MRAA Members: Reduce Risk, Boost Compliance, Save Money With KPA

Managing risk and ensuring safety compliance are of critical importance for marine dealerships. Retailers greatly benefit from having a firm plan in place to manage both their dealership’s environmental and safety requirements, as well as its human resource needs.

Membership in the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas makes it easier than ever for dealers to achieve regulatory compliance, control risk, protect assets, and effectively manage employees through a combination of innovative software, award-winning training, and onsite consulting provided by KPA, a new MRAA Partner Member. The partnership entitles MRAA members to a 10 percent discount on KPA Environmental Health & Safety and Human Resource Management packages.

MRAA members gain exclusive access to KPA’s environmental health and safety and HR solutions through the MRAA Rewards Program, which includes more than 30 tangible benefits that members can take advantage of for their $300 annual investment in MRAA membership.

“The partnership with KPA opens up a whole new world of beneficial business solutions for dealers,” says MRAA president Matt Gruhn. “The environmental safety and compliance and HR packages that KPA offers MRAA members help dealers more easily manage these key aspects of their business, giving them back valuable time to focus on sales and revenue-generation efforts. The programs also offer dealers peace of mind that experienced professionals are managing their environmental and safety and HR needs 24/7; individuals with in-depth knowledge in these specific fields.”

KPA Human Resource Management software is a total HR solution for marine retailers, designed in collaboration with leading labor and employment attorneys to ensure dealerships are in complete compliance with state and federal regulations. Delivered as a convenient software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, KPA HR Management gives dealers the tools they need to automate all essential processes, improve efficiency with simple, easy-to-use software, and access expert advice on demand. The workforce management software that KPA provides caters to every aspect of the employee lifecycle, from recruiting to termination and everything in between.

KPA’s Environmental Health & Safety Program grants dealerships access to complete OSHA safety compliance management and environmental compliance services, including: Regularly scheduled facility inspections, employee training, and formal safety committee meetings; around-the-clock support for environmental and safety incidents; and access to MyKPAOnline.com, an online safety and compliance tracking and measurement system, among other key program benefits.

“The relationship between KPA and MRAA will inevitably simplify day-to-day business responsibilities for marine retailers,” says Eric Schmitz, KPA Environmental Health & Safety Product vice president. “Our solutions help dealers reduce waste and waste management costs, lower regulatory citation liability and lawsuit exposure, save money on Workers’ Compensation premiums, and decrease the time typically required by managers to train dealership employees in the areas of safety and compliance. We have specialists on call to answer any and all questions a dealership has, taking the headache out of these areas and providing world-class support for MRAA members.”

To learn more about MRAA membership or to join, contact MRAA membership coordinator Hannah Muerhoff at 763-333-2420 or hannah@mraa.com.

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 About KPA
KPA delivers Environmental Health & Safety, HR Management and Sales & Finance Compliance programs that help our clients achieve regulatory compliance, control risk, protect their assets, and effectively manage people through a combination of innovative software, award-winning training and onsite consulting. More than 5,200 clients, including eight out of 10 of the largest dealership groups in the country, count on KPA for its program offerings. KPA has been endorsed by 26 dealer associations at both the national and state level and is a founding member of the Clean Auto Alliance. For more information, visit KPAOnline.com.

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MRAA Sponsors 2015 MDCE Registration Giveaway For MTA Members

Attending the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, being held Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center, Rosen Plaza Hotel and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla., is of critical importance to marine retailers. The event provides dealers with the tools and strategies they need to boost profits and bolster their businesses in today’s changing marine retail landscape.

In an effort to support its Marine Trade Association Members and provide them with a golden opportunity to send a select few of their members to MDCE 2015 at no cost, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas offered three MTAs the chance to conduct a giveaway for one free MDCE 2015 registration each — a $499 value. This special offer was available only to MRAA-member MTAs.

“MDCE has the unique ability to fulfill dealers’ desire to be the best through education and networking opportunities that help dealers find greater success in the year ahead,” says Hannah Muerhoff, MRAA membership coordinator. “What makes this opportunity so special is that the partnership with our MTA members allows dealers to attend the conference free of charge, giving them access to the conference that they might not otherwise have had.”

This is the second year that MRAA partnered with its MTA members for this free-giveaway campaign. Dealers from the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, Marine Trades Association of Central Florida, and Boating Industries Trades Association of New York participated in this special drawing. This year’s winners are: Baywood Marine of Brick, N.J.; Smith Boys of Syracuse, N.Y.; and Gerry’s Marina of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

MDCE 2015 will offer its most powerful educational lineup yet, including 35 educational sessions — more than ever before. The conference includes a slate of in-depth Pre-Conference Workshops and four educational tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus; an Opening and Closing keynote address; MRAA Special Presentation focusing on the industry’s current technician shortage; and the all-new Learning Labs.

In recent years, MDCD has attracted more than 1,100 total participants. So far, early retail registrations for the 2015 event are at a record high.

To learn more about MDCE or to register, visit, marinedealerconference.com/register.

To learn more about MRAA membership or to join, contact MRAA membership coordinator Hannah Muerhoff at 763-333-2420 or hannah@mraa.com.

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 About the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo
The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ annual conference and member meeting. As the marine industry’s only dealer-specific educational conference, the 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. The 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 Lab. It will be held Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit marinedealerconference.com.

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NMMA Boat Shows Generate Nearly $120,000 to Support Certified Dealers

The National Marine Manufacturers Association supported Marine Industry Certified Dealerships in a big way again this past boat show season, giving Certified Dealers promotional opportunities at NMMA boat shows, including special customer promotions in their respective markets.

During the 2014-15 boat show season, NMMA helped promote Certified Dealers with a series of ads that appeared in NMMA’s Boat Show Guides for 18 individual boat shows. In the ads, NMMA listed the names of Certified Dealers in the local show area, so showgoers easily could identify which dealers located nearest to them are Marine Industry Certified.

“NMMA boat shows are the premier consumer recreational boating sales and marketing events in key markets throughout the United States, and it’s incredible to have this kind of support and solidarity for the program,” says Sonja Moseley, MICD Program director. “Boat shows represent an important venue by which a potential boat buyer could locate a Certified Dealer. The advertisements help draw attention to the benefits of buying a boat from a Certified Dealer, which are underscored by the fact that Certified Dealers, on average, score higher in CSI surveys than non-Certified Dealers.”

In addition to the advertising opportunities in its Show Guides, NMMA supported the MICD Program through editorial content in its consumer exhibitor newsletters that ran throughout last year, helping further communicate the value of the program to a broader audience.

The estimated value of these 2014-15 in-kind contributions is around $120,000. Following the success of the program, NMMA plans to continue support of Certified Dealers again during the 2015-16 boat show season.

“NMMA sees the value in promoting Certified Dealers through its boat show advertising and marketing, and we wanted to do what we could to support MICD Program efforts and espouse its value to consumers,” says Cathy Rick-Joule, NMMA’s vice president of Boat Shows. “Ultimately we want consumers who visit our shows to have an exceptional experience at the retail level, and the MICD Program helps dealers not only meet, but consistently exceed customer expectations.”

For more information about the MICD Program or to enroll, contact Sonja Moseley at 763-333-2424 or sonja@mraa.com.

About the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program

Managed by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program (MICD) is dedicated to improving the customer experience at the retail level. The first step in the Certification process focuses on establishing a high level of customer satisfaction through communication, appearance and quality. The second tier of Certification continues to enhance the customer experience by implementing processes for overall dealership functionality. At the program’s Five Star level, established organizational procedures are implemented to ensure smooth operations and happy customers. To learn more about the MICD Program, visit MRAA.com/certification.

About the National Marine Manufacturers Association

National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry in North America. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy advocacy, market statistics and research, product quality assurance and promotion of the boating lifestyle. For more information, visit NMMA.org.

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MDCE Introduces Session Recommendations

In response to dealers’ requests for help choosing the right educational sessions for their skills and experience, for the first time in 2015, the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo will feature recommendations for each of its 35 educational offerings.

The recommendations will include the following:

· Fundamental – Explores the basics and serve as building blocks on which all other strategies are built.

· Intermediate – Allows those with several years of experience to further develop their skills.

· Advanced – Designed to help experts break through to new levels of success.

· All Skill Levels – Offers value to all attendees.

This year’s event, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center, Rosen Plaza Hotel and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla., features 12 Pre-Conference Workshops and four concurrent Educational Tracks, including Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus, plus an MRAA Special Session and an Opening and Closing keynote.

In total, the 35 educational offerings at this year’s event include four sessions rated Fundamental, 14 rated Intermediate, eight rated Advanced, and nine rated All Skill Levels. MDCE attendees are invited to choose whichever combination best fits their needs and desires. All of these educational offerings are included with a standard MDCE Registration, with the exception of the 12 Pre-Conference Workshops, which require a separate registration fee.

“Each MDCE attendee brings a very specific set of experiences and expertise with them to the conference,” explains Liz Walz, vice president of MRAA, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “By adding these recommendations, we intend to help marine retailers identify the workshops and track sessions that will have the most significant impact on their performance and that of their business.”

For the past several years, each Marine Dealer Conference & Expo has attracted hundreds of marine retail attendees from dealerships, marinas and service facilities located throughout the United States, Canada and even Australia. The job titles of these attendees, their years of experience, the size of the marine businesses they work for, and the products they carry and service vary widely.

“Our job is to build an MDCE educational lineup that can make a difference in the success of every single member of this very diverse group,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “In addition to providing a new level of guidance to attendees, these recommendations will help our team ensure that MDCE’s education serves the needs of all participants as our event continues to grow and develop.”

The 2015 MDCE has inspired record dealer registrations so far this year, compared to the same period of time in previous years. Inspired by marine retailers own recommendations for the ideal event, this year’s MDCE campaign theme — “Made New. By You.” — may become the rallying cry for a resurging industry.

About the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo
The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ annual conference and member meeting. As 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 2015 will be held Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center, Rosen Plaza Hotel and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information and to register, 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

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What Are the Top Advantages for Certified Dealers Attending MDCE 2015?

Most Certified Dealers inherently understand the importance and value of attending the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place this year Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla. But in case you were looking for the top six reasons to put MDCE on your must-attend conference list this year, well, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s a list of the most convincing reasons why Certified Dealers should plan to attend this year’s MDCE:

 
• Reason #1: MICDs can earn most, if not all, of their continuing education credits at MDCE. MICDs are required to complete 10 hours of continuing education credits for Step 1, 20 hours for Step 2 and 30 hours at the Five Star Level. Certified Dealers can knock out nearly all these requirements at one, single event, making MDCE the easiest and most cost-effective way to meet this standard of the program.

• Reason #2: Certified Dealers are Certified because they are the types of companies that invest in the growth and development of their business. MDCE’s education also is developed specifically to help attendees improve and grow, so it complements what they’re trying to achieve through Certification. Bottom line: Attending the event will help them achieve their goals and beyond — faster.

• Reason #3: MDCE features more education than ever before, with a total of 35 educational sessions to choose from, not to mention the always-powerful Opening and Closing keynote addresses and, for the first time ever, hands-on Learning Labs, where dealer attendees will have an opportunity to speak one-on-one with session presenters and really dive deep into the topics that matter to them most.

• Reason #4: For the first time this year, Certified Dealers will be able to make better choices about which sessions they attend with specific MDCE recommendations —fundamental, intermediate, advanced and all levels. More specific details about session levels will be available in the coming weeks.

• Reason #5: MICD lead consultant Paul Weaver’s Pre-Conference Workshop on process mapping. The session, entitled “X Marks the Spot,” will provide dealers with step-by-step instructions on how to create a custom process map to improve any dealership department and get started building one. Attendees will walk away with a process map template that they can customize and implement at their respective dealerships.

Certified Dealers can register to attend MDCE 2015 by clicking here.

To get started on the path to becoming Certified or to renew your Certified status, visit MRAATraining.com/Certifications, or contact MICD Program director Sonja Moseley at 763-333-2424 or sonja@mraa.com.

Member Spotlight: Karen Davidson

How did you get started in the boating industry? 

Well, it goes way back to the late 60s, when my dad was stationed overseas and had a custom sailboat built in the Netherlands. We ended up keeping the boat at a marina in Holland and used to go back and forth from Belgium to spend the weekends on it. I don’t have great memories of that time because what teenage girl wants to spend her weekends with her parents polishing chrome, cleaning sails and oiling teak? For my dad, though, it was the impetus for planning his retirement into his second career. I went away to college and by the summer of my sophomore year, my parents left the only life they knew anything about in order to pursue my father’s dream of owning a marina, which he knew nothing about! They bought Green Cove Marina in the spring of 1973, and so the Davidson Family entered the Boating Industry.


What is your current role with Green Cove Marina and how did you get there? 

I actually did not get involved in the marina until 1985 – 12 years after my parents and brother had been operating the place.  After I left college, I opened a homemade ice cream store in Ocean Township, N.J. and then subsequently opened a second location in a neighboring town. I sold them in the early 80s when I got married and prepared myself for a very early retirement. After I had my first child and the wonder and awe of being home all day with a little one started to become less challenging, my parents cajoled me into working at the marina “just part time to help out a little.” I wasn’t too keen on the idea (boating??!?), but my mother was going to watch the baby and it would get me out of the house a little, so I figured, “OK, I’ll just work a day or two here and there.” Fast forward 30 years: I’m the general manager carrying on the legacy that my mother, father and brother devoted themselves so tirelessly to build.


What are some beliefs or talents that Green Cove embodies that you believe contributed to your success?

Simply put, my father always did the right thing. It was important to him that his marina had a reputation for great service, a family atmosphere, and fair prices. We always have put resources back into the marina: Keeping up with bulkheading projects and the upkeep of and additions to our amenities. We have an award-winning service department with Mercruiser, Mercury and Yamaha Certified technicians. We were honored by SouthWind Deck Boats as one of their Top 7 Dealers in 2014, and we are proud to be a New Jersey Clean Marina, a Five-Star Certified Dealer, a member of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, as well as the MRAA and ABYC. We are proud to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau; all of this so that our customers know they can count on us as a marina with solid moral principles, good business ethics and a sense of responsibility for our environment and waterways.

I know that you won a free pass to MDCE last year for being part of the NJMTA. Why do you think it’s important for dealers to be involved in their local MTAs?

Our MTA offers all manner of support, guidance and information to the hundreds of dealers in New Jersey. It’s always surprising to me that there are some dealers that don’t join because it truly is a brotherhood of like-minded business people coming together to promote boating – an industry that has certainly seen some challenges in the past few years. MTA/NJ has resources for every dealer large and small; from the 24-hour days they worked post-Sandy simply doing welfare checks, to the tireless work our director did ensuring marinas would not be excluded from the Economic Development Agency grants. They keep us informed of changes in legislation that affect our industry (our livelihood!) and can offer information and/or referrals on any subject that might come up in a marine dealership of any sort. The MTA/NJ offers friendship and social events with other business people that are facing the same trials that I do; that can maybe offer me a solution to a problem by virtue of their own experience. Everyone is willing to help each other and there is boundless knowledge and capability to draw on. To not support your state’s MTA is short-sighted and, frankly, rather self-defeating.


I see that you are a Certified Dealer. What are some reasons that you would share with dealerships that aren’t Certified regarding why they should be?

The Certification process (renewal) actually is something I look forward to; it’s a team of industry professionals offering valuable insights into how we can do a better job, make our customers happy and ensure our overall success. The individual advisors spend a good amount of time learning about your dealership and then they offer thoughtful and easily implemented advice. They help ensure you have processes in place that will identify areas that need attention in your business before they become areas of weakness. I really do believe that Certification is a tool for your own growth and stability that no dealership should pass up.


What prompted you to become an MRAA Member? Any special benefits? Or just the status that comes with being an MRAA Member?

Honestly, I feel it is important to be members of any worthwhile marine industry organization because the more I am supported, the stronger is my presence. We do feel a certain status; that we are somehow set apart from other dealers, and of course, we do get discounts on boat shows, MDCE, other conferences and publications.

How do you overcome industry challenges?

We have felt the economic and post-storm challenges, as have most of our peers in the industry, and it does become imperative for our collective survival to look at income centers with a creative point of view. We started directing our marketing efforts towards families and the lasting memories that can be formed with time spent together boating and at Green Cove Marina. Boating isn’t as expensive as some might think, if you can get your customer to see the value in time spent with their families enjoying bright sunshine, lazy afternoons on the water, and the special camaraderie that a marina offers. We also turned to our MTA for resources available throughout New Jersey, and they help keep us informed of changes that affect us locally so we can, in turn, keep our customers educated and feeling a valued part of the industry. We try and promote boating wherever we can – we take advantage of the free promotional items offered by Discover Boating, Grow Boating and the Welcome to the Water campaign to help bring our industry back where we belong.


What are “Five Fast Facts” about yourself? 

  1. I’m addicted to Shahs of Sunset.
  2. I’m a master griller and can out-cook almost anyone on a big fat Weber!
  3. I get seasick when I go out on a boat
  4. My friends think I’m more trouble than I’m worth, but they still put up with me!
  5. Everything I do is for my two daughters, Alexa and Alaina

Data Shows Certified Dealers Outperform Non-Certified Dealers

The Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program is having a positive impact on the overall health and financial success of dealerships across North America.

Data collected from dealerships in the United States and Canada by the research division of Robert W. Baird & Company demonstrates that Marine Industry Certified Dealerships, on average, outperform their Non-Certified counterparts in several key metrics, including annual revenue generated, new boat demand, new and used retail sales, satisfaction with their current inventory levels, greater confidence in current and long-term business conditions, and access to retail and wholesale credit.

The MICD Program today released a “Performance Perspective” that spells out the Baird results in detail, highlighting aspects of the Certification program that are likely potential contributors to the uptick in results that Certified Dealers are reporting. The paper is available to all MRAA members, as well as interested non-members, and can be found at https://mraa.com/?page=MICDData.

“We originally created the Baird partnership to help give our members greater insight into the trends and key performance indicators that are driving the boat business across North America,” explains Sonja Moseley, MRAA director of Certification and Benefits. “But once we began digging into the numbers, it became clear that Certified Dealers were setting themselves apart from the industry norms.”

Data collected from both Certified and Non-Certified dealers between December 2013 and December 2014 (a total of 1,832 dealer submissions) reveals that when compared with Non-Certified dealers, Certified Dealers, on average:

· Generate 63 percent more revenue

· Report 15 percent higher retail sales for new boats

· Report 22 percent stronger demand for most new boat types

· Indicate greater access to both retail and wholesale credit

· Are generally more satisfied with business conditions, both currently as well as over a three- to five-year outlook

“The MRAA Pulse Report data serves to underscore that Certification has a positive impact on retailers across North America,” says Moseley. “By participating in the MICD Program, dealers have access to a proven template for running their business efficiently and effectively. The wealth of tools, strategies and best practices they can access through the MICD Program assists them in improving both their customer and employee satisfaction, as well as the dealership’s bottom line.”

The Pulse Reports not only chart critical information such as new boat retail demand, inventory levels and access to credit on a monthly basis, but they also dive into trending topics that are affecting retail and small business activity. MRAA members can access previous and current Marine Retailer Pulse Reports by clicking here.

For more information about the MICD Program or to enroll, contact Sonja Moseley at 763-333-2424 or sonja@mraa.com.

About the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program

Managed by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program (MICD) is dedicated to improving the customer experience at the retail level. The first step in the Certification process focuses on establishing a high level of customer satisfaction through communication, appearance and quality. The second tier of Certification continues to enhance the customer experience by implementing processes for overall dealership functionality. At the program’s Five Star level, established organizational procedures are implemented to ensure smooth operations and happy customers. To learn more about the MICD Program, visit MRAA.com/certification.

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Boating is for Everyone

Boating is for Everyone!

Date from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals a significant business opportunity for boating from the demographic changes occurring in the U.S.

To grow boating, the Recreational Boating Leadership Council’s New Markets Task Force encourages all boating businesses to tailor marketing collateral and messaging to embrace and appeal to demographic groups underrepresented in boating today.

Warm and welcoming images that showcase Americans of diverse ethnic and racial origins enjoying the boating experience and lifestyle reflects positively on your business and will serve as an invitation to the group(s) portrayed.

Find FREE images you can use on these websites:

DISCOVER BOATING

RBFF

Thank you for doing your part to extend a warm and friendly welcome to boating to ALL American!

 

Click here for the New Markets Email PDF.

MDCE 2015 Panel to Identify Solutions to Marine Technician Shortage

In a special session preceding the 2015 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo Opening Keynote address, marine service expert Valerie Ziebron will lead a panel discussion on solutions to the current shortage of marine technicians.

This one-hour Special Session is part of the Marine Retailers Association of the America’s Annual Meeting, which will kick off at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 and is open to all MDCE attendees.

“The technician shortage is having a serious impact on dealers’ growth and the industry’s recovery from the recession,” explains Liz Walz, vice president of MRAA, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “This panel discussion will focus on what can be done to fill open positions and improve the skill sets of the next generation of technicians.”

The panel will be comprised of marine dealers, manufacturers and trade school representatives. Attendees will walk away with five key things they can do to become a part of the solution.

“If sales sells the first boat, and service sells the next one, then a shortage of technicians is a real problem,” says Ziebron, of Yamaha Marine University and VRZ Consulting. “This conversation will identify solutions marine businesses and schools can put into place to ensure this shortage doesn’t become a crisis.”

Ziebron is a perennial MDCE favorite who specializes in the marine service and parts departments. In addition to her duties as an MRAA Special Session moderator, she and Master Service Advisor Dan Fujiwara will lead a Pre-Conference Workshop, “Schedule Your Way to Service Success,” and a Service Plus track session, “Attract and Keep Techs.”

MDCE 2015 will include an Opening and Closing keynote address and four Educational Tracks — Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus — specifically designed to address the most critical aspects of marine dealer operations. The MDCE Pre-Conference Workshops, which have featured many of the most highly rated educational sessions of the past two years, will return with a larger and even more impactful lineup of hands-on sessions. New for 2015, MDCE also will offer Learning Labs, where attendees can consult one-on-one with leading experts. For more information and to register, visit marinedealerconference.com.

About the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo
The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ annual conference and member meeting. As 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 2015 will be held Nov. 15-18 at the Orange County Convention Center, Rosen Plaza Hotel and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information and to register, visit marinedealerconference.com.

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Two For Two: Second Young Bill Passes House Today

Washington, D.C. – Alaska Congressman Don Young’s legislation to renew, amend and strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 225 to 152. The legislation, H.R. 1335, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,  represents more than four years of work by Congressman Young and the House Natural Resources Committee to update the premier law governing commercial and recreational fishing in U.S. federal waters.

Congressman Young shares his thoughts upon passage of H.R. 1335 (click here to watch).

“Flexibility is a cornerstone of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which promotes regional flexibility recognizing differing ocean conditions, variations in regional fisheries, different harvesting methods and management techniques, and distinct community impacts,” said Congressman Don Young. “H.R. 1335 will provide a number of modest but necessary updates to the Act, including efforts to improve fisheries management flexibility and transparency, improve data collection, create jobs, and what I believe is very important – provide predictability and certainty to the coastal communities that depend on stable fishing activities. Today’s passage of these commonsense reforms is truly a win-win for our fish, our coastal communities, and the nation. I look forward to continuing our work on this important reauthorization process, and remain optimistic on its future, particularly given the widespread support its received from stakeholders across the nation.”

Congressman Don Young speaking in favor of H.R. 1335 on the House floor (click here to view).

H.R. 1335 makes a number of improvements to the MSA in order to ensure a proper balance between the biological needs of fish stocks and the economic needs of fishermen and coastal communities. The bill includes the following:

  • Added flexibility for fishery managers in “data poor” regions of the country for rebuilding depleted fisheries and setting annual catch levels;
  • More transparency for fishermen and others in both science and management;
  • Greater protection for confidential information, including proprietary data, submitted to regulatory agencies;
  • Authorizes the use of electronic monitoring for data collection;
  • A requirement for NOAA to provide better accountability on how fees are collected and used;
  • A schedule for obtaining better fishery dependent and fishery independent data especially for data poor fisheries;
  • Clarification on the role of the Magnuson-Stevens Act when interacting with other federal statutes like the Marine Sanctuaries Act and Antiquities Act;
  • Appropriations for five fiscal years.

H.R. 1335 reflects years of work on reauthorizing the MSA. During the 113th Congress, the House Natural Resources Committee held 10 hearings on nearly identical legislation, with participation from over 100 witnesses, including Members of Congress, federal and state representatives, representatives from the regional fishery management councils, regional marine fisheries commissions, commercial, recreational including for-hire chart groups, processors, academics, and environmental groups.

As a senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee and an original author of the 1976 MSA, Congressman Young was chosen by Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) to lead the House’s efforts to reauthorize the MSA.

“This Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization is a win for the consumer, a win for the industry that puts food on our tables and restaurants, a win for the recreational fisherman, a win for better and more transparent science and the environment, and a win for the American taxpayers,” stated House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT). “The legislation would make a good law even better and it deserves more than blind opposition and empty political rhetoric from the White House.  I commend Congressman Young and other Members for their leadership and dedication on this issue. Tonight we took a strong step forward in the effort to improve our federal fisheries laws and strengthen local economies across the country.”

Upon introduction of H.R. 1335, Congressman Young wrote the following  Op-Ed, Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Moves Forward with Young at Helm, to emphasize the importance of the MSA and the need to review and update our nation’s fisheries laws.

For more information on H.R. 1335, please click here.

To read a one page summary of the bill, click here.  

 

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