Advisory Council of Marine Associations Convenes at Dealer Week 2021

Dealer Week is the place to meet manufacturers, connect with fellow dealers, learn how to improve your dealership and make progress on Dealer Certification. It’s also where MRAA’s advocacy efforts continue and grow. At Dealer Week 2021 in December in Austin, Texas, the Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA) convened for its first meeting since 2019.

Held Monday, Dec. 6, the ACMA meeting featured State Marine Trade Association (MTA) representatives from around the country. The purpose of this annual meeting is to unite MTA leaders and discuss the previous year’s policy priorities. The group’s focus then shifted to the upcoming year, which included drafting a set of policy resolutions to guide our future engagements. The meeting and resolution creation play an integral part of MRAA’s advocacy efforts because it creates better alignment with state partners and their objectives.

MRAA’s advocacy is focused on helping the businesses of our members and the boating industry at large, so the annual ACMA meeting presents a nation-wide perspective. Synergy between national and state associations across the country creates strong coalitions that collaborate on issues at various levels of government.

This year’s meeting had policy discussions and critical conversations on how to enhance ACMA for increased participation and efficient processes that benefit of our industry. By way of structural changes, we discussed adding another meeting at the National Marine Trade Council (NMTC) Meeting to serve as a midyear check-in on resolution items. Additionally, an ACMA handbook will be created that will outline its history, purpose and requirement for membership.

The overall sentiment at the ACMA meeting was, “it is good to be back!” This meeting reminded us all about the dedication and passion we put forth to support the boating industry, by identifying issues and finding solutions in collaboration to benefit our members. You can learn more about ACMA, view the handbook or the policy resolutions from past years, by emailing Chad Tokowicz.

Dealer Week BoatPAC Reception Recap

At MRAA’s Dealer Week, there is no shortage of learning opportunities and events to keep you busy. And that was especially true this past December at our inaugural stop in Austin, where there was even more to do in the name of exploring. Austin, known as the live music capital of the world, played an excellent host, offering a myriad of bars and live music on Rainey Street, and great place for friends and colleagues to reconnect. In fact, it was MRAA’s first live conference in more than 725 days. For me, it was
wonderful to see everyone at the BoatPAC reception!

The BoatPAC reception was held the night of Tuesday, Dec. 7 at the Moonshine Bar and Grill. The reception invited Dealer Week attendees to reconnect and help raise money for the BoatPAC. This reception produced our largest attendance to date with more than 100 guests. We raised $4,000 for the PAC! I want to personally thank all our attendees for supporting our advocacy efforts. This includes a special thank you to Yamaha, Smoker Craft, Correct Craft and the Mount Dora Boating Center for sponsoring this event. The massive turnout at the reception shows there is an appetite to support MRAA’s advocacy efforts and get involved.

I know that not everyone may understand what BoatPAC is and why it’s contributions are important. BoatPAC is a political action committee (PAC) and is used to support members of Congress and candidates running for public office. BoatPAC is special though, as we are the only PAC focused on furthering the goals of the U.S. recreational boating industry. The contributions made through BoatPAC keep MRAA and our partners at the table and our priorities top of mind with key decision makers. Since its inception BoatPAC has been instrumental in elevating the issues of the boating industry. Below are just a few examples of our recent successful efforts:
-Delivered $100 million in Paycheck Protection Program funding
-Passed Great American Outdoors Act, investing billions in outdoor recreation access projects
-Secured mandatory wear of engine cutoff devices
-Ensured $850 million for Everglades and Great Lakes Restoration
-Provided $25 million in tariff relief

We are already starting to plan our event for next year’s Dealer Week and I hope that the turnout is even larger! Despite these concrete policy wins, the biggest impact of the BoatPAC is in keeping the boating industry relevant with key decision makers. If you are curious about learning more about BoatPAC, head to the Boating United website or email Erica Crocker or Chad Tokowicz to schedule a time to talk.

Indiana Wakesurfing Bill Advances to House

Indiana Senate Bill Supported by Boating Industry

Indiana’s Senate Bill 187 (SB 187), introduced by Senator Susan Glick (R-13), passed in the state Senate last week with a vote of 40-6. SB 187 has the broad support of the recreational boating industry, including the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) and the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA).

This bill is an important step to protecting MRAA member businesses in Indiana and nationwide. Recently, wakesurfing has been scrutinized by a variety of stakeholders and faced proposed regulations to severely restrict the activity. The popularity of wake boats has soared in the last few years and, through shared info from our members, we understand that improved sales figures have also been bolstered by these high-grossing vessels. In an effort to cultivate a member-friendly business environment and assure the fast-growing recreational pastime remains accessible, MRAA and its industry partners are dedicated to advocating for policy to increase user safety.

SB187 will establish important and sensible safety measures, in addition to aligning wakesurfing and wakeboarding with other watersports. SB187 will:
•Clearly and appropriately define the activities of wakeboarding and wakesurfing.
•Prohibit wakeboarding and wakesurfing at night.
•Prohibit wakesurfing behind a vessel in which the propeller extends beyond the transom or swim platform.
•Align the activity of wakesurfing and wakeboarding on small public freshwater lakes (70-300 acres) to be consistent with the lakes speed limit exemption, which will establish unity and consistency among watersports.
•Establish a formal petition process for property owners on public freshwater lakes to petition the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) to adopt additional regulations. Petitions require participation of half the abutting property owners and a public hearing.

The bill, sponsored by Representative David Abbott (R-82), now heads to the House, will be assigned to the Natural Resources Committee and await a hearing. MRAA, alongside WSIA and NMMA, will work alongside the Indiana General Assembly to pass this bill to ensure the needs of the recreational boating industry are met.

Indiana members are encouraged to take action on the industry’s grassroots advocacy platform, Boating United, and write to Indiana lawmakers requesting support for this crucial bill that will keep Indiana’s waters safe for future generations.

Additional information on SB 187 can be viewed here
If you have any additional questions or are interested in getting engaged in Indiana, or your state, email Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager.

MMTA Honors Longtime Industry Leader Larry Russo Sr.

FOXBORO, MASS. — The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) presented longtime industry leader and former owner of Russo Marine Larry Russo Sr. the Frank Farrell Distinguished Service Award. Russo was honored in front of more than 200 in-person and online attendees Thursday, Jan. 20, at the MMTA 2022 Business of Boating (BOB) Conference at the Lakeview Pavilion in Foxboro, Mass.

Larry Russo Sr. receives Russo Sr., current Senior Vice President of MarineMax Northeast, grew up in the recreational boating industry and has had a legendary career that has spanned nearly 60 years. Larry is the fourth recipient of the MMTA Frank Farrell award, joining Joe O’Neil, former owner of the New England Boat Show, Dick Egan of Crosby Yacht Yard and Ed Lofgren of 3A Marine. The award is in honor of the late Frank Farrell (1928-2001). Farrell was a co-founder of the New England Boat Show in 1957 and was instrumental in the formation of the MMTA in 1964. He became the first full-time executive director of the MMTA in 1975, a position he held for more than 25 years. Larry Sr.’s father, John Russo, was a founding member of the MMTA in 1964.

“I’m honored and proud to co-present this award to my dad,” said Russo Sr. “His life-long commitment to improving the business of boating has truly made our industry better for all involved.”

Some of the key leadership roles that Larry has held over the years include the following:

  • MMTA Board of Directors 1977 to present
  • MMTA President 1983–84
  • MMTA President Boston In-Water Boat Show 1992–2014
  • MRAA Board of Directors 1982–1995
  • MRAA President 1988–89
  • RBFF – Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Board of Directors 2002–07
  • NMMA Grow Boating Dealer Quality Task Force Chairman 2004–06
  • MRAA Marine Industry Dealership Certification Inc. Chairman 2006 to present
  • Sea Tow Safety Foundation Board of Directors 2008–14
  • Grow Boating, Inc. Board of Directors 2012–20
  • NMMA/MRAA BoatPAC Board of Directors 2017–
  • Recipient – MRAA – Irv Rosenthal Leadership Award – 1991
  • Recipient – NMMA – Hammond Leadership Award – 1997
  • Recipient – MMTA – Marine Industry Advocate Award – 2007

Larry Russo Jr., Larry Russo Sr., & Alex Russo

“To say Larry is deserving of this award would be a clear understatement based on the accomplishments and impact he has made in the recreational boating industry here in Massachusetts and nationally,” said Randall Lyons, Executive Director, MMTA.

“Larry has always been committed to the advancement of our industry and we have all greatly benefited from it,” said award co-presenter Warren Kelly, Baert Marine. “Over the years he has selflessly given so very much of his time and continues to do so on both a local and national level. It is with great respect that I share in recognizing my friend personally and on behalf of the marine industry.”

– END – 

 

For more information, contact:

Randall M. Lyons, CMM
Executive Director
Massachusetts Marine Trades Association
(774) 404-8005
randall@boatma.com
www.boatma.com

MRAA’s Liz Keener Honored as a Top 100 Woman in Powersports

MINNEAPOLIS, January 19, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced today that MRAA Certification Manager Liz Keener was honored as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports today by “Dealernews” at the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) in Las Vegas.

Keener, who has been part of the powersports and marine industry since 2010, is being honored for consulting with the recently launched National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA). The editorial team at “Dealernews” magazine, a powersports industry trade publication, built its Top 100 Women in Powersports list and then informed each award recipient of their honor while extending an invite to attend a special luncheon held today at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Liz Keener, MRAA “I feel extremely honored by this recognition and am proud to be ranked among 99 other amazing women in powersports,” says Keener. “It has been exciting to be a part of the launch of NPDA. I look forward to working with the association again at AIMExpo and going forward, as they grow their resources for their powersports dealers, as MRAA does for marine dealers.”

AIMExpo, open only to dealers and industry professionals, provides the powersports industry an immersive experience by creating a platform for brands, dealers, distributors, manufacturers, media outlets and influencers to gather, engage and learn about important issues within powersports. AIMExpo says powersports generates more than $39.9 billion US dollars in consumer spending each year.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see Liz recognized for her deep commitment to the dealer community, which has been integral to her success in the marine and powersports industries,” says Liz Walz, MRAA Vice President. “On behalf of all of us at MRAA, we congratulate Liz on this accomplishment and extend our salutations to all the other influential women named Dealernews Top 100 Women in Powersports.”

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

MRAA’s Dealer Certification Program Launches 2022 Education

MINNEAPOLIS, January 18, 2022 — The Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program has released its 2022 Continuous Certification Curriculum.

For 2022, Certified Dealers will be earning credits for four courses. The first, launched January 12, is “The Key Performance Indicators of a Profitable Dealership” by Bob Clements and Sara Hey of Bob Clements International. The second course, coming in April, is “The Five Red Flags that Derail Your Recruiting and Retention Effort” by Kelly McDonald of McDonald Marketing. Certified Dealerships enrolled in the 2022 Continuous Certification program have exclusive access to these courses.

MICD 2022 Certification
For their other two credits, dealers can choose from a selection of courses on Parts & Accessories and a selection of courses on Sales. Some dealers already earned their credits in these categories at Dealer Week in Austin, Texas, in December, and January 11-13, at Dealer Week Online. Other Certified Dealership staff can view the courses in the spring.

The Marine Industry Certified Dealership program, run by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, requires that dealers complete this education, plus five other annual requirements to maintain their Certified Dealer status in the years following their initial Certification. The other requirements include: an Assessment & Affidavit, Facility Check worksheets, an Employee Satisfaction Survey and staff meeting, a CSI Tracking & Trending evaluation and a Performance Planning exercise.

Being a Certified Dealer gives them access to this high-level education, time with a consultant, discounts on some programs and other benefits.

“The 2022 Continuous Certification Curriculum addresses dealers’ needs. Our first course, on key performance indicators, has been requested for years. April’s course, on recruiting and retention, could not come at a better time, because dealers are running into obstacles keeping a full staff,” said Liz Keener, MRAA’s Certification Manager. “We are offering Parts & Accessories courses for the first time since we launched the program in 2018. And of course, Sales is always a hot topic, so we included it.”

The Continuous Certification curriculum strengthens the already solid foundation dealers formed during their initial Certification process. The education is focused on the three pillars of Certification: Operations, Employee Engagement and Customer Experience. Leadership can share the education with their entire workforce to foster employee development and to reach those whom the topics resonate with the most.

Dealers enrolled in the program have exclusive access to the Continuous Certification Curriculum through MRAATraining.com. The courses are on-demand, video-based education, allowing dealers to login and complete the requirements any time between their release and the November 30, 2022, program deadline.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

MRAA Invests Heavily in Dealership Workforce Development

MINNEAPOLIS, January 14, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, as part of its ongoing effort to fuel solutions for the marine industry’s No. 1 challenge — workforce shortages — has donated $100,000 to the MRAA Educational Foundation, a 501-c-3 nonprofit organization with a mission to provide education, scholarships and programs to develop a stronger marine industry workforce.

The $100,000 donation from the MRAA, the nonprofit trade association that drives dealership success through tools, resources and educational programs, comes with a powerful back story: When the association battled through a significant revenue drop in 2020, due to the cancellation of the in-person MRAA Dealer Week conference and expo, several leading industry organizations made donations of a combined $100,000 to help the MRAA endure the pandemic.

Throughout 2020, MRAA adjusted its business to counter the revenue shortfall and managed its expenses to the point that it broke even, financially. The $100,000 in industry donations, then, gave the association a net income of $100,000 on the year. At that time, the MRAA staff went to the MRAA Board of Directors to recommend that the organization recognize those companies’ generosity by paying it forward and investing those funds into building and strengthening the marine industry labor pool through a donation to the MRAA Educational Foundation.

“The MRAA exists solely to support the growth and success of our industry and specifically the dealers that serve boaters in their local community,” explains Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “We always explain to our members and our partners that when they invest in MRAA through their membership, through Dealer Week, through Dealership Certification, or any other means, the MRAA reinvests those funds right back into the industry. Paying this donation forward by investing it in workforce solutions powered by the MRAA Educational Foundation, is the perfect example of that philosophy.”

The MRAA Educational Foundation’s strategic plan takes an aggressive approach to solving personnel challenges. By developing regional stakeholder collaboratives across the country, also known as sectoral partnerships, employers can address area-specific labor pool challenges such as the marine technician shortage. This tactic is the best-practice approach to workforce development supported by federal and state workforce development funding streams.

“The Foundation’s board is committed to taking this bold approach to workforce development for our industry,” Mackie says. “They want to make sure that MRAA’s generous investment will pay off now and for years to come. The Foundation’s mission to grow the marine industry through workforce development compels us to create sustainable long-term solutions to our industry’s workforce challenges.”

To take the lead in fulfilling this mission, the MRAA hired Wendy Mackie as its Director of Workforce and Foundation Development. Mackie will apply her years of expertise in workforce development to generate the talent supply chain the MRAA membership needs.

“Our team here at the MRAA understands how challenging the workforce shortage has been for our dealers,” Gruhn adds. “They were lacking employees prior to the pandemic, and the events of the last couple years have only made the shortages worse. We expect this contribution to the workforce-focused mission of our Educational Foundation to fuel new programs and opportunities that will help dealers fill open positions and strengthen their businesses.”

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

About MRAA Educational Foundation
The MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation, was founded in 2004 to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine industry. The Educational Foundation is dedicated to the growth of the marine industry through workforce development. For more information or to donate to support the foundation’s mission, visit MRAA.com/foundation.

Marine Connection Acquires Majority Interest in Boaters Exchange

Marine Connection Makes First Acquisition, Adds Ninth Florida Location

January 11, 2021, West Palm Beach, FL – Marine Connection, named the Boating Industry #1 Ranked Marine Dealership for 2021, has acquired the majority interest in Boaters Exchange, a highly successful 20-year retail dealership with two Central Florida locations including Rockledge and New Smyrna Beach.

Effective January 1, 2022, Marine Connection now owns and controls 80% ownership of Boaters Exchange, with 20% split between former partners and co-owners Jerry Butz and Paul Berube, both of whom remain onboard to manage operations of the $30M retail dealership and its 42 employees.

Marine Connection logo “We have been focused to expand our Florida footprint in Central Florida because of its tremendous growth potential,” said Marine Connection co-owner Danny Goldenberg. “We have been very strategic and selective in this effort and are extremely pleased to have acquired an outstanding dealership organization with an impeccable reputation and strong management team in place.”

The acquisition brings Marine Connection to nine Florida locations, now with more than 100 employees and $100M+ in sales.

“We believe there are many distinctive advantages and benefits to this acquisition and expansion, both for our customers as well as for our team,” added Marine Connection co-owner John Kutuk. “Our customers statewide enjoy the benefit and resources of working with a top sales and service organization, with locations from Key West to the Central Florida and Daytona Beach area, with plans for continued future expansion into northern Florida. In addition, the Boaters Exchange team brings strong leadership to our organization, along with a wealth of experience in specific market segments including pontoons and jetboats.”

Boaters Exchange will retain its brand name due to strong customer awareness in the marketplace. It has ranked in the Boating Industry Top 100 for 11 consecutive years; earned the “Best Industry Advocate” in the 2020 Best in Class awards; and earned a 98 percent CSI rating. It is a Top 5 dealer for both NauticStar and Everglades, including a Customer Service Excellence award for the latter; other brands represented include Yamaha, Bennington, Avid, Maverick, Hewes, Pathfinder and Cobia. Boaters Exchange is also a Yamaha Key Dealer and is Five Star Gold Certified. The dealership has been nationally recognized as a “Best for Vets Employer” by Military Times Magazine, while earning local recognition by Florida Today including “Best of Brevard” for boat sales and service, and “Best Watercraft Dealer.”

“We are also very excited to combine forces with a strong, well-respected dealership like Marine Connection to take Boaters Exchange to the next level, while serving a wider range of customers in Central Florida,” added Boaters Exchange founder Jerry Butz.

ABOUT MARINE CONNECTION
Marine Connection is a Florida marine powerhouse now generating $100M+ in sales from nine locations including its corporate headquarters in West Palm Beach; Aventura; Miami; Vero Beach; Stuart; Fort Lauderdale; Islamorada; and its two new Boaters Exchange locations in Rockledge and New Smyrna Beach. In business since 1987, it has been under current ownership since 2010; has 100+ employees statewide; and has earned top achievements including the current #1 Dealer of the Year ranking by Boating Industry Magazine; #1 Cobia Dealer for 2021; #1 Overall Maverick Dealer for 2021; and Top Blackfin Dealer for 2021. For more information, visit www.MarineConnection.com

Dealer Week’s 2021 Success Continues into 2022

• More than 1,000 marine industry professionals were reunited at Dealer Week this December in Austin, Texas. Next week, Jan. 11-13, the conference will build on that success and bring it to teams inside the dealership with Dealer Week Online.

MINNEAPOLIS — More than 520 dealership personnel from across North America attended the Marine Retailers Association of America’s Dealer Week Conference and Expo in Austin, Texas, last month. The event, MRAA’s first live conference in more than 725 days, hosted 1,022 total attendees at the Austin Convention Center in the Live Music Capital of the World.

For the first time ever, the conference will span two years, however, as the education continues with Dealer Week Online Jan. 11-13. Dealers who attended the in-person conference will be able to attend the online event as part of their registration, and those who were unable to attend can register for online-only attendance at DealerWeek.com.

The in-person portion of Dealer Week was a four-day gathering designed to provide education and best practices to boat retailers. It successfully reunited dealers, educators, manufacturers, service providers, consultants and more to focus on current hot-button topics and pain points within the marine industry. The conference generated discussions around tactics and strategies to strengthen communication, improve timeliness and advance processes in the face of inventory and supply issues as well as a growing customer base — more than 400,000 being first-time boat buyers — to maintain the industry’s current momentum. It also featured an Industry Celebration that took advantage of the setting in Austin with live music that lasted late into the night.

Dealer Week Online will premiere online versions of all the sessions that were presented in Texas plus nine new workshops with live Q&As. Utilizing the same platform as Dealer Week 2020, when the event went totally virtual, Dealer Week Online will include interactive features, including the ability to schedule video-based meetings with fellow attendees, as well as a full online exhibit area. Following the 2020 event, many attendees reported that they were excited to return to in-person gatherings, but that there were many aspects of the online event they didn’t want to give up. With the option of in-person Dealer Week as well as Dealer Week Online, attendees can get the conference experience that best meets their needs.

For three consecutive years, backed by outstanding industry support and continued engagement from dealers across North America, the MRAA has innovated and reinvested in its annual Dealer Week Conference and Expo. The inaugural and reinvented Dealer Week event in Tampa, Fla., in 2019 set attendance records for an in-person MRAA event with more than 600 dealers and 400 exhibitor attendees. The challenges of 2020 forced a pivot to a virtual conference, where once again the industry proved its resiliency, as it showed up in force and record numbers. With no flights or hotel rooms to worry about, the 1,047 total dealer attendance figure smashed the previous record of 650 participants at an MRAA Annual Conference, representing more than a 61-percent increase, and surpassed the total attendance at the inaugural in-person Dealer Week in 2019 by 77 percent.

With an ongoing pandemic and COVID-19 variants emerging, the 2021 Dealer Week event also requires reinvention, as MRAA combines an in-person, four-day conference Dec. 6-9, in Austin, with a three-day Dealer Week Online event happening Jan. 11-13. The new format allows registered dealers of all size and comfort levels to participate in both portions of Dealer Week, giving more potential to learn from all the educational pathways and expert speakers.

Dealers that attended the in-person Dealer Week in Texas can attend Dealer Week Online for free. Registration remains open and is encouraged for those who didn’t make it to Austin. The show kicks off at 9 a.m. (CDT), Tuesday, Jan. 11. The virtual event also features all-new content on Thursday, Jan. 13. Register now!

MRAA, celebrating its 50th year in 2022, will return to Austin in December for its fourth official Dealer Week Conference & Expo. We hope you will join us for boating’s only event focused on dealer success.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.

MRAA Launches Year of Dealer Resources in Honor of 50th Anniversary

MINNEAPOLIS, January 5, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in honor of its 50th anniversary, announces the launch of a Year of Dealer Resources. During 2022, the MRAA will focus on a new topic each month and release benefits, education and resources via MRAA.com. Monthly updates will include a mix of resources available to members and non-members, new education, and tools from the MRAA archives.

The yearlong program is designed to be timely and highlight the various ways MRAA can serve marine dealers across North America. In January, the year kicks off with a focus on resources related to Employee Development.

“We wanted to celebrate our 50th Anniversary by doing what MRAA does best: Helping dealers find success,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “This monthly program delivers very timely and very relevant education and resources to boat dealers, through MRAA’s events, such as Dealer Week (in-person and online), and programs like Dealership Certification, Training ‘N’ Tactics and our Mastermind Groups, as well as educational curriculums like that found in our Continuous Certification program. Our focus on a monthly theme gives us the platform to focus intently on the most impactful issues our dealers are faced with throughout the year, and it also allows us to showcase just how much educational content MRAA has to offer in our quest to help dealership teams learn, implement and grow their business.”

Industry studies, dealer surveys and direct feedback have revealed that workforce is a major concern for retailers, which is why it is the perfect topic to focus on in January. Dealers of all sizes need help with training methods, managing burnout, retaining quality employees and workforce enhancement. It also fits perfectly with the theme of Dealer Week Online, Jan. 11-13. The online conference spotlights employee development through the sharing of critical insights, trends and strategies within three specific pathways (Leadership, Sales and Marketing and Service & Parts) to help dealerships thrive in 2022. The virtual event is free to attendees of Dealer Week 2021 in Austin, Texas, and still open to new online-only registrations as well.

February’s subject of Lead Generation and Nurturing is well-timed because dealers need to make it abundantly clear they’re open for business, in spite of a lack of inventory and nearly empty showrooms. An influx of first-time boat buyers accompanied by massive industry demand prove that an investment in follow-up and nurturing is critical for customer retention. March will focus on Service Efficiency and, in particular, Repair Event Cycle Times. MRAA will share with dealers the resources they can implement to become more proficient in service. The first quarter of 2022 concludes with April’s theme of Pre-Owned Boat Buying and Selling, a topic that can help dealers put units on their showroom floor, appease customer demands and add to their bottom line.

The 2022 MRAA Year of Dealer Resources Schedule*
•January: Employee Development
•February: Lead Generation & Nurturing
•March: Service Efficiency / RECT
•April: Pre-Owned Boat Buying & Selling
•May: Recruiting, Hiring and Onboarding
•June: Customer Experience
•July: Adaptability / Change Management
•August: Service, Parts & Accessories
•September: Dealership Operations and Facilities
•October: Employee Retention
•November: Marketing
•December: Dealership Financials
* Subject to change based upon market trends / conditions

“Between all the benefits, education and tools we’ve released over the years, we understand it can also be somewhat daunting to sort through,” says Mike Davin, MRAA Brand Director. “As we continue to release new resources in 2022, the themed months give us an opportunity to highlight what’s available in a more digestible way while also signaling to dealers that we’ve got relevant resources on a specific topic.”

MRAA will incorporate the monthly themes into its marketing and social media plans for 2022, presenting the content to both non-members and members to give them an opportunity to grow and strengthen their businesses. Resources available to both non-members and members will be delivered in the form of case studies, guides, downloadable one-pagers, data shares, exclusive new webinars, focused blogs and content, partner contributions, January’s Dealer Week Online and past conference recordings, Certification tools and templates, TNT videos, member benefits and other unique offerings.

About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.