Soundings Trade Only and the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference yesterday launched the Marine Ideas Exchange at the start of day two of the annual trade show.

The sold-out MIX opened with a keynote conversation between Soundings Trade Only editor-in-chief Gary Reich and Correct Craft president and CEO Bill Yeargin. The discussion revolved around Yeargin’s tenure at Correct Craft, the company culture, technology, its philanthropic ventures, his management principles, and his April 2026 retirement.

Two rounds of 35-minute forums followed.

In Round 1, Soundings Trade Only Group vice president and general manager Michele Goldsmith hosted the panel discussion “Making Culture the Core of Your Company and a Force for Good” with Yeargin and Lippert CEO Jason Lippert.

Also in Round 1, “The Future of Marine Retail” included panelists Paulee Day, COO, West Marine; Eddie Russell, managing partner, Viage Group, former vice president and COO, MarineMax; and Darren Plymale, COO and CFO, Galati Yachts. The discussion was moderated by Steve Heese, president and CEO of Chris-Craft.

In Round 2, Reich hosted “The Next Wave of Technology,” with panelists Michelle Hildyard, vice president of operations, Raymarine/Teledyne FLIR; Jarrod Seymour, vice president and marine segment leader, Garmin; and Zach Hutcheson, CFO and incoming CEO, Correct Craft, Watershed.

Also in Round 2, “What’s the Story? Building Brand DNA to Expand Your Customer Base” included panelists Amber C. Holm, senior vice president and CMO, Winnebago Industries; Gordon Sprouse, director of marketing, Americas, Raymarine/Teledyne FLIR; and Thomas Bates, chief revenue officer, Correct Craft. The panel was moderated by Alisdair Martin, president, Marine Marketers of America.

Sponsors included Correct Craft (title sponsor), Sharrow Marine (Sensory Lounge sponsor), Harman, Wakulla Marine, Kanberra, Garmin, West Marine, Winnebago Industries, Lippert and Raymarine. Plans are underway for another MIX next year at IBEX, which is scheduled for Oct. 6-8, at the Tampa Bay Convention Center in Florida.