Nancy Smith, co-owner and vice president of Colorado Boat Center, with MRAA president Matt Gruhn (right) and board member Randy Wattenbarger, owner of Cleveland Boat Center, during this week’s MRAA annual meeting. Nancy will step down from the MRAA board after six years of tireless service and received a sweet jacket as a small token […]

CONTACT: Liz Walz; 315-692-4533;  liz@mraa.com MRAA Educational Foundation Sets $25,000 Fundraising Goal MINNEAPOLIS, November 14, 2015 — The MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation, has set a goal of raising $25,000 in 2015 to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades. The funds raised will be directed […]

“First Approval Source welcomes the opportunity to support MRAA and its members,” says Myril Shaw, COO. “Together, we can help marine retailers improve their profitability and better serve their customers.”  

The MRAA Educational Foundation has renewed its partnership with the American Boat & Yacht Council to offer two scholarship programs, for which they are currently seeking applications. The Basic Scholarship provides the recipient complimentary access to ABYC’s Introduction to Basic Marine Electrical & Corrosion Mitigation, a four-day course for newcomers to marine electricity that provides […]

The MRAA Educational Foundation and Spader Business Management are currently seeking applicants for the 2015 Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship.  The scholarship was founded to honor the marine industry service of Spader Business Management founder Duane Spader, as well as his leadership philosophy of lifelong learning. The recipient, who receives full tuition to attend the […]

The MRAA Educational Foundation and Spader Business Management are currently seeking applicants for the 2015 Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship.  The scholarship was founded to honor the marine industry service of Spader Business Management founder Duane Spader, as well as his leadership philosophy of lifelong learning. The recipient, who receives full tuition to attend the […]

For marine dealerships, the ability to benchmark themselves against competition in the marketplace is critical. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, in collaboration with CDK Global Recreation, is making key retail sales data available at dealers’ fingertips through CDK Recreation’s Lightspeed dealer management software. CDK Recreation uses data from Lightspeed to supply MRAA with […]

The MRAA Educational Foundation is seeking applicants for the 2015 Kevin Lodder Scholarship. The Kevin Lodder Scholarship Fund, which was founded in memory of Kevin Lodder of Lodder’s Marine in Fairfield, Ohio, provides a full scholarship to attend a weeklong Spader Business Management Total Management 1 Workshop to an employee of a Marine Retailers Association […]

The MRAA Educational Foundation is seeking nominations and applications for the 2015 Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award. The late Darlene Briggs, of Wayzata, Minn., was admired for her tireless dedication to the marine industry. To honor her memory, the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award was founded in 1987. It is presented […]

Managing risk and ensuring safety compliance are of critical importance for marine dealerships. Retailers greatly benefit from having a firm plan in place to manage both their dealership’s environmental and safety requirements, as well as its human resource needs. Membership in the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas makes it easier than ever for dealers […]