ABBRA, the American Boat Builders and Repairers Association in partnership with the Rhode Island Marine Trade Association (RIMTA) recently held an intensive and successful three-day Marine Service Manager course from April 9th- April 11th in Portsmouth, Rhode Island at the Hinckley Yachts
Portsmouth Service Yard.

The course had 20 boatyard professionals registered from over nine states and international locations including: Vancouver, Canada, Grenada, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Florida.

Executive Director of ABBRA Gordon Connell stated, “We are very happy with the results of the Rhode Island 2013 MSM program. It was good to see how the course brought together the marine industry, not only nationally but internationally. Our aim was to offer boatyard managers and individuals preparing for leadership roles in boatyards a deeper understanding of their responsibilities and the best management practices that are expected in well-run facilities, and from all accounts we delivered that.”

The course covered various critical areas in boatyard management such as leadership skills, time management, human resources, workforce development, safety, health and emergency response, maritime law and contracts job estimating, project management, financial management, and it also included a boatyard study tour. A group of widely respected and recognized marine industry and boatyard professionals, all with years of experience as MSM instructors, taught the three day program. They were Dennis Nixon, Associate Dean for Research and Administration Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, Shirley Adams Director of Human Resources at Correct Craft, Inc., Pam Lendzion President of MarineTec Management Company, Kelly Crete Safety and Loss Control Manager of The Gowrie Group and Jim Bronstein President of Marine Business Advisors.

“The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association was thrilled to partner with ABBRA and host the Marine Service Manager Course. The course instructors are among the nation’s experts in boatyard management and they offered top notch content that was very well received. It is wonderful to see the Marine Industry Professionals, coming together to cultivate professionalism and share knowledge for the betterment of the marine industry. We look forward to continuing our partnership with ABBRA,” said Wendy Mackie, RIMTA Executive Director.

To learn more visit:  www.abbra.org