatest offerings — not to mention kicking off the selling season.

You’ve likely been following the developments and challenges surrounding the Miami International Boat Show, one of the most significant and influential shows in our industry, and celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2016. Most recently, Miami­Dade County delayed a vote on issuing a key permit for the February event. 

We’re writing to you today to ask you to help us unite as an industry and make our voices heard by signing a petition in support of the event. Our elected officials in Miami­Dade County, as well as our Congressional representatives, need to hear from you about why the Miami International Boat Show is important and valuable to Miami, the State of Florida and the marine industry.

Please take just a moment right now to demonstrate your support of the show to members of the Miami­Dade County Commission and Congress who hold the future of the Miami International Boat Show in their hands.

It’s simple, just click below and sign your name.

Click here to show your support now!

Inside the New U.S. Transportation Bill and How it Affects Boat Dealers

Inside New U.S. Transportation Bill and How it Affects Boat Dealers

S. 1611, sponsored by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, has been placed on the Senate calendar for an upcoming vote. The measure authorizes U.S. Coast Guard funding through 2017.

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has, alongside the Angling & Boating Alliance (ABA) and National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), worked for nearly three years on updates and revisions to the Sportfish Trust Fund.

Leaders within both the recreational boating and fishing sectors believe these updates will strengthen what is already the world’s premier aquatic conversation and boating access program, while

The recently passed transportation bill includes language allotting up to $1.5 million for a survey to gauge of levels of recreational boating participation and related matters in the U.S. Other notable policies contained in the 1,300­-page bill include:

●      New language regarding the $1.2 million that funds the Sport Fish and Boating Partnership Council and the four fisheries commissions but with no substantive policy or funding change from present law.

●      Provisions regarding the distribution of funds to Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) and Clean Vessel Act (CVA) grants in an effort to find administrative fund efficiencies and to provide states with more flexibility in how they use these funds.

●      Alters the $3 million Multi­State Conservation Grant Program from an off­-the-­top deduction and includes it in the SFR distribution.

●      Provides a new and different way to arrive at the Coast Guard administrative fees as a hard cost total amount off the top.

●      Of the total amount, $2.1 is for the manufacturer’s compliance program (aka Chapter 43), and the remainder ($4.3 million in FY16) for administering the state grant program (currently done with the 2 percent of the RBS distribution, which is about $2 million) and for conducting the Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety program.

 

(Information provided, in part, by the National Marine Manufacturers Association)

Sound Off! Help Shape How Feds Classify Boating Occupations

Are YOU interested in having your voice heard when it comes to how the U.S. government classifies and tracks various occupations at your dealership?

If so, please accept this invitation to join a special teleconference call this Wednesday, Dec. 9, to discuss updates to the “Standards of Occupational Classification,” a document currently being drafted and intended to accurately reflect the recreational marine industry’s impact on the nation’s economy.

At issue: the marine industry’s data — often under represented, reported and/or hidden in larger categories of workers — used to compile the federal government’s labor statistics. This results in the economic significance of jobs not being properly calculated.

Hosted by Mike Lewan of the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Duncan Smith, a consultant working with south Florida’s MTA, this week’s call will explain strategy behind “crowd sourcing” industry job titles. Among the agenda items will be a discussion on how the descriptions of any occupational activities or jobs in the marine industry are needed, including those in manufacturing, repair, retail and training.

All data compiled through the first part of 2016 will be used to draft the final “Direct Match Title,” which will be filed with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All trade associations, dealerships and other organizations with information on job titles and work performed in the marine industry are asked to submit their data for inclusion on the report — helping to ensure more specificity is included in the government’s Standard Occupational Codes and ensuring a more accurate reflection of the marine industry’s economic impact. T

hose interested in participating in both this week’s conference call and the ongoing report creation are asked to contact Michael Lewan at mlewan@nmma.org by Dec. 9.

Helpful link: http://www.nmma.org/press/article/20238

Roy Finney, Jr. Named 2015 Duane Spader Scholarship Recipient

Roy Finney Jr., vice president of The Boat Shop in Tafton, Pa., has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the third annual Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship. The scholarship was officially announced Wednesday morning, Nov. 18, during an awards breakfast taking place as part of the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

 

“Having an opportunity to cultivate the next generation of leaders is immensely fulfilling,” David Spader, primary instructor of the Spader Leadership Development Program, said. “I look forward to working with Roy and helping him become the leader he wants to be.”

 

Roy will receive full tuition, valued at $14,875, to attend the intensive Spader Leadership Development Program, an 18-month course designed for current and future marine industry leaders. The curriculum tasks students with taking lessons from a series of five, three-day seminars and applying them to day-to-day operations at their respective dealerships.

 

“As an individual I have aspirations of growing my business, my family and, of course, myself,” Roy wrote in his scholarship application. “I need to lead my family as a mentor and role model, lead my business by making sure my team has the tools, knowledge and foundation to succeed—in good times and bad—and also lead myself to try to better who I am every single day. With the help of this scholarship, I can do that.”

 

Roy has spent his entire life on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack, located just east of Scranton and Pennsylvania’s third-largest freshwater lake. Roy’s father began selling Scott-Atwater outboards and wooden whirlwinds back in 1962, and instilled in his son the importance of quality service and attention to detail. Still, Roy, Jr. never intended to make a career in the boating industry.

 

When his dad was diagnosed with colon cancer last November, Roy finalized a decision to shelve medical school and return home to pilot the family business.

 

“I made the choice to stay home, and after literally a two-week crash course in the day-to-day operations of the business I was in a managerial role while he underwent surgery and recovery,” Roy said. “Luckily we had a great staff and they covered up my inadequacies, but to say it was a trial by fire is an understatement.”

 

Father and son have since set up a succession plan, and The Boat Shop was again named a “Top 100 Dealer” in 2015 by Boating Industry Magazine. Roy Jr. says he eagerly accepts the challenge of continuing his family’s rich tradition of retail and service excellence, stressing the opportunity to attend the Spader Leadership Development Program will be a key cog in carrying out that mission.

 

“The boating industry and the people who make it successful have always been a big part of Spader Business Management’s work,” David said. “Helping to lay the groundwork for its continued success is both an honor and a privilege. In Roy’s case, he has a running start thanks to his father’s sweat and sacrifice. Now he has the opportunity to build on that strong foundation and lead the business into the future.”

 

Founded in 2013 by Spader Business Management and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) Educational Foundation, the scholarship honors the contributions of Duane Spader to the marine industry. The Spader Leadership Development Program takes place in Sioux Falls, SD and Fort Lauderdale, FL and specializes in cultivating the next generation of business leaders.

 

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, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

Miami Boat Show Opposition Prompts Call for Support from National Marine Manufacturers Association

Dear Colleagues,

We need your help! As many of you know, we are moving our Miami International Boat Show to its new home at Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin for the 2016 show, February 11–15.

In light of some of the press you may have seen, we can assure you, the boat show will happen in February and we are continuing to move ahead with plans. That said, we need your help demonstrating how many people and businesses are impacted by the show so we can be louder about the need to prevent any politics from blurring what is most important—producing the greatest boat show in the world and supporting the South Florida community!

I ask that you add your voice to our petition and encourage you to share our petition with your Florida and South Florida-based employees, colleagues, business associates, and anyone else who supports or works in the marine industry. Click HERE to show your support now!

With misguided opposition to the boat show from the Village of Key Biscayne—opposition that is based on mistruths—we have decided enough is enough and want to express how important it is that we move past politics and focus on the facts.

The facts are that the boat show has an exemplary environmental track record, one of the most comprehensive event traffic plans the City has ever seen, and is not costing the State of Florida or Miami-Dade a dime. Instead, it creates nearly $600 million in annual economic activity, supports more than 55,000 marine industry jobs in Florida and generates more than $30 million in sales tax revenue, while continuing a beloved 74-year tradition.

Thank you for your continued support! We look forward to seeing you at the show in February and are truly excited about what will be a phenomenal event!

Sincerely,

Thom Dammrich President, NMMA

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Awarded $3,000 Scholarship

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College has, for the second consecutive year, been awarded a $3,000 scholarship to train students for technical careers in the marine industry. Presented by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Educational Foundation, the scholarship was announced during an awards breakfast taking place in conjunction with the annual Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) in Orlando.  

Todd Larson at the 2015 Marine Dealer Conference and Expo accepting Indianhead Technical College's $3,000 scholarship.

“Cultivating the next generation of marine technicians represents one of the foundation’s key missions,” Liz Walz, MRAA vice president and executive director of the MRAA Educational Foundation, said. “We understand the importance of recruiting and training skilled team members, and this scholarship illustrates one of the ways we are working to support our members.”

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College offers a three-semester technical training program concentrating on the repair and maintenance of outboard motors, inboard/sterndrive engines and boat systems. The program has been running strong for 23 years and currently staffed by a pair of veteran instructors. Tim Edwards teaches first semester students the basics, and Todd Larson teaches second and third semester students more in-depth subjects such as trouble shooting, advanced electronic systems and out-drive repair.

“We have a good inventory of engines that are up to date with the industry’s current technology, and we use common industry diagnostic software to train on those engines,” the instructors wrote in their scholarship application. “The program is designed to be very project centered — all lectures are backed up by extensive, hands-on projects.”

The college’s close proximity to Lake Superior gives students the chance to frequently use the water for boat testing during the spring and fall semesters, and classes are often conducted outdoors whenever weather permits. Wisconsin Indian Head Technical College additionally offers a one-semester Advanced Certificate Course, where students can continue their education and hone skills of their choice — from major systems repair to advanced diagnostics.

Furthermore, the curriculum makes a point of having students work with local marine businesses to provide real-world experience. Wisconsin Indianhead is a member of the American Boat & Yacht Council and Association of Marine Technicians, and its program graduates between 11 and 20 students each year.

The MRAA Technical Scholarship Fund was founded to offer financial assistance for technical training of dealership personnel and was initially underwritten by the OMC Foundation. Any educational institution that provides recreational marine industry technical training is eligible to apply.

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, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

Melissa Danko Named 2015 Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year

 

From left to right: Nancy Smith of Colorado Boat Center, Melissa Danko, Margaret Podlich — president of the Boat Owners Association of the United States, Nancy Cueroni — Executive Director of the National Marine Distributors Association and Marion Minor of Boating Industry. 

Melissa Danko, executive director of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, has been named the 2015 Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year. Melissa was presented with the award, one of the marine industry’s most prestigious, during a Wednesday morning awards breakfast taking place in conjunction with the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.

The Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award recognizes outstanding female leaders who demonstrate leadership and commitment to the boating business. The award was established in 1987 in honor of Darlene Briggs of Wayzata Marine in Wayzata, MN, who was the first retail marine saleswoman in Minnesota and the first female member of her state’s marine trades association.

“I am incredibly honored for this recognition and especially to be among such an outstanding group of women that have demonstrated true leadership and an untiring dedication to this industry,” Melissa said. “I am fortunate for all of the support I have received and the many people I have met who are truly passionate about boating. It has given me an even deeper appreciation for time spent on the water and the drive to work even harder to make a positive difference.”

As the leader of New Jersey’s largest boating association, Melissa manages government relations, has produced 12 boat shows and handles all public relations. Additionally, Melissa played an instrumental role in helping New Jersey’s marinas and boat dealers recover from the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy—helping usher through emergency variances to quicken rebuilding, meeting regularly with the governor’s office and launching a 501c3 to handle donations from across the globe.

Melissa serves as an active member of the NJ Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee, the I BOAT NJ Program Selection Committee, the Barnegat Bay Partnership Advisory Committee, the New Jersey Clean Marina Program Steering Committee, the Monmouth Ocean Development Council Energy and Environment Committee and the NJ Sea Grant Advisory Board. She also co-chairs the National Marine Trades Council, is a member of the Recreational Boating Leadership Council and served as chair of the Advisory Council of Marine Associations. Other current and past billets have included secretary of the board of directors for the Marine Environmental Education Foundation (MEEF) and serving on the review board for the Division of Travel and Tourism Cooperative Marketing Grant Program. She also sits on the Marine Industry Enhancement Steering Committee.

Margaret Podlich, president of the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) and the 2014 recipient of the Darlene Briggs Award, flew to Orlando this week to present Melissa with this year’s honor. The two women have known each other for many years, and Margaret stressed her friend’s relentless drive and selfless service during times of crisis have set an example for the marine industry.

Past recipients of the Darlene Briggs Award include: Rallee Chupich of Gordy’s Lakefront Marine; Debbie Meigs of Cobalt Boats; Jewell “Julie” Crowe of Crowe Marine; Barbara Woodard of Woodard Marine; Nancy Smith of Colorado Boat Center; Ann Baldree of Marine Products Corp.; Marcia Kull of Volvo Penta; Joan Maxwell of Regulator Marine Inc.; Kris Carroll of Grady-White Boats; Lynn Fiorenzano of Silver Spring Marine; and Maureen Dickson of Cap Sante Marine.

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, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

Bob McCann Named Lead Consultant of MRAA Dealer Certification Program