Trade Associations

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announced that it added two new employees to its Education Team: Senior Education Developer Bernie DeGraw and Education Coordinator Carolyn Howell. “Adding Bernie and Carolyn will help us enhance our educational initiatives and deliver on our mission to fuel dealer success,” said Liz Walz, Vice President of Education. “They both have already ...

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has donated a boat to Cecil College in Chesapeake City, Maryland, for its new Marine Service Technician program. This donation offers Cecil College students a practical learning experience, enhancing their skills and employability in a sector increasingly in need of qualified technicians. “We thank ABYC for this generous donation. Their support provides Cecil ...

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has hired Molly Drenkard as vice president of North American Public Affairs. Drenkard oversees the Association’s strategic communications related to policy and government engagement on behalf of the $230 billion U.S. recreational boating industry. In addition, Drenkard will oversee NMMA’s public affairs efforts in Canada. She is based in NMMA’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and ...

The ABYC Foundation is calling for nominations for its 2023 Educator of the Year Award, recognizing an outstanding instructor in marine service technology. Eligible candidates are those teaching in high schools, postsecondary institutions or corporate settings. Sarah Devlin, the ABYC Foundation’s accreditation director, commented on the importance of the award. “By nominating a deserving educator, you’re not only recognizing their ...

The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. This first-ever recreation package debuted with strong bipartisan support of 23 Members of Congress and a press conference on Capitol Hill that featured bill sponsors Congressman Westerman (R-AR) and Congressman Grijalva (D-AZ) as well as ORR Senior Program Director Ambreen Tariq. The ...

The provincial marine associations from across the country, collectively representing over 80,000 jobs and $9.2B in national annual economic impact, announced the formation of a new national association whose mandate will be to represent the interests of recreational boating including recreational boat retailing and brokering, boat and engine & trailer sales, accessories, slip rentals, service, storage, fuel sales and more. ...

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) have announced a new Service Management Certification program, which they partnered to develop. The program, which includes an 11-course online training program with downloadable workbook, a printed study guide, and a proctored exam, was created under the guidance of experienced service managers. Those professionals, ...

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released economic data from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account for the year 2022. The data show that in 2022, outdoor recreation contributed more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy, with boating and fishing remaining a top contributor to the outdoor economy. Outdoor recreation represents 2.2% of U.S. ...

Heather Lougheed, vice president of the nearly 800,000-member boating advocacy, services and safety group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), is taking on a second organizational role with the appointment to president of the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation is the boating safety and clean water “sister” to BoatUS and a ...

Yesterday, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) announced during METSTRADE in Amsterdam, new research outlining a portfolio of technologies best positioned to continue to propel the industry toward decarbonization. NMMA president Frank Hugelmeyer and ICOMIA president Darren Vaux presented the global research, which specifically looks at marine propulsion in boats under 24m (roughly 79 feet) in length, revealing that due to the ...