The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas yesterday held the second day of its annual Dealer Week conference in Orlando, Fla. Among the highlights were an awards luncheon, the continuation of several educational seminars and presentation of the results of the Soundings Trade Only 2024 Global Marine Industry Workplace Study by vice president and general manager Michele Goldsmith.

Goldsmith’s panel discussion included MarineMax senior vice president of people strategy Beth Garland, Taylor’s South Shore Marina president and general manager Chad Taylor, Overby Marine sales and service office manager Caroline Overby, and MRAA vice president of industry relations Mike Davin. About 300 people attended the discussion.

The panel discussed the results of the global study and topics that included the marine trade workforce average employee age, how to retain employees, areas of opportunity in onboarding new hires, and the importance of training and education.

The panel concluded at 12:15 p.m., when nearly 1,000 attendees gathered for the awards luncheon. The awards included the presentation of the Great Dealerships to Work for awards, the Dealer Ambassador Award, the MRAA Educational Foundation scholarships, and the Darlene Briggs Woman of the Year Award.

The Great Dealerships to Work For awards are selected through an anonymous survey of dealership employees, 33 multiple choice questions, three open-ended questions, and a required 90% employee satisfaction rate. Twenty-eight dealerships won the award, and overall winners were presented in Small, Midsize and Large groups, as well as a new Trailblazer Award.

Top Small Group winners included Breath’s Boat and Motors of Bay St. Louis, Miss.; Trexler’s Marine of Moultonborough, N.H.; and Taylor’s South Shore Marina in Waynesville, Ohio.

Top Midsize Group winners included South Florida Marine in Boynton Beach, Fla.; Lighthouse Harbor Marina in Greentown, Penn.; and Overby Marine Sales and Service in Littleton, N.C.

Top Large Group winners included Buxton Marine in Lewisville, Texas; Russell Marine – The Ridge in Alexander City, La.; and Riverside Marine in Essex, Md.

The Trailblazer Award went to Rob Browne of Clark Marine in Manchester, Maine.

The MRAA Dealership Ambassador Award, which recognizes members who advocate for the boating industry and work to improve it in their communities, this year was given to Jeff Strong, president of Strong’s Marine on Long Island, N.Y.

The Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship, which aims to help current and aspiring dealership leaders excel in their roles, was presented to Jami Hirsch, co-owner of Boat Craft in Traverse City, Mich. The recipient receives tuition to attend the NCM Leadership Development Program, which spans 15 to 18 months and includes five three-day sessions.

Next up was the presentation of the Kevin Lodder Business Management Scholarship, which was formed in memory of Kevin Lodder of Lodder’s Marine in Fairfield, Ohio. The scholarship provides recipients with full tuition to attend the NCM Associates’ Total Management 1 class, along with a travel stipend.

This year’s scholarship winner was Angela Brayton, office manager at Lakeview Marine in Webster, Mass.

The Darlene Briggs Marine Industry Woman of the Year award was presented next by Soundings Trade Only’s Goldsmith. This year’s honoree is Nancy Cueroni, executive director of the National Marine Distributors Association.

The conference ends around 12:45 p.m. today with a closing ceremony.