July 30, 2019

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is excited to announce the addition of five marine manufacturers for a three-year commitment as Strategic Partners of the MRAA and its newly reimagined Annual Conference and Expo, Dealer Week.

These key partners are: Malibu Boats, Inc.; CDK Global; Regal Boats; Smoker Craft, Inc.; and Yamaha Marine Group.

The MRAA has created an all-new approach to partner membership and conference support by developing a year-round program that embeds high-level partners in MRAA’s strategic dialog and planning.

Malibu Boats, Inc.
“We’re really excited about our long-term partnership with the MRAA and are proud of our joint efforts in facilitating programs and events that dealers representing all of our brands find valuable,” says Eric Bondy, Vice President Sales, Malibu Boats.

Malibu Boats Inc is the market leader in the performance sport boat category through its Malibu and Axis Wake  

CDK Global
“CDK is proud to support the MRAA and its members,” says Dan Flynn, executive vice president. “We look forward to the advancements this strategic industry alliance will bring and our continued support of marine dealers and their customers.”

CDK Global is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and digital marketing solutions to the marine, recreation, automotive retail and adjacent industries.

Regal Boats
“We believe dealers play a pivotal role in the Regal ownership experience and look forward to continuing to support the MRAA and its Dealer Week initiative,” says Duane Kuck, CEO of Regal Marine Industries. “Matt and his team have done a fantastic job of working with dealers and manufacturers in an effort to improve the consumer experience, and we are proud to stand behind them.”

Regal Marine Industries is a family-owned, privately-held boat manufacturer. Founded in 1969, Regal is a world leader in design and production of sport boats, surf boats, express cruisers and yachts from 19’- 42’.

Smoker Craft, Inc.
"Smoker Craft, Inc. is proud to support Dealer Week,” says Peter Barrett, Senior Vice President of Smoker Craft, Inc. “Our dealer network is one of our most valuable assets. Keeping our dealer network in tune with today's best practice is mutually beneficial."

Smoker Craft, Inc. is a family owned and operated boat manufacturer with roots dating back to 1903. The company offers a complete line of marine products including aluminum fishing, pontoon, and fiberglass boats under the brand names Smoker Craft, Starcraft, Sylvan, Sunchaser, Starweld and American Angler.

Yamaha Marine Group
“Yamaha is committed to providing education and training to our valued dealers and this event will provide an opportunity for collaboration, networking and educational programming,” says John Rigsby, Division Manager, Dealer Sales, Marine Engine Systems. “We are excited to be a part of this best-in-class industry event and help dealers develop further and take their business to the next level.”

Yamaha Marine Group has spent more than 25 years providing customers in the United States with high-performance outboard technology and an outstanding boating experience. For anglers and boaters, the name Yamaha is synonymous with legendary reliability, award-winning innovation and high performance. 

Creating partnerships that benefit marine retailers has been one of the best parts of 2019 for us at MRAA,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “The support of our Strategic Partner network provides even greater resources for us to deliver on our mission, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to strengthen our long-term initiatives with companies who support what the MRAA is at its core.” 

As part of this effort, MRAA has created a collaborative Strategic Alliance, through which Partners can support not only the MRAA and Dealer Week, but also provide input on MRAA’s strategic initiatives and priorities. The highest tier in the Strategic Alliance, known as Strategic Partners, represents an invitation-only opportunity to participate in and help shape strategic dialog with the MRAA board and staff. It also provides for maximum exposure to the marine industry in a year-round promotional campaign that seeks to identify these Partners as the backbone of the MRAA, both from a financial and strategic perspective.