Dates released for dealer certification workshops
CHICAGO – The Marine Industry Dealership Certification program will begin hosting its spring series of regional Certification Launch Workshops in March 2008 and a list of those dates and locations was released yesterday by the program’s officials.
Upcoming workshop dates, posted on DealerCertification.org, include:
Attendance at a one-day workshop is the first step for all dealerships that wish to get started on the certification process. During the workshop, program requirements are explained in detail and dealerships are provided with tools necessary to complete the program.
“The regional format for workshops has been very well received,” says Phil Keeter, vice president of Marine Certification Inc. and president of the Marine Retailers Association of America. “Dealers continue to indicate they attended workshops based more on schedule than location; therefore, cities selected to host the spring 2008 workshops were chosen based on easy accessibility for the largest number of dealers.”
“Becoming Marine Industry Certified is the ideal way to help set your business apart from your competition and demonstrate a real commitment to quality customer service in the eyes of consumers,” Thom Dammrich, president of Grow Boating Inc. and the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said. “In the challenging economic market we currently face, Dealership Certification is a means to help you improve your sales, profits and customer retention—not to mention simultaneously improving employee satisfaction and retention. There’s really no good reason a dealership should want to pass on the opportunity to become Marine Industry Certified.”
Additionally, certified dealerships receive free listings on DiscoverBoating.com, the No. 1 consumer resource for unbiased advice related to all-things boating. Consumers can visit the Web site and search for certified dealerships in their area. Marine Industry Certified Dealerships likewise receive special signage at NMMA owned and produced boat shows and listings in each respective boat show directory.
To date, a total of 598 dealerships have enrolled in the Marine Industry Dealership Certification program. There are 338 that have completed the process and earned the official “Marine Industry Certified” designation.
Dealers interested in attending a workshop should contact Dealership Certification program manager Elizabeth McAllister at (312) 946-6500; emcallister@DealerCertification.org. Dealers may also download registration forms at DealerCertification.org. Dealerships should bring a minimum of two employees to the Workshop, which involves interactive processes and discussions.
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