Do-Nothing Congress Ends Year with Fewest Passed Bills on Record

As the Washington Watch goes to press, Congress has passed 55-laws; and with only a few days left before the end of the year, the 113th Congress will certainly go down as the least productive in history. Even the infamous Do-Nothing Congress of 1948 did more. Hyper-partisanship is gumming up the bulk of laws. Most of the laws passed have dealt with naming government buildings, land tracks, and post offices. The House has passed 308 bills and the Senate has passed 289, but the differences are so great few believe they can be reconciled into final law

The good news is that for the first time in four to five years there is no critical edge of the cliff crisis that threatens the economy. In addition, by putting the brakes on tougher laws and regulations, small businesses may actually have benefited by the inaction.

The House and Senate are in the conference on a Budget Resolution, which is expected to go to the floor of each Chamber on December 13. It would be the first Budget Resolution for several years. The House of Representatives is then scheduled to recess for the remaining of the year for the Christmas holiday. The Senate wants to approve several judge appointments and will be in session until December 20. Given the partisanship, budget negotiators have focused on as few trades-offs as possible to reach an agreement by addressing some relief from sequestration, especially for the Department of Defense, in exchange for small savings from entitlements. Many marine retailers remain concerned about the lack of progress in Congress on reducing the budget and the complications of federal regulations. Marine retailers believe there are too many bad laws that should be repealed off the books.

Passing laws is not the only duty of Congress. Members help constituents navigate the federal bureaucracy, assist with visas and passports, and act as a watchdog for the executive branch and federal spending.

MRAA unveils Guide to Success in 2014


MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has unveiled the second annual MRAA Guide to Success, a handbook packed with tips, ideas and next practices designed to help marine retailers outperform the market in 2014.

This incredible 49-page resource, created in partnership with Lighthouse Media Solutions, includes 19 articles from 18 industry experts, including top-rated speakers at the 2013 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo such as Jeffrey Gitomer, Don Cooper, Valerie Ziebron and Steve Cohn, as well as several of MRAA’s trusted benefit providers. Topics include customer loyalty, sales, service, marketing, F&I and management.

“This guide is yet another tool our members can use to enhance the value they take back to their dealership from the MDCE,” says Liz Walz, MRAA Director of Education. “When added to the long list of tools, resources, contacts and ideas available during and immediately following the 2013 event, MRAA members can’t help but enter 2014 with a distinct advantage over their competitors.”

The MRAA Guide to Success in 2014 is available exclusively to retail members through the growing MRAA Rewards Resource Center at MRAA.com/MRAAGuideToSuccess.

“In today’s highly competitive marine marketplace, we all seek strategies to gain an edge over our competitors,” says Mike Alleva, Vice President of Marketing & Client Strategy for Lighthouse Media Solutions. “This resource is designed specifically to provide marine dealers with that insight. Therefore, we were thrilled to once again partner with MRAA to produce the Guide to Success.”

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 www.MRAA.com.

Top 10 Marine Industry Certified Dealerships Announced at MDCE

ORLANDO – The Marine Industry Certified Dealership (MICD) program announced their annual awards today at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) in Orlando. These awards recognize outstanding Five Star Certified Dealers for best practices and best places to work.

“Best practices and employee satisfaction are key elements in the MICD program,” said Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA). “Five Star Certified Dealers lead the industry in these areas, as well as in operational quality and overall performance.”

2013 Top 10 Best Dealerships to Work For

Two frontrunners emerged as industry leaders for employee satisfaction, Tracker Boating Center, in Winchester, Tennessee and Schock Boats in Newport Beach, CA, ending the year with a tie for the best dealership to work for in 2013.

“A confidential survey during the certification process allows us to assess overall satisfaction among dealership employees,” said Bob Williams, President and CEO of Five Star Solutions. “High employee satisfaction creates a positive, motivating and successful environment, all of which lead to increased sales, employee retention and higher customer satisfaction.”

“It is no surprise that it was a close race for the 2013 best place to work,” said Sonja Moseley, Director of Certification and Benefits at MRAA. “Certified dealerships lead the industry not only in customer satisfaction, they also encourage their employees to be leaders as well.”

Additional Top 10 winners are listed in alphabetical order:

· Airport Marine, Alabaster AL

· Tracker Boating Center, Brainerd, MN

· Cataumet Boats, Cataumet, MA

· MarineMax Brick, Brick NJ

· Desmasdon’s Boat Works, Point Au Baril, ON

· MarineMax Baltimore, Baltimore, MD

· McCarthy’s Marine Sales, Brielle, NJ

· Tracker Boating Center, Fargo, ND

2013 Top 10 Best Practices

Certified dealers are encouraged to share creative, cost-effective business practices during the MICD program. Every year, a compilation of industry best practices is published for all certified dealers. The 2013 leader for best practices was Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center in Portage, Indiana.

“The recipients of this award strive to improve their operations across a number of channels,” said Larry Russo Sr., President and CEO of Russo Marine and Chairman of the MICD Committee. “These dealers encourage a culture of innovation that inspires the marine retail industry.”

Additional Top 10 winners are listed in alphabetical order:

· Action Water Sports, Hudsonville, MI

· Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center– Council Bluffs, IA

· Buckeye Sports Center, Peninsula, OH

· Clark Marine, Manchester ME

· Hurst Marina, Manotick ON

· Lake Union Sea Ray, Seattle WA

· South Austin Marine, Austin TX

· The Great Outdoors Marine, Lavalette, WV

· Town & Country Marine, Lakefield, ON

The Next Generation of the Marine Industry Certified Dealer Program Announced

ORLANDO – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) opened Tuesday’s luncheon at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) with an enthusiastic overview of growth both for the event and their staff. President Matt Gruhn introduced new MRAA faces and turned the microphone over to Sonja Moseley, the Director of Certification and Benefits.

“We have made some big changes,” said Moseley. “We talked to dealers in the program, dealers who have fallen out of the program and dealers who have not participated yet. From those conversations, we have built the next generation of the MICD program.”

In mid-2013, the MRAA assumed the management, administration and promotion of the Marine Industry Certified Dealership (MICD) program. In collaboration with Grow Boating and Five Star Solutions, MRAA is already addressing issues from dealers and encouraging continuous improvement.

During the luncheon, Moseley gave an overview of improvements to the MICD program. Rather than 72 requirements, the new MICD program is broken into three steps of 10 standards. The investment is lowered from a $2,895 dealer cost (plus a $2,124 Grow Boating stipend) to a $575 point of entry with zero Grow Boating funds. For dealerships who want to go straight to the top, there is a Fast Track option for $2,465 which combines three steps into one and saves the dealer $375, half the total cost of the existing program. Plus, recertification is transitioning from annual to every other year, saving dealers half the time and cost of maintaining their status.

“In addition to the positive improvements to the program and cost, we are amping up the value for certified dealers,” noted Moseley. “The first value enhancement will be increased consumer marketing and education, an overwhelming request from the dealer body. We also redesigned the marketing kits for certified dealers. Also, tangible benefits are being aligned with each of the three tiers of the program. A great example is the new benefit from CNA.”

CNA offers business insurance for companies of any size. Since 1897, CNA has been providing outstanding service and an ongoing commitment to building long-term relationships. They continue to demonstrate this by offering certified dealers and annual credit to cover the majority of certification and recertification costs. For dealers at the top tier of the program, they have an opportunity to receive thousands of dollars back on their insurance premiums during no claims years.

MRAA plans to build additional, tangible benefits for dealerships that obtain MICD status.

“We believe the program itself creates huge benefits for dealerships,” Moseley added. “But we believe they should be rewarded for their hard work and dedication. The CNA benefit is just the beginning of added value for the program.”

The next generation of the MICD program was announced at MDCE. Sonja Moseley and the Five Star Solutions team are hosting a booth in the expo hall. The full launch will take place in early 2014.

The new mobile app is a hit at MDCE

ORLANDO — The Marine Dealer Conference & Expo continues to roll out new initiatives that improve engagement and the overall attendee experience. One recent addition, that is receiving great feedback and high interaction on the user level is that all new 2013 MDCE mobile application.

“It’s only Monday and the App is already setting up to be a huge success at this year’s conference & Expo,” says Michael Geatz, Marketing Coordinator at the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “The back-end side of the App is really fun to watch, especially when we’re talking analytics. As of today there are 90+ profiles, 260+ total downloads and over 1,800 logged sessions, and these numbers continue to shoot higher” he adds.

The 2013 MDCE mobile application features a wealth of interactive opportunities for conference attendees. Features range from customizable alerts that match your personalized schedule and exhibitor/sponsor listings organized by booth number, to the all-popular interactive social feed, which acts as a sort of homepage, or centralized HUB, for all user facing engagement.

“We continually strive to provide our attendees with an experience that exceeds their expectations; our mobile app is just one avenue helping to create that sense of utility,” comments Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. “As we move forward, growing this event, we will continue to pursue current and emerging technologies that improve the overall experience at MDCE.”

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

GE Capital Sees Upbeat Boating Industry Leading to MDCE

Chicago –(Business Wire)–November 14, 2013–

Marine manufacturers and dealers are upbeat about their industry as the U.S. selling season comes to a close, according to GE Capital’s Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF) business, a leading provider of dealer financing across North America.

The positive sentiment is expected to be reflected in the mood at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo (MDCE), which will be held Nov. 17-20 in Orlando, FL. Sponsored by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), the event gathers together marine dealers to learn the industry’s latest trends and best practices.

Bruce Van Wagoner, president of CDF’s Marine Group, noted increases in both volume and outstanding credit line usage compared to 2012. At the same time, inventory aging and credit losses remain low.

“Exciting new product introductions as well as increasing pre-owned sales and trade-ins led to healthy consumer demand this year,” Van Wagoner said. “That’s reflected in inventory turns of nearly 2.5 times year over year.”

MDCE attendees are invited to visit CDF at booth #1110 at the Orange County Convention Center. For information, go to https://mraa.com/event/MDCE.

The conference will culminate with the Top 100 Gala, which recognizes the best-performing marine dealers in North America. GE Capital has been a sponsor/member of the Leadership Alliance since the inception of the Top 100 in 2005.

“This is a great way to honor these outstanding dealers and to energize the industry as a whole,” Van Wagoner said. “We’re proud of our ongoing relationship with the MRAA as well as many dealers across the U.S. and Canada.”

For more than 50 years and through all business and economic cycles, CDF has offered customer-centric floorplan financing programs that enable marine dealers to stock a broad selection of new and pre-owned products. Floorplan financing, also known as inventory financing, is an important element of a successful manufacturer-dealer business model as manufacturers and distributors benefit from enhanced product flow and increased sales opportunities, and dealers obtain improved terms and credit availability.

To help dealers and manufacturers achieve continued success, CDF shares data through comprehensive digital tools. By using CDF’s enhanced Customer On-Line Management System (COMS), dealers can speed transactions; locate and transfer products; and otherwise manage their inventory. To speak with a CDF representative, interested parties may call 800-451-5944 or visit the CDF web site: http://www.gecdf.com/home.

About GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance

GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance provided nearly $31 billion in financing for more than 33,000 dealers and 2,000 distributors and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in 2012. Programs include inventory and accounts receivable financing, asset-based lending, private label financing, collateral management and related financial products. Customers have access to exclusive online tools and analytics to manage their accounts and inventory. For more information, visit http://www.gecdf.com/ or follow company news via Twitter (https://twitter.com/GEInventoryFin).

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (https://twitter.com/GECapital).

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com. 

       CONTACT: GE Capital, Americas

Lisa Tibbitts, 203-956-4582

lisa.tibbitts@ge.com 

       SOURCE: GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance

Dominion Marine Media to Launch Game-Changing Business Management Solution at MDCE

Norfolk, VA – (November8, 2013) – Dominion Marine Media (DMM), the division of Dominion Enterprises that operates YachtWorld.com, BoatTrader.com and Boats.com, will welcome visitors to its booth at this year’s MDCE conference with an exciting new experience for dealers. 

Imagine a new approach to marine dealership management. Imagine one software platform that helps create better, stronger and more profitable businesses for marine dealers across the industry. Imagine an end-to-end solution that can save vast amounts of money and time – up to 82 work days of previous work time. At MDCE, Dominion Marine Media will introduce a new product that makes all this a reality, helping dealers become more efficient, functional, flexible and better connected with their customers. Ian Atkins, senior vice president and general manager of Dominion Marine Media commented: “We are tremendously excited about this year’s MDCE conference and the game-changing product we will showcase for our customers.

The product will be officially unveiled at MDCE where dealers will be welcome to come and experience it first-hand. We have always had close relationships with marine retailers, providing dealers and OEMs alike with a range of data and services for more than 25 years. This experience has given us a clear understanding of the market’s real needs, and has led us to develop a new end-to-end software platform that brings together not just our complete product suite, but also a complete range of business management tools, all on one system.  We feel certain a positive change is coming in the way our entire business sector operates, bringing real benefits to dealerships and customers alike, and I am confident we will be the ones to lead this change.” 

Matt Gruhn, president, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, added, “With the proliferation of new technologies and platforms for the management of dealership operations, I believe a single platform that consolidates the management of all of these tools will be a welcome addition to the marine market.” 

Sign up here to find out more in the coming weeks. 

About Dominion Marine Media 

Dominion Marine Media (DMM) is the Internet partner of choice for the recreational marine industry and operates the three market leading web portals – boats.com, yachtworld.com and boattrader.com. DMM is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company that provides businesses with a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions including Internet advertising, lead generation, CRM, website design and hosting and data management services.  DMM has offices in North America (Norfolk, Virginia; Seattle, Washington; and Vancouver, British Columbia) as well as in Europe (United Kingdom and Italy) and Australia.  The company employs 150 people, has customers in 106 countries and advertises boats for sale in 166 countries.  In 2012, over 51 million unique visitors spent time researching products on DMM web and mobile sites, apps and social media outlets.  DMM’s global reach includes 23 localized web portals which are translated into 13 languages. 

PRESS CONTACTS: 

Courtney Chalmers
Dominion Marine Media
+1 757 351 7496
courtney.chalmers@dominionmarinemedia.com  

James Nolan
James Nolan Associates Inc.
+1 425 786 6069
james@jamesnolanassociates.com

Five top marine industry execs highlight MDCE Leaders Panel

Top executives from five of the leading companies in the marine industry will highlight the Industry Leaders Panel at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.

Annually one of the most popular sessions at MDCE, this one-of-a-kind panel discussion, will be 2 p.m. November 20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

This year’s panelists:

  • Rick Correll, President of Tige Boats
  • Ron Huibers, President of Volvo Penta Americas
  • Jim Lane, President of Chaparral
  • Bill McGill, President/CEO of MarineMax
  • Mark Schwabero, President of Mercury Marine

These industry leaders will discuss the challenges and opportunities they see for the industry in the next year. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions of the panelists. The discussion will be moderated by Boating Industry editor in chief Jonathan Sweet. To submit questions for the panelists ahead of time, email Sweet at jsweet@boatingindustry.com.

“I’m thrilled with the caliber of leaders on this year’s panel,” Sweet said. “This will be a great opportunity for dealers to get the answers to their questions from some of the leading executives in the industry.”

MDCE is being held November 17-20 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center and is co-produced by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas and Boating Industry. For more information, visit mraa.com/event/mdce.

Rep. Miller: Provision Creating First-Ever Great Lakes Navigation System Included in WRRDA Bill, Pas

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10), member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today praised the House of Representatives’ strong, bipartisan vote of 417 to 3, passing H.R. 3080 – the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA). Included in WRRDA, is Miller’s provision designating all ports and harbors on the Great Lakes as a single, comprehensive navigation system for budgeting purposes – the Great Lakes Navigation System – essentially allowing the Great Lakes ports and harbors to create a unified front when it comes to federal funding.

WRRDA authorizes key missions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to develop, maintain, and support our nation’s waterways. Additionally, WRRDA allows Congress to update our nation’s infrastructure policies to meet the demands of our dynamic maritime economy. H.R. 3080 – WRRDA will now move to conference with the U.S. Senate. Miller said:

“A principle advocacy of mine has been to protect and promote our magnificent Great Lakes. And today the Great Lakes achieved a tremendous milestone when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act which for the first-time grants federal recognition of the Great Lakes as an important and unique navigation system.

“This single, comprehensive Great Lakes Navigation System is important because for far too long all the individually authorized commercial and recreational navigation projects in the Great Lakes have been pitted against one another to obtain needed funding. By designating the Great Lakes Navigation System navigation system, the Army Corps of Engineers will be required to look at the Great Lakes system in its entirety, rather than port by port, when allocating funding for dredging or maintenance. This will allow us to avoid future crises at our ports, harbors and channels as we have experienced in recent years due to low water levels.

“While other waterway channels and ports in our nation have access to funding, our Great Lakes waterways have faced decades of inadequate funding for dredging and infrastructure maintenance – and it is long past time for that practice to change. Today we can celebrate an important step forward in the protection of the Great Lakes with House passage of the WRRDA bill.”

Background: Unlike the coastal port ranges, waterborne commerce on the Great Lakes consists of an interdependent system of connecting channels linking ports both large and small. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers treats the Mississippi, Ohio and Illinois rivers as “systems” for budgeting purposes – but instead it views the Great Lakes as a collection of individually authorized commercial and recreational navigation channels and ports, essentially pitting them against one another for funding. Additionally, the WRRDA legislation will assist our recreational harbors by allowing federal navigation maintenance funding to come from non-federal sources and to enter into public-private partnerships for projects.

The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund was established in 1986 to fund the operation and maintenance of ports and harbors (such as dredging, dredged material disposal areas, jetties, and breakwaters) and is funded by the Harbor Maintenance Tax. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund was approximately $7 billion at the end of FY12 and continues to grow by hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Groups supporting the designation of a unified Great Lakes Navigation System are:
The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force, the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, the Lake Carriers’ Association, the American Great Lakes Ports Association, the Great Lakes Small Harbors Coalition, the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Council of Great Lakes Governors, the United States Great Lakes Shipping Association, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the Great Lakes Commission.

Additional Background:
Relevant Provisions for MI-10 within H.R. 3080 – the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013:
• Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
è Sets spending targets starting at 65% (FY14) and increasing to 80 % (FY20) of projected HMTF revenue (includes HMT collections and interest). This increase will happen incrementally between FY14-FY20.
è Sets aside up to 5% of these amounts (if targets are reached) for expanded uses (berth dredging and legacy contaminated sediment disposal) for harbors that “collect” more HMT than is spent to maintain them.

• Small Ports (“Emerging Ports”) Set-Aside
è 10% set-aside for FY15-16 for harbors with less than 1 million tons cargo.

• Great Lakes Navigation System
è Requires the Army Corps of Engineers to manage and fund all the ports and harbors on the Great Lakes as a single, comprehensive navigation system.

• Non-Federal Funding of Projects
è Allows federal navigation maintenance funding to come from non-federal sources and to enter into public-private partnerships.

Highlights of H.R. 3080 – the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013:
Reforms Bureaucracy, Accelerates Project Delivery, and Streamlines Environmental Reviews
• Sets hard deadlines on the time and cost of studies
• Consolidates or eliminates duplicative or unnecessary studies and requires concurrent reviews
• Streamlines environmental reviews

Fiscally Responsible
• Deauthorizes $12 billion of old, inactive projects that were authorized prior to WRDA 2007
• Fully offsets new authorizations with deauthorizations
• Sunsets new authorizations to prevent future project backlogs
• Reduces the inventory of properties that are not needed for the missions of the Corps

Strengthens Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability
• NO earmarks
• Establishes a new, transparent process for future bills to review and prioritize water resources development activities with strong Congressional oversight

Increases Flexibility for Non-Federal Interests
• Maximizes the ability of non-federal interests to contribute their own funds to move authorized studies and projects forward
• Expands the ability of non-federal interests to contribute funds to expedite the evaluation and processing of permits
• Establishes a Water Infrastructure Public Private Partnership Program

Improves Competitiveness, Creates Jobs, and Strengthens Water Resources Infrastructure
• Authorizes needed investments in America’s ports
• Supports underserved, emerging ports
• Reforms and preserves the Inland Waterways Trust Fund
• Authorizes priority water resources infrastructure improvements recommended by the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers to improve navigation and commerce and address flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, and environmental restoration needs

Click here for more information about WRRDA, including text of the introduced bill and a document describing the importance of WRRDA and how it will improve American infrastructure and competitiveness.

MRAA to hold second-annual Young Professionals Leadership Development Event

MINNEAPOLIS — One year after launching a Young Professionals Community to foster growth and networking opportunities for emerging leaders in the marine industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has scheduled the second-annual gathering of this group at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, Nov. 17-20, 2013 in Orlando, Fla.

The Young Professionals Leadership Development Event will kick off in MDCE Room 1 at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19th, immediately following the MDCE Networking Reception on the expo floor. The educational portion of the event, led by David Spader of Spader Business Management, is entitled, “Success & Fulfillment: How the Adaptable Leader Delivers Both for Themselves, Their Employees & Their Dealership.”

The event, which will feature a variety of snacks and beverages this year, is sponsored by the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades.

“The more than 90 attendees who attended last year’s Young Professionals event are a testament not only to the presence of young, emerging leaders in our industry, but also their commitment to professional development,’” says Liz Walz, MRAA Director of Education and Membership. “We greatly enjoy our relationship with Spader and the support of the MRAA Educational Foundation, both of which have allowed us to fuel that commitment and help the industry to nurture both current and future leaders.”

While the educational session is the primary focus of this Leadership Development Program, following the session, attendees are encouraged to join the MRAA Staff and many of their peers for an informal networking event at Marlow’s Tavern, located at Pointe Orlando, which is just across International Drive from the 2013 MDCE.

The brainchild of the MRAA’s Young Leaders Advisory Council, this Young Professionals Community offers industry participants educational and networking opportunities, both in-person and online. There are no restrictions to who can join this group or attend this event.

Register now for the Young Professionals Leadership Development Event, which is free to all MDCE attendees, at www.mraa.com/event/YPC2013. In addition, the Young Professionals Community is live here. Members of the MRAA can access the community by logging in, joining the Young Leaders Group page, and interacting with fellow Young Professionals. Participate in forums, connect with peers and take advantage of all the community has to offer.

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