PHOTO COURTESY IBEX SHOW

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference yesterday announced additions to its education offerings. They include a Main Stage and Leadership Education Track.

The Main Stage will showcase leadership, workforce and industry trends. To be situated in the seminar hallway on the first floor of the Tampa Convention Center, it will feature panel discussions, seminars and free programs.

The technical Seminar Series is produced in collaboration with the show’s education partners, Professional BoatBuilder magazine, American Boat & Yacht Council, the National Marine Electronics Association and the National Marine Manufacturers Association, which co-owns the show. The series offers more than 50 seminars ranging from core training skills to trends developing within the recreational boating industry.

“A key component to the show is our vibrant and exciting Education Conference,” Anne Dunbar, IBEX executive director, said in a statement. “Not only is IBEX the place that the industry comes together to do business, but it is a place to learn and challenge us for the overall benefit of the industry as a whole. We are very excited to expand the offerings this year with the addition of the Leadership Education track and unveil the Main Stage as a dedicated place for exhibitors and attendees to learn from experts in their fields.”

The new Leadership Education track is designed for executive-level participants and includes many sessions including Avoiding Contradictions in Technology on Oct. 2 at 8:30 a.m. It will be moderated by Aaron Porter, editor of Professional BoatBuilder magazine and Ben Stein, editor/publisher of Panbo.com. The panel discussion will focus on answering the question of how to manage the longevity of boats’ designs and construction compared with the shorter lifespans of electric, electronic and other components.

Also on the Main Stage, former NMMA president Thom Dammrich will moderate a session entitled Visionary Leadership Panel Discussion: The Driving Force Behind the Marine Industry’s Small & Medium Sized Businesses on Oct. 2 at 11 a.m.

The full education conference schedule is available on the IBEX website.

Visitors and accredited press can click here for registration.