The American Boat Builders & Repairers Association’s (ABBRA) Annual Conference has been redesigned this year to focus on boatyard and boat repair business owners, operators, and managers. The conference has been expanded this year by 25% and is intended to specifically bring together decision makers in the boatyard and repair industry to discuss common business problems and best business practices. The panel discussions and sessions have been designed to provide relevant information that will help boatyard and boat repair business owners, operators, and managers stay up to date on industry issues and technology that will enable them to better plan for the future of their business. There is time built in to the conference for attendees to network with their peers.

Some Canadian marine industry members may find the content and networking opportunities to be valuable.

Pam Lendzion, ABBRA’s president, reports “This new two day event will provide leading edge information about issues and topics that support the best interest of boatyard and boat repair business owners, operators, and managers.”

The conference, scheduled for July 18-19, 2011 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, will include eight educational sessions with topics including: Successful Strategies for Building and Retaining a Knowledgeable Workforce, Compliance and the Cost of Going Green, New and Revised ABYC Standards, and Lessons from the Gulf Oil Spill: Legal and Scientific Views on a Natural Disaster. A full agenda of session descriptions and speakers is available on the event website, www.abbra.org/annual-conference .

Registration and information about hotel rates, event location, sponsor opportunities and the annual field trip are available in detail by visiting http://www.abbra.org/annual-conference or by contacting Jessica Slemons at jslemons@abbra.org  or 401-247-0318.