Applications Sought for MRAA Technical Scholarships

The MRAA Educational Foundation is currently seeking applications from educational institutions for its 2014 MRAA Technical Scholarships. The Technical Scholarships provide a $3,000 scholarship to technical schools to assist well-deserving students who are studying recreational marine technology.

The MRAA Technical Scholarship Fund was created to offer financial assistance for technical training of marine dealership personnel and was initially underwritten by the OMC Foundation.

“The marine industry’s growth will be stifled without an influx of skilled technicians to rig and repair boats,” says Liz Walz, executive director of the MRAA Educational Foundation. “These scholarships are specifically designed to address this problem by supporting the education of prospective marine technicians.”

Any educational institution that provides recreational marine industry technical training is eligible to apply for the MRAA Technical Scholarships. The 2014 recipients will be announced at the upcoming Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla.

For more information and to apply, click here to visit the MRAA Technical Scholarships web page. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Oct. 24.

For more information, contact Liz Walz at 315-692-4533 or liz@mraa.com.

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 About 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 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 ###

ACMA Meets at MDCE

On Saturday evening, Nov. 15, representatives of the many regional, state and local marine trades associations will meet for the 26th time at the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, the industry’s premier dealer educational event, to discuss legislation at the state and federal level. Under the organization of the Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA), attendees will talk about last year’s activities and expected legislation for 2015.

ACMA also will discuss the result of the mid-term elections and the impact they may have on the marine retail landscape.

MDCE takes place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla. If you have not yet registered to attend, now’s the time! Click here to get your team members signed up today.

We look forward to seeing you at MDCE!

Mid-Term Election Predictions

It’s around this time that MRAA members typically ask the association to make predictions regarding “what’s next” for the coming year on the Hill. MRAA has frequent discussions year-round with Hill staff and lobbyists who get involved in the political process, and this year is no different.

The consensus for a long time has been that Republicans will gain between four and six seats in the Senate, giving the party the majority, and that the Republican Party will keep the majority in the House. This has been the viewpoint of the Cook Political Report, as well as the opinion of most major media outlets. The overwhelming expectation is that Republicans will control both houses of Congress after the upcoming mid-term elections.

With the elections a mere four weeks away, we’re seeing the races tighten up. The inside D.C. conversations now zero-in on specific races. Can Sen. Mitch McConnell be upset in Kentucky? Will former Sen. Sam Nunn’s daughter win in Georgia? Did you know Sen. Mary Landrieu is now up by 17 percent in Louisiana? Can Sen. Mark Pryor come back in Arkansas?

Charlie Cook still predicts Republicans will have a net gain of four to six seats in the Senate. MRAA thinks that the outcome will be close to Cook’s prediction; but given the partisan nature of debate, the majority for either party will be slim after November 4 and hard to govern.

MRAA is asking you, its members, to consider political viewpoints on issues important to marine retailers when you vote: Access to the water, tax reform and reducing the amount of government paperwork required to operate a business.

MRAA Meets With OMB on Renewable Fuel

On Sept. 22, MRAA and 13 other groups working to change the renewable fuel standard for ethanol additives to gasoline met in the West Wing of the White House to discuss the impacts of current renewable fuels and to ask the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the Environmental Protection Agency to maintain current volume levels for next year. EPA attended the meeting, but via conference call in listen-only mode.

EPA had just submitted a draft rule to OMB for review and approval before it can be released to the public. Rumors in the D.C. ethanol community indicate that EPA wants to increase the total volume level of renewable fuels that must be blended with gasoline. OMB made it clear at the beginning of the meeting that it would not release any detail as of the rule, nor would it answer any questions. OMB was there to listen.

Attending trade associations each described the impact of ethanol on their products, from increasing grain prices for chickens to high transportation costs. MRAA’s legislative council Larry Innis spoke about the impact on marine engines and outboard motors. After describing MRAA members’ involvement as service providers who see the damage and have to fix it, Innis mentioned that the industry has been witnessing damage to older marine engines for some time now, even with E-10. An increase to E-15 or even E-40 (which has been talked about within D.C. circles to meet volume goals set by EPA to further reduce gasoline usage) would cause serious problems, Innis explained, and be disastrous for public safety when boats quit working underway and away from the dock. He asked that EPA maintain the current levels of ethanol until the results of research being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, boat manufacturers and the Department of Energy is complete.

OMB gave no indication of when the rule is expected to be released.

What to Expect During the Lame Duck

It’s a strange environment on Capitol Hill when members and staff return to work immediately following the Nov. 2 elections. Several Senators and Representatives will have lost their seats, returning to the Hill to wait out the Lame Duck period and begin the process of closing up their D.C. offices. Staffers will initiate the hunt for new jobs. But despite the impending changeover, it’s expected that work must continue. And even with the soon-to-be changing of the political guard, the atmosphere on the floor typically remains collegial.

For House and Senate leadership, discussions about the post-election agenda began as soon as Congress left town for the final six weeks on the campaign trail. Planning gives staff something to do, but it also gives members information to reassure constituents back home that there’s still time to get things done before year’s end.

Regardless of rhetoric from both parties during the election, nothing will happen on major initiatives like tax reform or immigration before 2015; there’s simply not enough time. These issues require a fresh Congress. History shows that the typical work product of the Lame Duck falls neatly into two categories: The “necessary” and the “noncontroversial.” Atop the “necessary” list sits that task which Congress typically must tackle first: Spending. At present, most of the federal government is operating on autopilot towards a “continuing resolution.” It’s quite possible that the Lame Duck session simply extends these current spending levels through next year. The more likely outcome — and the current plans among Hill staff — will be an “omnibus” spending bill, combining all annual spending measures that were never addressed during the year.

Lame Duck or not, big spending bills almost always contain their share of pork; but with the budget agreement in place for the 2015 fiscal year, fixed caps on total spending will limit damage to your pocketbooks. Both political parties have incentives to get the work done as cleanly as possible.

The intense gridlock of the past year suggests that “noncontroversial” measures would be few and far between; however, there are a couple Congress may consider next year. Example: Congress may extend a collection of tax measures ranging from tax credits for the renewable fuel subsidy to a supplemental appropriation for our fight against terrorism.

In the end, it’s not much of a list. December should be the lamest Lame Duck session in many years.

Rethink Your Target Market at MDCE 2014

U.S. demographics aren’t just starting to shift; they already have. If marine dealerships want to capitalize on the changing faces of today’s market, they need real-world, implementable strategies for reaching these new prospects in a way that resonates with their individual needs, wants and desires.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., bestselling author and marketing expert Kelly McDonald will help MDCE attendees rethink their target customer, learn new rules for connecting with people of different ages, races, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations, and develop strategies for attracting these prospects to their dealerships.

In her MDCE session, “How to Market to Those Not Like You,” McDonald will help dealers discover ways of appealing to new markets of potential buyers and ultimately selling them more boats.

Attendees will walk away from McDonald’s session with marketing tactics that are proven to drive sales and provide a much-sought-after competitive edge in the current marine retail marketplace. The session takes place Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Marketing Track.

“The changes in U.S. demographics suggest that the boating business won’t grow unless we learn how to reach beyond our current customer base,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “While our traditional markets remain important, it’s critical that we learn how to share the boating lifestyle with new prospects who seek the benefits it provides, such as family time and bonding experiences. Kelly can help dealers develop marketing strategies to appeal to new markets and bring them into the boating fold, hopefully as lifelong devotees and customers.”

Each of the 2014 MDCE educational tracks — Sales, Marketing, Leadership and Service Plus — features five sessions. In addition to McDonald’s advice on adapting to and thriving among today’s changing customer demographics, the Marketing Track includes sessions that provide insight into increasing SEO through social media, filling your online marketing holes, developing an unbeatable marketing plan, and exploring the next wave of digital marketing tools and trends, among other topics.

“The retail customer is undergoing drastic changes, and it behooves marine dealers to adjust their marketing plans accordingly,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “Kelly is an expert in this arena, and she brings to MDCE a host of innovative ideas to attract new prospects and convert them into boaters. For anyone looking to grow their business, this is a must-attend session.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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 Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

###

Sell More Parts In-Store and Online

An efficient and profitable dealership parts department helps customers secure what they need to get back on the water as fast as possible. But without an easy way to locate parts and estimate delivery times, it’s anyone’s guess when boats and engines will be fixed.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., product management expert and first-time MDCE speaker Brad Smith will help attendees bolster their parts and service department results by taking advantage of online and in-store genuine parts look-up, which can integrate seamlessly into the dealership’s website.

In his MDCE session, “Sell More Parts In-Store and Online,” Smith will highlight how dealerships can take advantage of today’s technology tools to empower business staff to find replacement parts customers need, fast and accurately, all with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Attendees will walk away from Smith’s session with an e-book to put what they learned to work at the dealership. The session takes place Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Service Plus Track.

“Service and parts department efficiencies are critical to a dealership’s financial health,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “Brad will help dealers understand how to use existing technologies to improve sales and customer service.”

Each of the 2014 MDCE educational tracks — Sales, Marketing, Leadership and Service Plus — has five sessions. In addition to Smith’s advice on increasing parts profits, the Service Plus Track’s sessions feature topics such as beefing up service department leadership skills, transforming customer conflicts, boosting accessories sales, and developing a Master Service Advisor, among others.

“The parts department can be a great profit center for dealers, if they have the tools to quickly and effectively market and sell parts to consumers,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “Brad understands how to harness this potential and put it to work for the dealership.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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 Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

###

Young Professionals: Carve a Path to Success at MDCE 2014

Today’s young professionals are the future of the retail marine industry. But if the next generation is not ready to face the unique challenges that come with being a dealership proprietor, it risks jeopardizing business stability and making the march forward an uphill climb.

At the 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., bestselling author and family business expert Tom Deans, Ph.D. will lead a group of young marine industry professionals through a discussion of the right questions to ask if you’re next in line to take over your dealership’s operations.

In his workshop titled “The Path Forward For Young Professionals,” Deans will help dealership staffers being groomed to assume an owner’s responsibilities open up a dialogue with current leadership regarding succession.

Attendees will walk away from Deans’ presentation with a 130-page guidebook to help them protect their family’s wealth and plan for their dealership’s future. The workshop will take place Monday, Nov. 17 from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. ET as part of MDCE’s Pre-Conference Workshops.

“If the transition of today’s marine businesses to the next generation is to be successful, it’s critical that these young professionals have an open, honest dialog about succession with current ownership,” explains Liz Walz, director of education for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which produces the annual event in partnership with Boating Industry. “Tom is uniquely suited to guide them, having worked in several of his family’s companies and as a consultant for family-run businesses for the last several decades. He knows how to get the conversation started and help soon-to-be principals plan for a bright future.”

In 2014, workshop topics will include leadership, sales, marketing, social media, succession planning, video production and editing, and the service department. Each workshop will feature takeaways (job descriptions, workbooks/guidebooks, report cards, tip sheets, etc.) to help attendees implement what they learned in the pre-conference sessions without delay upon returning to their respective dealerships.

“While Tom’s experience working with his father and grandfather will resonate with young people from the many family-owned dealerships out there, his advice will be useful to almost any young person interested in running their own dealership someday,” says Boating Industry editor-in-chief Jonathan Sweet. “His understanding of what the next generation needs to be successful is certain to resonate with attendees, making this a can’t-miss workshop at this year’s event.”

The 2014 MDCE will offer 30 educational sessions in all, the most the event has ever offered, including seven Pre-Conference Workshops. The conference has traditionally included three educational tracks, but in 2014, it has expanded to four tracks: Leadership, Sales, Marketing and Service Plus. A Closing Keynote address also has been added this year.

Pre-Conference Workshop seating is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis. Attendees can select the workshop(s) they wish to attend during the MDCE registration process. Workshop discounts are available for MRAA retail members.

The MDCE is scheduled for Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. It has attracted an increasing number of dealers every year since 2007. In 2013, MDCE featured double-digit growth in dealer attendance, for a total of 615 marine retail professionals. MRAA’s goal is to grow the event to more than 1,000 dealer attendees. To learn more, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

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 Pre-Conference Workshops, Opening and Closing keynote presentations, four tracks of educational content and 30 sessions in all. It will be held Nov. 16-19 at the Orange County Convention Center and Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit MRAA.com/MDCE.

###

Applications Sought for New ABYC Scholarships

The MRAA Educational Foundation has partnered with the American Boat & Yacht Council to launch two new scholarship programs, for which they are currently seeking applications.

The Basic Scholarship provides the recipient complimentary access to ABYC’s Introduction to Basic Marine Electric & Corrosion Protection, a four-day course that provides the newcomer to marine electrics with information to get started in this area of marine service. It is valued at $985.

The Advanced Scholarship grants the recipient the ability to gain complimentary access to one of ABYC’s Marine Certifications, which include Marine Systems, Marine Electrical, Marine Corrosion, ABYC Standards, Marine Diesel Engines, Marine Gasoline Engines, Marine Composites, and Marine A/C-Refrigeration Certification. These also are four-day courses, valued at up to $1,170 each.

“Whether you’re just getting started in marine service or you’re an experienced technician, ABYC training and certification can help you take your career and your dealership to the next level,” says John Adey, ABYC president. “With the new skills you’ll take away from our courses, you’ll be able to improve your service department’s customer satisfaction, profitability and professionalism.”

The ABYC Scholarships were founded to offer financial assistance for technical training and certification of dealership personnel.

“Part of the solution to the marine technician shortage is to enhance the training opportunities we offer today’s service department employees,” says Liz Walz, MRAA director of education. “When we treat marine service like a career, we can better attract and retain the workforce we need to improve and grow the boating business.”

Employees of MRAA Retail Members are eligible to apply for the ABYC Basic and Advanced scholarships. The 2014 recipients will be announced at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla.

For more information and to apply, visit the ABYC Scholarships web page. The deadline for applications is Oct. 10, 2014. For more information, contact Liz Walz at 315-692-4533 or liz@mraa.com.

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 About American Boat & Yacht Council
Since 1954, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) has developed safety standards for boat design, construction, equipage, repair and maintenance. The essential global source of marine industry technical information, ABYC’s product safety standards, credentialing, education, training, and other tools help members make boating safer. For more information, visit www.abycinc.org.

About 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 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 ###

How Do I Plan for (and Make the Most of My Time at) MDCE 2014?

The 2014 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla., is an amazing opportunity to take advantage of the best educational resources the marine industry has to offer its retailers. As a MICD, we’re confident you’re already aware of MDCE’s value to you and your business. Chances are you’ve been attending for many years running and it’s become a can’t-miss annual event for your dealership.

But as the conference looms and you prepare your team to attend, perhaps the 30-plus Educational Track Sessions and Pre-Conference Workshops seem a bit daunting. You can’t attend them all, so how do you know which to choose? What will be the most beneficial to your business? How do you effectively and efficiently navigate this year’s educational offerings?

Fear not; the MICD Program is here to help! Let us give you the low-down on how to most successfully approach this year’s conference. We’ve got the scoop on how to best plan your time at the event, divide and conquer sessions and workshops, and meet MICD continuing education requirements, no matter your level of Certification (Step 1, Step 2 or Five Star).

For starters, the first and best thing to do in order to navigate your way around this year’s MDCE is to download our free e-booklet, “The MICD Guide to MDCE.” It’s available to all Certified Dealerships as a benefit of Certification and is housed in the MICD Portal under the “Continuing Education” tab for each program step.

The Guide conveniently breaks down the entire list of MDCE 2014 Pre-Conference Workshops and Educational Track Sessions and explains how every, single one of them count towards one of your three areas of MICD Program continuing education requirements: Step 1 requires 10 hours of Leadership & Management training; Step 2 requires an additional 10 hours of Sales & Marketing courses; and Five Star MICD requires yet another 10 hours of HR & Succession Planning. Browse the descriptions, which are easily separated by education requirement category, and decide which conference offerings are best to help further your business goals and keep you headed down the path of continuous improvement.

Secondly, you will need a plan of attack for attending these sessions and workshops once you select the ones that interest you most and are necessary to fulfill your MICD education requirements. After sitting down with “The MICD Guide to MDCE,” perusing the session and workshop summaries and deciding which you feel are most beneficial for your dealership, think about how many team members you have signed up to attend the conference. Add up the number of hours each of the sessions and workshops you selected take to complete and determine how much ground you can cover in a day with the team you’re planning to bring. Remember: It’s possible to knock out all 30 hours of education requirements at this ONE annual event, so make the most of your time at MDCE and take advantage of this unique opportunity by spreading out team members to cover the maximum number of presentations possible.

Be sure you aren’t spread too thin. If you only have two team members currently signed up to attend MDCE but need a third individual to cover the full slate of required hours you hope to complete at the conference, it might be more prudent to purchase one additional MDCE registration than it is to send employees to other seminars at different times of the year in other areas of the country. What if the HR & Succession Planning opportunity you need winds up taking place during the height of busy season? Can you spare one (or several) of your best employees during that time? At the end of the day, it may be easier to make a greater investment in attending MDCE and get all the education credits you need in a one-stop-shop venue.

Finally, use the unique situations that MDCE offers to get more out of the conference than just classroom-type education. The event provides one-of-a-kind networking opportunities to mingle with peers and discuss best business practices outside of the scheduled sessions and workshops. It affords you the chance to meet with conference presenters one-on-one at designated receptions to pick their brains about the topics that are top of mind in your dealership. MDCE also boasts a full Expo Hall floor, filled with 80-plus exhibiting companies offering everything from dealer management software and finance and insurance options, to marketing assistance and business management opportunities. Boat, engine and trailer manufacturers also will be on hand showcasing their latest models and giving you a sneak peek at their current product lineup.

The expanded Expo Hall floor and hours of operation at this year’s MDCE will give you that much more time to make excellent decisions for your business designed to boost the top and bottom lines and propel your dealership forward into 2015 and beyond.

Follow the simple guidelines outlined above, and you’re sure to have the most successful and impactful MDCE experience possible!