Marine University launches dealer pilot program
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Center for Environmental Education and Research’s (CEERI) Marine University (MarineU) is launching a pilot program that will certify boat dealers to offer MarineU’s boating safety education program, Boater101, at their facilities, MarineU said today in a release.
Beginning with a program in South Florida, Boater101 will expand nationally, helping dealers around the country promote their business and the marine industry by introducing consumers to boating through educational programming, MarineU said.
The pilot program represents a partnership between Marine University, boat manufacturers and dealers. Through the cooperative direction of its Dealer Committee, MarineU has designed a pilot program to create a model that will be easily reproduced in additional markets, according to CEERI.
The Dealer Committee includes Bruce Sargent of Glastron, Dave Taylor of US Marine, Matt Guilford of US Marine, George Sullivan of Genmar, Jim Antolik of Crestliner, Kimberly Bors of the OMC Foundation, Rick Fulmer of Four Winns, Scott Porter of Formula, Terry Dunagin of Boston Whaler and Peggy Nordeen of Starmark.
“It’s great to see manufacturers and dealers coming together to increase the awareness and availability of boating education,” said Susan Engle, president of Marine University. “Not only will dealerships assist in meeting mandatory state boating safety education requirements, but they are also the ideal location to reach a boating demographic that is currently excluded from these requirements.”
“Every dealer should get involved with this new effort to expand the boating customer base,” said Phil Keeter, president of the Marine Retailers Association of America. “Boaters starting out with Boater101 education should be great ambassadors for those dealers. It will certainly give participating dealers a ‘leg up’ on the competition!”
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