Joe Lewis named to Marine Retailer Hall of Fame
OAK PARK, Ill. – The Marine Retailers Association of America has named Joe Lewis, Mount Dora Boating Center, Mount Dora, Fla., as this year’s Marine Retailer Hall of Fame Award honoree, MRAA said in a press release yesterday.
Lewis became involved in the marine business 19 years ago after purchasing his first boat. His dealership occupies two acres in Central Florida, with 140 dry slips and 95 wet storage slips under covered docks. He sells, services and stores boats from 15 feet to 34 feet in length. His dealership has been named a Boating Industry Top 100 Dealer in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Lewis has been involved not only in his own business, but in many organizations associated with the marine industry. He is past president of the Marine Industries Association of Florida, past president for the Marine Industries Association of Central Florida, a member of the Boating Industry Editorial Advisory Board, part of the board of directors for Grow Boating, Inc., past board member and officer with the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce, a National Marine Manufacturers Association member and a Marine Retailers Association of America member.
As president of MIAF from 2002 to 2006, Lewis received the 2003 Admiral’s Award for outstanding service and leadership from the organization. He negotiated the first MIAF Boat Show purchase to provide revenue to supplement dues income. He took MIAF’s legislative effort to the next level through hiring MIAF’s current lobbyist. He founded the Florida Boating Political Action Committee. Under his leadership MIAF supported many bills to preserve the waterways, to provide boater education and to secure grants for boating infrastructure.
- For more of the latest news, click here.
