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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Austin, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 — Boat dealers have enjoyed a lot of success in 2021, but they are also facing challenges that are unique to today’s retail environment. To help them create a plan for 2022 and beyond, the Dealer Week Conference and Expo has built an education lineup that addresses the most common […]

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 27, 2021 — Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, participated in a panel discussion during the Outdoor Writers Association of America Annual Conference. 
 The panel, which provided a status updates on the current state of the outdoor industry, was hosted by Lindsay Davis, Vice […]

Last week, the Washington State Department of Revenue held a hearing to finalize the watercraft excise tax depreciation schedule. The Department of Revenue proposed a final rule which reflected input from stakeholders in the marine industry and placed less of a financial burden on boat owners than the originally proposed excise tax schedule. In June, […]

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in partnership with Dealer Profit Services, has created a new resource for dealers looking to create a compliance process. MRAA’s “Guide to Creating a Compliance Process” is a 30-plus page publication to ensure that marine retailers have the information, tools and processes in place to protect their businesses, […]

Marine industry veteran, Maxey Kenneth “Ken” Lovell, passed away July 6, 2021. “Ken Lovell has been one of the most significant contributors to the success of the MRAA since its inception nearly 50 years ago,” said Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Ken not only helped get MRAA on its feet in the early days, but he […]

‘Internet’s favorite psychiatrist’ and social media influencers join effort to promote nature’s wellness benefits ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 7, 2021) — A new study from Take Me Fishing and Discover Boating uncovers a wellness deficit in America as recreational activities begin reopening amid improving public health conditions. Based on the findings, the two outdoor recreation organizations […]