ORLANDO – The Marine Industry Certified Dealership (MICD) program announced their annual awards today at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) in Orlando. These awards recognize outstanding Five Star Certified Dealers for best practices and best places to work.

“Best practices and employee satisfaction are key elements in the MICD program,” said Matt Gruhn, President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA). “Five Star Certified Dealers lead the industry in these areas, as well as in operational quality and overall performance.”

2013 Top 10 Best Dealerships to Work For

Two frontrunners emerged as industry leaders for employee satisfaction, Tracker Boating Center, in Winchester, Tennessee and Schock Boats in Newport Beach, CA, ending the year with a tie for the best dealership to work for in 2013.

“A confidential survey during the certification process allows us to assess overall satisfaction among dealership employees,” said Bob Williams, President and CEO of Five Star Solutions. “High employee satisfaction creates a positive, motivating and successful environment, all of which lead to increased sales, employee retention and higher customer satisfaction.”

“It is no surprise that it was a close race for the 2013 best place to work,” said Sonja Moseley, Director of Certification and Benefits at MRAA. “Certified dealerships lead the industry not only in customer satisfaction, they also encourage their employees to be leaders as well.”

Additional Top 10 winners are listed in alphabetical order:

· Airport Marine, Alabaster AL

· Tracker Boating Center, Brainerd, MN

· Cataumet Boats, Cataumet, MA

· MarineMax Brick, Brick NJ

· Desmasdon’s Boat Works, Point Au Baril, ON

· MarineMax Baltimore, Baltimore, MD

· McCarthy’s Marine Sales, Brielle, NJ

· Tracker Boating Center, Fargo, ND

2013 Top 10 Best Practices

Certified dealers are encouraged to share creative, cost-effective business practices during the MICD program. Every year, a compilation of industry best practices is published for all certified dealers. The 2013 leader for best practices was Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center in Portage, Indiana.

“The recipients of this award strive to improve their operations across a number of channels,” said Larry Russo Sr., President and CEO of Russo Marine and Chairman of the MICD Committee. “These dealers encourage a culture of innovation that inspires the marine retail industry.”

Additional Top 10 winners are listed in alphabetical order:

· Action Water Sports, Hudsonville, MI

· Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center– Council Bluffs, IA

· Buckeye Sports Center, Peninsula, OH

· Clark Marine, Manchester ME

· Hurst Marina, Manotick ON

· Lake Union Sea Ray, Seattle WA

· South Austin Marine, Austin TX

· The Great Outdoors Marine, Lavalette, WV

· Town & Country Marine, Lakefield, ON