MDCE launches 2013 survey

Organizers of the 2013 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo have begun creating plans for an all-new educational agenda, including some exciting changes, that will exceed the value of any prior MDCE educational conference.

Each year, planning for the MDCE educational agenda begins with a thorough review of the previous year event’s on-site educational session surveys, as well as post-event CSI surveys and feedback from attendees and the dealer-led MRAA Conference Committee. Those results are used to help craft an event survey that seeks to outline the topics that are most relevant to and desired by the dealer community. Organizers then pair those results with input from its annual Call for Presentations to create the educational line-up.

“We want this survey to help us gain insight from you on how we can deliver the conference of your dreams,” explains Liz Walz, Director of Membership & Marketing for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, which co-produces this event with Boating Industry. “We want the 2013 MDCE to be the one that delivers more concrete takeaways than ever before — the one that generates brand new ideas and relationships that boost your results all year long and the one that inspires your team to perform at the highest levels yet.”

Whether you’re a dealer, a service yard, a marina or someone else interested in the success of the marine retail body, we encourage you to complete the survey. The survey should take only a few minutes to complete, but could make an enormous difference for the success you can find at the 2013 MDCE.

“Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on how we can design the best MDCE yet,” says Jonathan Sweet, Editor-in-Chief of Boating Industry. “The way we see it, this is YOUR event, and together we will make it incredible.”

Here is a link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GSXWS8R

Thank you for your help. If you have any questions or comments, we encourage you to e-mail Liz Walz. In the meantime, please mark your calendars for the 2013 Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, Nov. 17-20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

MDCE announces 2013 dates, location

MINNEAPOLIS – Following on the heels of five consecutive years of growth in dealer attendance, the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo is preparing to set new records in 2013.

The event, which will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Nov. 17-20, will reinvent its educational lineup, offering dealers a new depth and quality of content.

“Dealers attend MDCE to gain new ideas and insights that will give them a competitive advantage, invigorate their teams for the year ahead and ultimately make their businesses more successful,” explained Marine Retailers Association of the Americas President Matt Gruhn. “With the improvements and new additions we will incorporate this year, we’ll be able to deliver on those expectations and more. If there was ever a year to attend MDCE, this is it.”

The process of building that new agenda began with the Pre-MDCE Dealer Survey, which is currently underway. The next step will begin in early March, when organizers will issue their annual Request for Presentations.

“We’re listening to the needs of our attendees and exhibitors, offering new forms of education and fresh opportunities for dealers and exhibitors to connect, all of which will make MDCE more effective for our participants,” said Boating Industry Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Sweet.

With the continued growth in dealer attendance, exhibitor’s return on investment in MDCE is also increasing. In 2013, the MDCE expo hall will encompass more than 150,000 square feet of space and will improve upon a popular feature of the event in recent years, the modular classrooms that bring dealers and suppliers together for networking opportunities.

In 2012, MDCE attracted more than 500 dealers and representatives from more than 100 exhibitors and sponsors for a total in excess of 1,000 attendees.

This year’s host hotel will be the Rosen Plaza, located adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center. It is at the center of Orlando’s theme parks, only 15 minutes from downtown Orlando, across the street from Pointe Orlando shopping, dining and entertainment complex, and only 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport. As a bonus for 2013, the MDCE expo floor is located in the hall closest to the Rosen Plaza.

For more information about MDCE 2013 and to register, please visit www.mraa.com/event/MDCE or contact Liz Walz at liz@mraa.com or 315-692-4533. To inquire about exhibit opportunities, please contact Kathy Johnson at kathyjohnson@boatingindustry.com or 480-988-3658.

Welcome to the Water on National Marina Day Seeks Industry Involvement

CHICAGO (February 25, 2013) – Welcome to the Water on National Marina Day 2013 — Saturday, June 8 — will be the first nationwide boating event dedicated to helping industry stakeholders expand their customer base as the industry collaborates to grow boating through participation across the U.S.

Events will be held at on-water locales around the U.S. on Saturday, June 8, 2013. All recreational boating businesses are encouraged to take part as event organizers offer opportunities for industry partners to get involved. Every event will be different based on the local market, boating opportunities and industry partners. Suggested activities include: on-water hands-on training; open houses; showcase of boats and related marine products; free demo rides with sales follow-up; and, safety demonstrations

Read more event details here

National Marina Day was launched in 2001 by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) to promote the marina industry and encourage marinas to introduce their local markets to the boating lifestyle. The event merged efforts with Discover Boating last year to broaden the event to promote the entire recreational boating industry under the banner of the industry-wide ‘Welcome to the Water’ national campaign. In 2012, 250 marinas participated in 30 states.

“Welcome to the Water on National Marina Day is truly a celebration of the boating community from coast to coast,” said Wendy Larimer, AMI legislative coordinator. “Momentum is building and to make these local events a success, support, enthusiasm and grassroots efforts by the recreational boating industry are needed to bring each event to life around the country.”

AMI has expanded its 2013 event efforts to include partnerships with marine industry organizations and stakeholders, including the National Safe Boating Council; Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF); BoatU.S.; American Sailing Association (ASA); US Sailing; US Powerboating; Freedom Boat Club; ValvTect; Marinas International; and, Ocean Conservancy. All with the shared goal to provide a unified message across the range of local events, broaden the reach of these grassroots efforts and provide visitors with the opportunity for hands-on boating experience.

If interested in participating, sign up via NationalMarinaDay.org or contact one of the event organizers below based on your marine business:

Marinas: Contact Wendy Larimer at wlarimer@marinaassociation.org.

Marine dealers: Contact Matt Gruhn at matt@mraa.com.

Manufacturers: Contact Carl Blackwell at cblackwell@nmma.org.

General inquiries and training opportunities: Contact Tom Knighten at dbevents@comcast.net.

“Our goal is to bring together marine-related businesses to achieve a shared goal—to grow participation in boating—and, at the same time, provide the opportunity for each business to achieve its own objectives,” said Carl Blackwell, Discover Boating president. “Whether you’re a dealer, marina, manufacturer, distributor or service provider, we need your help to welcome more people to boating through this nationwide boating event.”

Welcome to the Water on National Marina Day is produced by the Association of Marina Industries, and Discover Boating. For more information and to register to participate, visit www.NationalMarinaDay.org

Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boat Centers signs on as MRAA Retail Member

MINNEAPOLIS — Leading marine retailer Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boat Centers has signed on as a Retail Member of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas.

“We are proud to have earned the support of Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boat Centers,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “With their reputation for marine retail excellence, particularly in sales, marketing and customer service, they have a lot to contribute to the association as we move forward. Together, we can further MRAA’s mission to be the voice of and leading resource for all marine retailers.”

Bass Pro Shops has been recognized by J.D. Powers & Associates for customer service excellence and has

received awards for innovation, store design, conservation and outdoor education efforts. Since being founded by Johnny Morris in the 1970s, Bass Pro Shops has established retail stores and boat dealerships in 32 states and 2 Canadian provinces. Its network of Five Star Certified Tracker Boating Centers is one of the nation’s leading boat retailers and its boat manufacturing division, Tracker Marine Group, is among the nation’s leading boat builders.

“We became an MRAA Retail Member because we are aligned with the vision of customer service excellence in pursuit of renewed growth,” says Wayne Stokes, Director of Boat Operations for Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boat Centers. “Collaborative efforts among members and other MRAA partners will help build a stronger industry.”

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit

Consider This: What Exactly Does That Mean?

I gave a speech the other day and I came in early to listen to some of their industry speakers to see if I could gain a better understanding of the most pressing issues they were facing. What I heard and saw in Power Point slides was incredibly confusing for this “Non-Industry” person. Acronyms were everywhere; they almost couldn’t get through one sentence without some abbreviation being used or industry specific expression. I wondered how many new people had no clue what was being discussed and also how many veterans in the audience were confused, but would never admit it.

If I was speaking to an audience that might not be familiar with sports terms, slang or expressions, it would be prudent of me to leave out phrases like … jump the gun, blind-sided, home stretch, throw in the towel, second wind, learn the ropes, down to the wire, across the board, step up to the plate, and hit a home run. Connecting with your audience is critical, so it is really important to make sure any words you use will compliment your message rather than confuse your audience.

One reason companies don’t succeed is because they fail to make things clear, concise and understandable. People don’t like to appear confused or stupid and rather than raise their hand in front of all their peers to ask for help or for a better explanation of what you just said, they will stay silent. Many managers assume that since no one asked any questions, then everyone must have FULLY understood … only to find out later that wasn’t the case. The problem with finding out later is that it usually ends up costing you time, money, and/or customers.

He’s an ace reporter … My sister’s boyfriend is a real airhead … Your ideas about politics are all wet … That is really a cheesy looking outfit. Most of us would have a general understanding of those phrases, but if I asked you to tell me exactly what the bold words mean, I am sure I would get several different answers. Kind-of understanding and fully understanding can be the difference between failure and success.

Why do we say “Right as rain” , “Rule of Thumb”, “Red Herring”, “Cut through the red tape”, or “Run the gauntlet” … what do they really mean. Two of those expressions go all the way back to the 1600’s; I wonder if anything has changed since then?

Many people might think the phrase the whole nine yards has something to do with football. It has nothing to do with football and there is no consensus on the origin. The most common explanation is from World War II. Most aircraft machine gun belts were nine yards long and if a pilot unloaded all his ammunition on one target then he gave them the whole nine yards; everything he had. Mistakes come from lack of understanding and sometimes lack of understanding simply comes from poor explanations or examples.

The best teachers are the ones who speak the language of their audience.

Consider This: Raise Your Bar

Bill Gates said, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” Couple that statement with one from former Intel Chairman Andy Grove, who said … “Only the paranoid survive. Paranoids believe someone or some force is out to get them,” and now you should have a better perspective on how two enormously successful men remained successful in such competitive, turbulent times. I think it is extremely important to be confident but not arrogant. I find arrogant people to be resistant to evaluation and challenges, have a false sense of invincibility and are especially close-minded to listening to what others might suggest.

The business landscape is littered with powerful companies who thought they were invincible only to find they were vulnerable to smaller, more nimble companies. Success teaches us that if we keep doing the same thing, the same way, we will keep being successful. That might work “until” your competition starts following everything you do to the letter, then it is time for you to raise the bar. You shouldn’t fear your competition, but you should certainly respect them.

Realize your only true security in life is …

Ø your ability to perform better than your competition
Ø your desire to improve, learn and study
Ø your persistence to constantly keep moving forward
Ø your consistency in delivering more than is expected
Ø your focusing on the most important matters

Over-confidence (arrogance) destroys even the best of the best. So, explore failures to understand what happened, acknowledge weaknesses, seek advice from others, welcome suggestions, and stay humble. There are 31 billion Goggle searches every month, 1 billion people hooked up to the internet, the top 10 In-Demand jobs that existed in 2012 did not exist in 2004, technical information is doubling every two years and 65,000 new websites are created every 60 seconds; change is rampant. So, if you keep doing what you’ve always done … you will be gone.

What are you doing this year to RAISE YOUR BAR ?

Consider This: The Pace of Change is Accelerating

Some people embrace change. Some people just go with the flow and deal with it only when they have to. Then there are those few, die hard, stubborn, inflexible, obstinate people out there who are going to fight changing to the bitter end. In today’s accelerating pace of technological change, I am finding that if you plan on WINNING, SUCCEEDING, and STAYING ON TOP, you better pay attention to the ever-changing landscape of technology.

Blind devotion to past technologies, methodologies, systems and procedures is a success killer. The pace of change is accelerating in every industry, every market, and in every facet of our daily lives. Technology is coming at us faster than it ever has. It took over 50 years from the invention of the gasoline car before one quarter of the population in the US had one. The telephone required 35 years to hit the one quarter mark. Then things started getting even faster. The television only took 26 years, personal computers took 16 years, and the cell phone reached that population exposure in just 13 years. Since its release on June 29, 2007, Apple has sold over 243 million iPhones and will pass 500 million by the end of 2013. They sold 10 million of the iPhone 5 in the first two weeks of its release.

In his book, Critical Path, futurist R. Buckminster Fuller estimated that it we took about 1,500 years or until the sixteenth century for our amount of knowledge to double. The next doubling of knowledge took only 250 years, until about 1750. By 1900, 150 years later, knowledge had doubled again. The doubling speed of knowledge is now between one and two years. So, if it takes 4 years to get through college, everything that was known to man the day the student entered college will be quadrupled when they graduate. That is a rather daunting fact; they are behind before they ever get started.

With all of what I have just pointed out, I think it is obvious that for companies and people to succeed, they need to embrace change. We all need to stay curious, flexible, inquisitive, and never satisfied with today’s standard of excellence. What is considered excellent today may be considered average tomorrow. But, never forget the fact that technology is no replacement for staying in touch and caring about your customers and your employees. You can have the most technologically advanced company in your industry but it you lie, brake promises, make mistakes, don’t meet deadlines, are impersonal, emotionless and unwilling to make any extra effort to help customers or care about your employees … you will fail.

If you look for ways to unite technology with a human, caring touch … everyone will benefit.

Consider This: Lie, Cheat, Drink, Swear and Steal Your Way to Success

A good friend sent me the following article on a great way to make sure you have a successful New Year. I have no idea who the original author was and after doing some research I still don’t know, but the article is so good I wanted to share it with you. I know you are probably confused with this title, but it really makes a lot of sense when you read further. (I did tweak it just a bit)

LIE back and relax just a little more this new year. Let a little more life happen to you without so much worry, fret and concern. Read some good books. Embark on a new discovery path in terms of your education, longings, desires, fun, and spirituality; expand your horizons.

CHEAT failure. Don’t be afraid to try something new because you think you may fail. It is through failure that we learn the most valuable lessons and grow. Instead of “If it’s worth doing—it’s worth doing well!” How about “If it’s worth doing at all—do it any way you can…but JUST DO IT!!!

DRINK from the fountain of Knowledge. Many people around you have already been down roads you are about to travel. Learn from them, including the challenges they may have had. Take what they have learned and apply it to the best of your best. Give possibility to other opinions that you have never considered as “realistic”. Consider exploring concepts that bump up against your own sensibilities.

SWEAR to do your best, all the time, in every situation. That is all you can ever ask of yourself. Suspend your judgments at least once every day … just to see if the world really does come to a screeching halt. Notice how often you pre-judge something or someone BEFORE having all the information. Commit to “check it out” long before you get “hooked” on your own story about the situation.

STEAL time for yourself; everyday, take a little more time to develop a stronger relationship with the one and only …YOU. Remember, if you don’t take care of you … who will? Time spent alone is time invested in the most important person in your life. Relish the wonder of being in harmony with the “real” you…that person that touches others in a remarkable and delightful way.

So, if you LIE, CHEAT, DRINK, SWEAR, and STEAL
just a little more in the next year,
you will have one of the most amazing years of your life.
And, it will probably surprise and delight both you and all your friends!

Meghan Orazen joins MRAA as Sales Representative

MINNEAPOLIS — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that it has contracted with Meghan Orazen as the organization’s lead sales representative.

As an experienced sales professional, Orazen has delivered results for clients in several industries, including marine and, most recently, the medical field. While employed by Boating Industry and Trailer Boats magazines a few years ago, she worked with dozens of marine industry clients and attended many industry events, including Boating Industry’s Top 100 Dealers Gala and the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo.

“We’re thrilled to have Meghan return to the boat business to help us share the many new initiatives MRAA has been developing with the industry,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “What is so remarkable about Meghan is the care she puts into understanding the needs and goals of her clients and the industry at large, as well as the organization itself. While she has many strengths, it is her drive to make a difference for all three of those entities as well as her focus on taking care of her clients that makes Meghan the ideal person for this position, and for MRAA.”

“I knew it was a good decision to work with Matt and Liz again because of the dedication and passion they have for what they do,” says Orazen. “Their vision for the MRAA will help members, supporters and the entire industry find more success. I’m excited to contribute by helping the association’s partners and sponsors create smart, effective marketing strategies to meet their specific business needs.”

In her sales position, Orazen will be focused on promoting sponsorship and advertising opportunities within the association’s current and soon-to-be-announced offerings. She will help to grow the successful Marine Retail University events, as well focus on several new projects that MRAA is about introduce, sharing the opportunities with potential clients and supporting MRAA’s Partners. Her official start date was January 23rd.

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is the only North American association dedicated to furthering the interests of boat and engine dealers and other marine-related retailers throughout North America. Under the umbrella of MRAA Rewards, the MRAA offers a host of cost-saving, revenue-generating, business-improvement, and professional-development benefits exclusively for its members. MRAA is the united voice of marine retailers. For more information, visit

Congress introduces important bills to stop the spread of Asian carp

Both the House and the Senate have introduced bills to address the growing problem of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins and tributaries. These invasive species threaten ecosystems and billions of dollars of economic activities connected to outdoor recreation in states throughout the Midwest.

You can view the bills at the following links:

  • Senate Bill S. 125 was introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio and has 5 co-sponsors.
  • House Bill H.R. 358 was introduced by Rep. Betty McCollum from Minnesota and has 10 co-sponsors.

Larry Innis
MRAA Legislative Affairs