The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas’ Dealer Week conference yesterday held the annual awards ceremony and luncheon at the Tampa Convention Center. The presentation highlights dealerships that set outstanding standards for excellence in business performance, leadership and community impact, and recognizes individuals who propel the industry forward through education, philanthropy and employee satisfaction.
MRAA certification manager Stevie Cook hosted the event.
“This is the time when we highlight those truly outstanding people, places and dealerships who work hard every day to make a difference,” Cook said. “We’d like to thank our strategic partners who make this and all the events at Dealer Week happen.”
Cook opened the presentation of the Great Dealerships to Work For Awards, which recognize MRAA-certified dealers nominated by their employees. Employees complete an anonymous survey comprising 33 multiple-choice questions and three open-ended questions that result in a 90% overall satisfaction rating.
The 2025 awards were presented to:
• 3A Marine Service
• All Seasons Marine Works
• Breath’s Boats & Motors
• Candlewood East Marina
• Captain’s Marine
• Chessie Marine
• Colorado Boat Center
• Desmasdon’s Boatworks
• Marine Sales Pickwick
• Overby Marine – Littleton
• Port Harbor Marine – Kittery
• Regal & Nautique
• Russell Real Island Marina
• Russell The Ridge Marina
• Shady Creek Marina
• South Florida Marine
• Spicer Marine Basin
• Strong’s Marine of Southampton
• Taylor’s South Shore Marina
• The Boat House of Naples
• Waterside Marine
MRAA government relations manager Chad Tocowicz and director of government relations Mike Sayre presented the Dealer Ambassador Award, which recognizes MRAA members who display a commitment to advocating on behalf of the boating industry and working to better boating in their communities.
The honorees were Tom Whowell of Gordy’s Marine and Bob Bense of Superior Boat & Repair.
Alisdair Martin, president of Marine Marketers of America, announced a collaboration between the organization and MRAA to recognize dealers in its annual Neptune Awards, which highlight marketing efforts. The awards are presented annually during the Miami International Boat Show.
MRAA senior director of education Ridgeway Addison spoke about the organization’s scholarship programs, which include the Duane Spader Leadership Scholarship and Kevin Lodder Business Management Scholarship. The scholarships include tuition for custom training from NCM Associates valued at more than $10,000 and tuition to attend the Spader Total Management Workshop, including a travel stipend.
Justin Dysert of Taylor’s South Shore Marina was awarded the Duane Spader Leadership Scholarship, and Poppy Troxel of Sea Ray of Cincinnati received the Kevin Lodder Business Management Scholarship.
The MRAA Service Department Excellence Scholarship Package was presented to Reeder-Trausch Marine. The scholarship provides full tuition to participate in MRAA’s Service Management and Service Advisor Certification programs, and provides up to $2,500 to send a technician to the training of the awardee’s choice.
Nancy Cueroni, recently retired executive director of the National Marine Distributors Association and last year’s recipient of MRAA’s Darlene Briggs Award, presented this year’s Briggs award to Kim Sweers, managing partner of the FB Marine Group.
“I’m humbled. I’m honored,” Sweers said. “Please join me in doing the work … lead, innovate and collaborate. Thank you so much for this award.”
The inaugural Darlene Briggs Women in Leadership Scholarship was presented to Daniella Rico of Bonita Boat Center. The scholarship awards up to $3,000 in tuition reimbursement to a woman in the marine industry who is in leadership or aspires to be.
Randell Seyfert of Captain’s Marine won the Trailblazer Award, a category within the Great Dealerships to Work For awards.
Dealer Week concludes today with an “Uncrapify Your Future” keynote address by Jeff Havens, who will talk about a three-step process to overcoming barriers to innovative thinking.
