Finding skilled technicians for a boatyard, marina or dealership can be tough. We know this. Gone are the days of posting an ad and watching the resumés flood your fax machine. Many folks in the marine industry are looking into solutions, such as internships, apprentice programs, advocacy initiatives and school programs. Whatever the strategy, we all need to be playing the long game.

That is precisely what happened at Cecil College in North East, Md. It launched a marine service technician program in 2023 with support from multiple businesses and organizations, plus some tireless individuals. But it didn’t happen overnight. The project evolved so much along the way that many of the players moved. Some of the businesses that initiated the conversations no longer exist or have new owners.

The idea began in 2018, when Cecil College and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland started looking at ways to address the need for service technicians. Those conversations were based on previous discussions with local business owner Woody Jackson of Jackson Marine Sales.

“From our perspective, the program was built upon two things,” says John Stefancik, current executive director of the association. “First is the fact that much of the geography in the upper Eastern Shore area drives a farming and boating economy. So many of the small business there are involved in boating. Second is the fact that most recreational marine concerns were built by families who passed their talent down from previous generations. Lately, many marinas have been sold to larger concerns, and dealerships were bought out and also consolidated by larger companies. The marine businesses remained, but the families were no longer involved. Both of these things contributed to a growing lack of workers, and smart businesspeople identified it as something that could be remedied by a training program.”

COURTESY ABYC

For this to happen, the college would need assurance that graduates would be hired; the community needed to secure funding; and the school needed a facility, tools and an instructor. The groups chipped away at the project for a few years. At the time, the association’s workforce development coordinator was Lia Mattox, who was able to liaison among stakeholders and help secure funding. She was considered “instrumental in rallying the troops,” says Christie Stillwaugh, regional vice president for Safe Harbor Marinas.

Industry leaders and community groups showed overwhelming support for the concept. Local businesses donated products, while economic development groups such as the Upper Shore Regional Council and the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund pulled together funds.

“Early on, we held several advisory meetings with industry partners to help us determine what needs they had and provided valuable insight as we developed the program,” says Amanda Pringle, program coordinator, workforce development at Cecil College. “In addition, we were fortunate to have several groups who provided the program with donations of tools, engines and boats.” Indeed, the American Boat & Yacht Council donated a boat to the program.

Next up was the need for a facility. Several years earlier, Stillwaugh had been looking for property in her role as general manager at Safe Harbor Bohemia Vista in Chesapeake City, Md. She didn’t know about the Cecil College idea when she received a call from Miles Dean, the dean of career and community education.

“By this time, we had a building design in mind, and site work started,” Stillwaugh recalls. “It seemed only natural to donate a third of the building for a classroom for the college to support the marine tech program.”

Jackson, meanwhile, looked for an instructor and found Capt. Bill Weyant. “Woody approached me because he heard I wanted to teach,” Weyant says. “As a surveyor, I taught people about the boat and all the systems on the boat. [Woody] was ready for an argument about it, but I told him right away I would do it.”

From there, things began to snowball. Once Weyant received approval, he says, “I started making phone calls to marinas to get engines and parts for the school. I sat down with Amanda and ordered tools. I figured out what else we needed, and I’ve been adding to it ever since. Businesses would tell me, ‘Whatever you want, whatever you need, let us know.’ Everyone needs help. They need people. And they were willing to lend a helping hand. I could probably make more phone calls and get more stuff, but I have no room for it.”

Further funding came through in late 2023 via Upper Shore Regional Council, which awarded the project $100,000. On Oct. 30, 2023, the ribbon was cut on the new classroom.

The course, which utilizes the ABYC Marine Service Technician Curriculum, is broken into two segments: marine service technician I and marine service technician. Students meet with Weyant twice a week at Safe Harbor Bohemia Vista for 12 weeks per segment, and for hands-on training in outboard and inboard maintenance, marine electrical and plumbing systems, boat safety and other skills.

The classroom is chock-a-block with engines, tools and ongoing projects, along with desks and a screen for teaching. Everything is neatly labeled, and all things are in their place. If it weren’t for the desks, you’d think it was a mechanic’s shop to support the bustle of the service yard.

“Right beside us [in the same building], we have a vinyl upholstery guy, and we get visibility there. Another does high-performance repairs. And we can go down to the piers and check out boats down there,” Weyant says. “We see a lot of availability of things we wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Many of the first graduates are working in the industry already.

Pringle says several students from the first cohort are now working in the field, and marinas ask for job openings to be shared with students.

“My tenant has recruited a bright, young star from the inaugural class,” Stillwaugh says. “That was the idea, to cultivate talent and introduce them to Safe Harbor-run marinas and others, to fill the need for marine technicians, and also encourage them to join our team.”

Sarah Devlin is accreditation director for the ABYC Foundation.

This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue.