MINNEAPOLIS, January 4, 2022 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has hired Wendy Mackie as its Director of Workforce and Foundation Development, appointing her in the lead role in operating the MRAA Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine industry.

Mackie brings to the MRAA a long history of workforce development expertise. Wendy’s roots are in youth and workforce development, non-profit leadership, alternative education and entrepreneurship. In 2006, Wendy aligned her work with the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association centering her work around the creation and implementation of best practice industry training programs for youth and new workers. In 2014, Wendy spearheaded the development of the Composites Alliance of Rhode Island to better serve the industry’s manufacturing sector and in 2018, the MRAA, along with its partners at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, turned to Mackie to author a marine industry strategy for growing its workforce. That “10+1” strategy included local, state and national tactics businesses can use to strengthen their workforce, and the “Plus 1” represented a recommendation that the industry appoint someone to lead the marine industry’s national workforce efforts.

“The hiring of Wendy Mackie is that strategy coming to life,” says Matt Gruhn, President of MRAA. “For years, our members have struggled to find, hire and develop their workforce – the most critical part of their business. Wendy Mackie brings the highest level of expertise in workforce development that our industry knows, and we are thrilled to have her join our team.”

The board of directors at the MRAA Educational Foundation, which is a separate entity from the MRAA trade association, has endorsed Mackie’s comprehensive workforce development plan, which calls for a focus on the development of regional sectoral partnerships to address our industry’s most pressing demand-driven workforce challenges, like the engine technician shortage. The creation of these community-based coalitions mirrors best practice programming currently being supported by state and national funding streams. By instituting this model in regions across the country, the boating industry will have access to the workforce they need, where they need it, when they need it.

“The key,” according to Mackie, “is to tap into the dedicated workforce development funding streams in each area to ensure the training programs developed are sustainable. The money is there; we just need to show there is demand for the workers and that our industry’s employers will hire them. That’s where MRAA’s focus on this front will give us the platform to be successful.”

“Wendy understands the nation’s workforce development system and the needs of the marine industry,” says Jeff Siems, president of the MRAA Educational Foundation. “Our industry is going to benefit from her ability to connect the two. The MRAA Educational Foundation Board is thrilled to have Wendy leading the workforce development charge for our industry.”

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.

AUSTIN, TX December 9, 2021 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas today named this year’s marine industry Great Dealerships to Work For at Dealer Week 2021, the association’s annual conference and expo.

Twenty-one dealerships qualified for recognition by earning an overall score of 90 percent or better on the Marine Industry Certified Dealership Program’s annual Employee Satisfaction Survey. Administered anonymously through the MRAA, the survey
 asks employees of Certified Dealerships to answer 32 ranking questions about overall satisfaction regarding their unique dealership’s customer relations, employee satisfaction, leadership, management and reputation.

“Earning the acknowledgement
 as a Great Dealership to Work is no simple task. It means all these dealerships unequivocally invest in their employee’s satisfaction levels to cultivate an environment that is both motivating and morale boosting,” says Liz Keener, MRAA Certification
 Manager. “This past season produced many unforeseen challenges that required dealership personnel to meet extremely high consumer demands in spite of industry supply shortages and delays.”

Of those participating, 21 dealerships qualified
 to be named a Great Dealership to Work For. The 2021 recipients are:
1.Breath’s Boats & Motors, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi*
2.Tracker Marine Boating Center, in Mitchell, South Dakota
3.Regal & Nautique of Orlando, in Orlando, Florida*
4.Clark Marine, in Manchester, Maine
5.Off Shore Marine, in Branchville, New Jersey*
6.Wakeside Marine, in Elkhart, Indiana
7.3A Marine Service, in Hingham, Massachusetts
8.All Seasons Marine Works, in Rowayton, Connecticut*
9.Tracker Marine Boating Center, Memphis, Tennessee
10.Mount Dora Boating Center, in Mount Dora, Florida

11.Desmasdon’s Boatworks, in Pointe Au Baril, Ontario*
12.Tracker Marine Boating Center, in North Houston, Texas
13.Action WaterSports, in Fort Worth, Texas
14.Tri-State Marine, in Deale, Maryland
15.River City Boat Sales, in Aurora, Oregon
16.Tracker Marine Boating Center, in Monroe, Louisiana

17.Action WaterSports in Mesa, Arizona
18.Buckeye Sports Center, in Peninsula, Ohio*
19.Tracker Marine Boating Center, in Harlingen, Texas
20.Tracker Marine Boating Center, in Longview, Texas
21.Tracker Marine Boating Center, in Islamorada, Florida*
* Denotes recipients/locations earning back-to-back (2020/2021) recognition

“This year especially in such a challenging workforce market, it’s evident that more Certified Dealers are committed to enhancing
 their employee satisfaction levels through the establishment of strong employee processes,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “We are inspired by the tactics these leading dealerships have used to nurture great cultures to become our industry’s greatest
 dealerships to work for.”

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.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, December 4, 2021 — Today, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced the launch the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program, backed by industry partners Boat History Report and Titan Certified.

Over the past two years, the MRAA consulted with marine industry dealers, manufacturers and suppliers across the United States and Canada to create the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program and help dealers capitalize on the $10 billion pre-owned boat market. The program’s criteria and deliverables offer marine dealers across North America proven processes and tools to help them overcome the obstacles in the pre-owned market. The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program seeks to help dealers grow their pre-owned boat business and increase sales while providing greater confidence in their boat-buying and selling processes.

“The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program offers a proven approach to delivering confidence in the boats that dealers buy and sell,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Available to all dealers across North America and eligible for the majority of boat brands on the market, the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program helps dealerships strengthen a much-needed profit center in their business, establish superior levels of trust with new and existing customers, and enjoy peace of mind at each step along the way.”

The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program outlines, for dealers, a five-part analysis of each boat. It begins with age and manufacturing certification eligibility — the boat must be less than 10 years old and must have been originally Certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Then, MRAA produced an all-new, comprehensive 130-point inspection form, offered in both hard copy and digital format. The inspection must demonstrate that the boat does not have any required repairs necessary.

If the boat passes those checkpoints, MRAA engages its two partners — Boat History Report and Titan Certified — to offer third-party validation of the quality and condition of the boat. Boat History Report provides an in-depth review of the history of the vessel, and in order to qualify for MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat status, the boat’s history must show “no negative incidences.” And the core of the program engages Titan Certified, which conducts a thorough fluid analysis, or DNA “blood test,” analyzing fluid samples from the engine and transmission to determine if they each independently achieve the “pass,” “fail,” or “pass with fluid change” designation. By achieving a “pass” or “pass with fluid change” designation, the boat becomes an MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat and is awarded a 55-hour or three-month, Limited Guarantee.

“The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program establishes industry benchmarks within the pre-owned boat market to help dealers differentiate their pre-owned inventory and give them the ability to capture more business,” says Jason Walz, MRAA Director of Programs. “The trusted, third-party verification and approval process offers a win-win, providing dealers with an optimal program to find greater confidence and profitability in their pre-owned business, while offering customers peace of mind in the buying process, knowing they are working with a dealer that engages this proven MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat process.”

The new program has an initial start-up fee of $215 for enrollees, which includes fluid testing materials and supplies. MRAA Certified Dealers and members receive reduced rates for per boat/engine testing costs, but even non-members can participate for less than $300 per boat and one engine.

MRAA Dealer Week 2021 attendees can visit the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Pavilion (booth #3060) featuring Boat History Report (booth #3060A) and Titan Certified (booth #3060B) at the in-person event Dec. 6-9, in Austin, Texas.

For more detailed information, complete pricing, warranty options and to enroll in the program, visit www.CPOBoats.com, or contact Jason Walz at 315-256-2878 or jason@mraa.com.

About MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program
The MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program is owned and operated by MRAA Dealer Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. Through a licensing agreement, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas provides MRAA Dealer Solutions and the MRAA Certified Pre-Owned Boat Program with marketing and staffing support.

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 Titan Certified 

Formed in 1996, Titan Certified of Bellingham, Washington, has developed, for all industries, the ability to economically certify a vehicle that will comply with ASTM/OEM standards. We are the founder and leader in used vehicle lab testing for the automotive industry, with over 800,000 vehicles tested in the United States and over 20,000 internationally. Titan Certified Pre-Owned Testing Programs are the only programs in the United States and Canada that precisely determine the “real time” internal condition of an engine and transmission. For more information, call 360-334-9350; titancertified.com

About Boat History Report

Boat History Report is the leading provider of boat background data and information, serving used boat buyers, sellers, dealers/brokers, marine surveyors, law enforcement and finance and insurance companies. Founded in 2005 and based out of Florida, Boat History Report has amassed over 120 million unique records and more than 1.4 million significant negative events. On average, Boat History Report finds that 1 in 17 used boats has a significant negative event in its history — a startling statistic that reinforces the importance of having this information. As the most trusted resource for watercraft history information, Boat History Report helps its clients make better lending and purchasing decisions and has become an essential step in the used boat buying process. For more information, please visit BoatHistoryReport.com or email us at info@boathistoryreport.com.