Sept 24, 2019

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has strengthened the voice of the marine dealer in Washington, D.C., with the appointment of Adam Fortier-Brown as MRAA’s Government Relations Manager.

Fortier-Brown, whose family owns and operates Clark Marine, a Manchester, Maine-based boat dealership, graduated from the University of Maine magna cum laude, with a Bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. He has worked in the office of Senator Susan Collins, as well as at The Cohen Group. He also launched and ran Camp Kesem at the University of Maine, a summer camp for children of cancer patients, in Orono, Maine.

“Adding Adam to our team gives us a unique, business-focused voice in Washington, D.C.,” says Matt Gruhn, MRAA President. “Adam’s presence and expertise give MRAA the ability to talk specifics about the real-world impact of issues such as ethanol, tariffs and workforce shortages, among many other issues. Having grown up around and worked in his family’s dealership, he knows first-hand the challenges our dealers face, and that experience gives us a powerful voice of dealer representation.”

As Government Relations Manager, Fortier-Brown will be responsible for representing the legislative and regulatory interests of the MRAA and its members, ensuring the Association’s voice is present wherever issues concerning boating and marine retailers are discussed. He will be based out of the offices of the National Marine Manufacturers Association in Washington, D.C., where he will integrate with the NMMA team in representing the marine industry and its significance in the overall economy. He will lead MRAA’s efforts in all areas of advocacy, including BoatPAC, the joint MRAA-NMMA Political Action Committee.

“I am excited to be joining such a strong organization to help give the industry that I grew up in a voice in Washington,” Fortier-Brown said. “The team at MRAA is always looking to strengthen and support the recreational boating industry, and I am thrilled to join the team and get to work with them on this.”

Fortier-Brown started at MRAA on Sept. 16, 2019 and can be reached at: adam@mraa.com