Tag Archives: workforce development

As part of the upcoming International Marine Service Technician Week, scheduled April 24-29, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) will present the “2023 Outstanding Technician Awards.” Five winners will receive a $100 VISA gift card, technician prize pack with various giveaways, and will be featured on ABYC’s website and social media. Submissions will be accepted through April 14. “We ...

In an effort to support the future workforce and the marine industry, Mercury Racing announced it will offer three scholarship programs: the Excellence in Trade scholarship, the Impact Institute Education scholarship and, new in 2023, the Great Lakes Boat Building School Marine Technician Scholarship. In its fifth year, the Excellence in Trade scholarship is open to high school students based ...

Universal Technical Institute’s (UTI) Motorcycle & Marine Mechanics Institute in Orlando, Fla. is announcing it has once again earned the Military Friendly School designation. The award accounts for student retention and graduation and job placement rates, among other criteria. UTI’s campuses in Avondale, Ariz., Sacramento, Rancho Cucamonga and Long Beach, Calif., Dallas and Houston, Texas, Lisle, Ill. and Exton, Penn., ...

MarineMax recently announced a partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) of South Florida, a non-profit organization focused on youth workforce readiness and entrepreneurship. Two projects are currently in the works, both aimed at educating younger generations about the marine industry.  The first program was founded and created in 2018 by Christine Battles with Advanced Mechanical Enterprises. JA of South Florida’s “Sea ...

By Margaret PodlichExecutive Director, ABYC Foundation A Minnesota High School faces a 50% cafeteria worker shortage and needs to feed 2500 students a day. It now pays students $16/hour and gives them course credits to work alongside adults. Students work between classes, don’t need transportation to their jobs, and are having fun. In six years, the trucking industry expects to ...

By Margaret Podlich Thousands of polite, pulled-together, 16-22 year olds descended on Atlanta during a sweltering week in June. They hailed from high schools, post-secondary technical schools, and community colleges from around the country. All students were required to dress appropriately for their trade, so some were in white double-breasted chef coats, others in pressed Carhartt khaki top and bottom ...

The American Boat Builders and Repairers Association’s (ABBRA) annual Marine Service Managers Course will be held virtually in November 2022. ABBRA offers the only extensive leadership training for boatyard operators that provides an industry-recognized credential (Certified Marine Service Manager) for qualified applicants. The course is sponsored by ABBRA. Employers know they need a team of competent certified technicians. That team ...

Last week, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed the 2023 state budget, which included $150,000 in funding for workforce development and career technical education initiatives within the recreational boating industry. This funding will continue the successful initiatives and progress that the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) has made over the last five-plus years to meet the workforce challenges within the industry. ...

Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit announced the marine technicians who successfully earned Yamaha Master Technician Certification during late 2021 and early 2022. In order to earn the certification, experienced marine technicians must complete six week-long courses covering outboard engine operating systems, proper installation, service and maintenance procedures, and troubleshooting skills. Out of hundreds of applicants, approximately 30 technicians pass Yamaha’s ...

In the face of the pandemic, the marine industry has faced several challenges, including supply chain and workforce disruptions. In a letter penned by Tiara Yachts President and CEO Tom Slikkers, Slikkers makes note of these business challenges – specifically highlighting workforce challenges – and encourages greater industry support of the Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS). GLBBS aims to ...