By Liz Keener, MRAA Senior Director of Dealer Development

During the opening night dinner at the American Boating Congress, first-time attendees were asked to stand up. There were dealers, manufacturer representatives and industry suppliers who rose from their chairs — and, of course, me.

For 14 years, I had heard of this event — ABC — where the industry meets on Capitol Hill in Washington to learn, network and meet their congressional representatives. It always sounded like such an impactful event and I was eager to finally attend.

Real Dealer Stories that Made an Impact

What I learned in my short visit to D.C. is every single one of us in the industry can make a difference by attending ABC, engaging in dealer advocacy, meeting with representatives and telling our story.

In fact, that was a key theme shared throughout. If you don’t tell your story — the story of your business, your family, your employees, your product and your customers — your representatives won’t know how they can best represent you and support your business.

We started the first day by learning from Brett McGill of Marine Max and Bryan Redmond of Suntex Marinas. We also heard from manufacturers, staff from federal agencies and congressional offices, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) team and an economist on topics such as regulation, the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, new marine technology, modern manufacturing and more. Finally, the day ended with breakout sessions, including a state government relations update by the NMMA state government relations team, which touched on their collaborations with MRAA on state policy.

Between sessions, during lunch and at the BoatPAC reception, attendees could be heard discussing what they learned, the impact it had on them and what they’re experiencing in their own businesses during these uncertain economic times. BoatPAC, the federal political action committee of the recreational boating industry, promotes boat dealers’ business interests in Congress.

For the first-timers I talked to, it was eye-opening. And for many others in the room, ABC is a can’t-miss annual event.

ABC provides chances for attendees to not only network and get involved in marine industry advocacy in D.C., but also provides opportunities for further work and collaboration. For example, just hours after meeting a Minnesota dealer at ABC, I connected him with Chad Tokowicz, MRAA’s Government Relations Manager, and got the dealer plugged into local issues impacting him.

Why Dealer Advocacy Matters in Washington

Another first-time dealer participant told me she sees the value in attending as a dealer and hopes more boat dealers will join her in Washington in the future. As the Senior Director of Dealer Development, I would love to see more dealers and MRAA members at ABC. Lawmakers need to hear from our side of the industry and better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with marine retail. While ABC comes at a very busy time for many boat dealers, it is an incomparable opportunity to connect with both legislators and others within the industry.

I hope the 2026 event includes more dealers, ready to face the Hill with their stories to share to ensure they are heard at the federal level. The NMMA and its industry partners will host next year’s American Boating Congress from May 4-6 in Washington.

In the meantime, never hesitate to reach out to MRAA’s marine industry advocacy team. Should you have questions about attending ABC, what is happening in your state, or if you want to set up a meeting with your local elected official, Mike Sayre, MRAA Director of Government Relations, and Chad Tokowicz are excited to dig into any issue — big or small.