Georgia association helps dealers become certified

CHICAGO – The Marine Trade Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (MTAMA) will reimburse member dealers $500 for the certification launch workshop cost and another $1,000 toward the overall cost of certification upon completion of the Grow Boating Initiative’s Marine Industry Dealership Certification Program by December 31, 2007, the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported in a statement yesterday.

In addition, if a dealer with membership in MTAMA has more than one location within the state, the $1,500 reimbursement offer is being extended to each location, according to NMMA.

“We wanted our association funds to helps support the growth and betterment of our Atlanta dealers,” said Bill Sommerfield, CMM, president of MTAMA and vice president of Lazy Days Marina in Buford, Ga. “We hope our efforts here will generate even further action on behalf of other marine trade groups across the country to step up to the plate and promote this program to their dealers so we can help get as many dealerships certified as possible.”

“This is a tremendous effort on behalf of the Atlanta dealers association,” said Larry Russo Sr., owner of the Russo Marine chain of dealerships located throughout the Northeast and a major advocate of industry certification.

Russo made a presentation on dealership certification for Atlanta dealers during the MTAMA’s bi-monthly meeting held March 16. Immediately following the presentation, the association agreed to the reimbursement pledge.

“To learn they agreed to lend that kind of financial backing to their dealers right on the spot demonstrates an incredible show of support on behalf of the Marine Industry Dealership Certification Program,” he said.

A Marine Industry Dealership Certification Workshop will be held in Norcross, Ga. (Atlanta area) on April 25 at the North Atlanta Trade Center. The Trade Center is owned by David Work, an MTAMA member who agreed to donate his facility to host the upcoming certification workshop.

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