Newsletter April 2022

From the Captain's Chair: Looking Ahead to a New Year

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the upcoming MIASF annual meeting. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. on May 18th at the Lauderdale Yacht Club, with lunch and the meeting to follow. Join us and be among the first to congratulate and welcome our newest board members in their official roles and recognize our Golden Anchor Award recipient.
One of the topics on our radar is the Bahia Mar redevelopment. Now that the project has received approval for a new 99-year lease, attention turns to work on the site plan. While the long-term lease is great news for FLIBS, our show’s infrastructure and logistics requirements remain a top priority that needs resolution.
I was glad to see the tremendous turnout for the Florida Panthers Night at FLA Live Arena. It was nice to see our industry come together, and we look forward to hosting more of these events in the coming months.
Another recent event that bears calling out is the Palm Beach Boat Show. It was a success and a fitting conclusion to this year’s show season. Despite ongoing issues with low inventory and supply chain challenges, sales were steady, and orders were placed for delivery well into 2023.
Of course, boat shows don’t occur in a vacuum. Despite our industry’s success in Palm Beach, we are still facing the impact of world events. Ukraine, invested yields, rising interest rates and energy costs are all indicators we need to pay attention to. If you look at the RV marketing, growing inventory is outpacing demand and manufacturing will need to adjust accordingly.
We all know the benefits of boating and while Florida leads the nation at the #1 state for boater registration, we need to do better to remain a leader. Outdoor recreation accounts for 1.8% of the GDP, of which boating is 50% of that percentage. This big number comes with big responsibility to not only maintain our position but continue to grow and excel.
I look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting when we can reflect on this past year and look ahead to the upcoming years’ goals and challenges.

Regards,

Phil Purcell
CEO/President

April 2022 Advocacy Report

At the local level, we are preparing to see a significant shift in the City of Fort Lauderdale commissioners as three current commissioners have officially announced their plans to step down. Commissioner McKinzie plans to run for a county commission seat, Commissioner Sorensen officially announced he is running for the Congressional seat opening when Congressman Ted Deutch steps back to work in the public sector, and Commissioner Moraitis will see her term through and step down at the election cycle in November. We thank all three commissioners for their time serving our city and wish them the best as they enter their next endeavors. 
Additionally, at the local level, the City of Fort Lauderdale Marine Advisory Board currently has multiple seats open to be filled. The MAB meets the first Monday of every month to study and make recommendations to the City Commission on matters related to the waterways of the city.  If you live in or have a business in the city and want to have input in water-based decisions, please consider applying to serve.
A highlight this month was attending the US Coast Guard Foundation Tribute to the Seventh District dinner at the Marriot Harbor Beach Resort.  It was great to see Master of Ceremonies, Reggie Rivers, on stage for the evening as the event raised money to support the Foundation. After a couple of years off due to the pandemic, it was great to return to this in-person gathering that is internally considered one of the best events for the U.S. Coast Guard, coming in second only to the main event held in Washington D.C. The event capped off with Admiral Karl Schultz serving as keynote speaker and we especially appreciated his special recognition to the recreational marine industry present that night.
This month we also had the privilege to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami Change of Command ceremony. Captain Christopher Cederholm has officially taken the helm of the district. He has most recently served at Sector Puget Sound but has also previously served as XO of Station Fort Lauderdale so he is familiar with the area and will be a good fit. Captain Jo-Ann Burdian was promoted to Rear Admiral and will be assuming a post in DC. She is the youngest officer to receive this promotion and as a local graduate from Piper High School, we are proud to see her doing great things and wish her the best as she relocatesd to Washington D.C.

YSTAP Report for April 2022

The two classes of the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program have been fortunate to be receiving instruction in the classroom from guest teachers of Atlantic Technical College as they work through their respectable modules. The second-year class is currently learning about edge finding, machining, drilling, counterboring, tapping, and reaming while the first-year class is working their way through their welding module. Both are coupling their classroom instruction they are receiving one night a week at Atlantic Technical College with their on-the-job training they are receiving at their place where they are employed full-time.
The second-year apprentices are making excellent progress as they enter the backstretch of the final year of their time in the program. Come December, these apprentices will have earned their nationally-recognized credentials and continue on their paths with a well-rounded wealth of basic shipyard skills and knowledge.

Business Highlight: Wright Maritime Group

This month’s member spotlight features Wright Maritime Group (WMG), a locally headquartered company with a global presence. WMG has mastered the art of seamlessly managing large yacht construction and operations management for their clients and done it in a way that infuses corporate and client values into every project.
This values-based approach to their work was the catalyst for creation of The Academy – their name for their Fort Lauderdale headquarters. Yes, the facility has the same high-energy feel you’d find on a college campus, but the name is about more than that. It reflects the collaborative environment WMG has built to support clients and carry core values into the work they do across all industry sectors, including local community support.
WMG walks the talk when it comes to local community support and involvement, too. Among the efforts they support, WMG is a longtime supporter and participant of the MIASF’s Waterway Cleanup project, they’ve joined forces with AARP and the Miami Dolphins to package meals for seniors in need, and they’ve built homes with Habitat for Humanity. Their commitment to South Florida is steadfast.
They’ve expanded this support globally by involving their clients, too. When disasters strike anywhere in the world, WMG collaborates with owners to help coordinate the re-routing of yachts for delivery of needed supplies. They also work with clients to add special features like extra water production and electrical generation capabilities during the design and build phase, ensuring new yachts are able to offer even more relief during times of need.
Find out more on what Wright Maritime is doing by visiting their website. 

Faces in the Industry: Eire McGowan, Engineered Yacht Solutions

Éire McGowan – Marketing Manager, Engineered Yacht Solutions

Tell us where you are from, what brought you to Florida, and how long you’ve lived here.

I was born and raised right here in South Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, I contemplated moving away for a few years, but came to terms that home is where the heart is and decided to stay here in South Florida.

Where do you work, what is your job title, and what does your job entail?

I am currently the Marketing Manager for Engineered Yacht Solutions. Working in marketing means my job entails from everythingeverything from  to event planning, social media posting, to even preparing us for boat shows like Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and Savannah Boat Show. I wear many hats and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

How did you initially become interested in the marine industry?

I, Myself, have been in the industry for a little over a year now but I have been around it just about my whole life. My father has been in the industry for over 21 years and it’s where I grew my love for it. I was a teacher for five years, so the transition wasn’t easy at the beginning, but everyone has been so welcoming and helping me learn the ins and outs of what it takes to work in such a prestigious line of work.

What is your favorite or most valuable benefit of membership in MIASF?

I had attended my first event for MIASF back in December and had a blast. Since then, I have attended just about every event they have put on and tried to volunteer as much of my time as I can. The biggest benefit I’ve had from joining, is being introduced to many incredible people ranging from all ages, including people who are new to the industry like myself.

Describe any other community organizations or events with which you are involved?

I am currently a member of Young Professionals in Yachting, US Super Yacht Association, and the Port Everglades Association. I have recently joined the Plywood Regatta committee for MIASF and a committee member for this past USSA Golf Classic.

Tell us about your hobbies and the kinds of things you do for fun.

I am a huge baseball fan, so I love cheering for the San Francisco Giants, as well as my Florida Gators! On my free time, I typically travel, play with my dog, Magnolia, and enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends.

Lori Wheeler Appointed to Habitat for Humanity Broward Board of Directors

MIASF Vice President, Lori Wheeler, has officially been appointed to a position on the Board of Directors with Habitat for Humanity Broward County. In this new leadership role, Lori will work with her fellow board members to spread Habitat’s mission and vision throughout our local community. MIASF is proud to be a long-time supporter of Habitat’s mission to providea. “hand-up” not a “hand-out” and empower families willing to work hard to improved their families’ lives through affordable home ownership.
For many years, MIASF and its members have built houses with Habitat for Humanity and worked closely with them on a variety of projects including their Rick Case neighborhood.

Marine Industry Attends US Coast Guard Foundation Dinner

In a myriad of capacities, MIASF and our industry work closely with the United States Coast Guard throughout the year. This month, MIASF had the opportunity to attend the USCG’s Tribute to the Seventh District event at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort. Our association purchased multiple tables and invited its members to purchase tickets to attend the event as well.
Reggie Rivers, past emcee of our Annual Meeting, served as the Master of Ceremonies for this event and helped lead the way as this year’s event set a record in the amount of money raised for the Foundation, surpassing $90,000. Throughout the dinner program, attendees of the event honored the Coast Guard personnel who led the way at the beginning of the pandemic as the crews worked closely with more than 100 cruise ships to safely return passengers to land. Additionally, the award recognition that highlighted the night was that of Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater who exhibited a valiant effort when they rescued four people stranded after their boat capsized in extreme weather conditions.
The moving event also featured keynote speaker Coast Guard Admiral Karl Schultz as well as Sector Commander JoAnn Burdian before she officially makes her move to Washington D.C. to begin serving in her new role as Admiral of the US Coast Guard.

MIASF Attends eMerge Americas Conference

Team MIASF hopped aboard the Brightline this month on its way to Miami to attend the eMerge Americas Conference. This 2-day conference connects the tech world with entrepreneurs in one location to collaborate, network, launch, and build their ideas. From keynote speakers like Armando Perez “Pitbull”, Alexis Ohanian, and Serena Williams, to panelists discussions on a variety of topics like cryptocurrency and the future workforce. , Eevery session brought a new piece of information or sparked a new idea for our team that we plan to bring back and implement. 

MIASF Attends US Coast Guard Sector Miami Change of Command

MIASF was honored to be invited to attend the US Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony for Sector Miami hosted at the Miami Beach base at the end of Aprilthis past week. In this time-honored-tradition, Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson presided over the ceremony as Captain Christopher Cederholm relieved Captain Jo-Ann Burdian as the commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. Captain Cederholm makes his move to Miami from his previous assignment as deputy sector commander at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound. Captain Burdian will now assumer her new role as Rear Admiral at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. where she will serve as assistant commandant for response policy. Captain Burdian has been an incredible leader that MIASF and the marine industry has enjoyed working with on a variety of items throughout her tenure in South Florida. Congratulations, Captain Rear Admiral Burdian, on your new role and we wish you great things in your new role! 

Reminder! Your MIASF Renewal Payments Are Past Due

As a reminder to all MIASF mMembers, renewal payments for the 2022-2023 were due on April 1st. Notices and invoices have been sent to all bundle administrators notifying each company of their dues payment. To pay your dues, you may do so online by logging in the bundle administrator account of your Membership Portal or sending a check to the MIASF Office (221 SW 3rdAvenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312). Through advocacy efforts, workforce initiatives, networking events, FLIBS, and more, there are a myriad of exciting things on the horizon for MIASF in this upcoming year and we look forward to working with you and having you a part of it all. If you have any questions regarding your membership or making your payment, please contact MIASF Noah Dermody at noah@miasf.org or 954-524-2733.

Member News: MIASF Members Represented on Boating Industry's 40 Under 40

As Boating Industry’s 40 Under 40 is its annual recognition program of strong young leaders in the marine industry. This year it moves into its sixth year and continues to shine a spotlight on a unique group of individuals leading the pack.
 
Selected from just under 200 nominations from across the industry, this year’s group features young professionals blazing trails of success from all segments of the marine industry, from boat dealers to manufacturers and everything in between.
 
While no simple task to select recipients with more and more strong nominations for 2022, the young leaders on the proceeding pages were selected for their multitude of accomplishments and strengths, as well as their passion for the recreational boating industry and their promise to bring the industry into the future. MIASF is proud to highlight so many of its member companies with representatives on the list who are all contributing greatly to our industry and community.

Member News: Suntex Marinas Acquires

Suntex Marinas announced that it completed its integration with Westrec Marinas after a February merger that was valued at $2.5 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.

“To project forward a year or two, I would hope that this transaction will be seen as the major catalyst for two things,” Suntex Marinas CEO Bryan Redmond said in a statement. “The first is the creation of the first true experiential-based brand in the marina space. … In addition, after incorporating the Westrec team, we hope that our combined company cultures will attract the best and brightest looking to make a career out of doing what they love and help market a career in marina management across the entire hospitality industry.” 

According to the statement, Suntex has transitioned Westrec’s leadership team and employees to its payroll system and is rebranding Westrec properties, including updated logos, signage and websites. Capital spending projects throughout the Westrec portfolio have been identified and are currently in the planning stages.

Member News: Fire Ranger Acquired

Summit Fire and Security has acquired Fire Ranger, a Florida distributor of Sea-Fire Marine products, according to Sea-Fire.
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fire Ranger becomes a division of Summit and is positioned to expand its marine business nationally, Sea-Fire said in a statement yesterday.
 
“Throughout their regional market, Fire Ranger is a well-known brand and a top distributor of Sea-Fire products,” Sea-Fire president Ernie Ellis said in the statement. “This transition over to Summit Fire and Security will provide transformative opportunities for them to grow beyond South Florida and is a promising development for Sea-Fire.”
 
Fire Ranger is a distributor of fire detection and suppression systems. Reno, Nevada-based Summit Fire and Security specializes in installation, maintenance, inspection, monitoring, consulting and retrofit services in a range of industries.

Member News: MarineMax Investments and Acquisitions

MarineMax, Inc. announced that it has acquired Superyacht Management, S.A.R.L., better known as SYM. SYM is a superyacht management company based in Golfe Juan, France. The acquisition is expected to be accretive in its first full year. 
 
SYM is being acquired by Northrop & Johnson, a superyacht brokerage and charter services business, which MarineMax acquired in 2020. SYM expands Northrop & Johnson’s service offerings by enabling it to enter the important yacht management business and more effectively serve its expanding base of superyacht clients, while also strengthening its new build construction capabilities.   
 
"The addition of SYM complements MarineMax’s ongoing diversification into a higher margin and global business," W. Brett McGill, chief executive officer and president of MarineMax, stated. "By adding SYM, the company strengthens its commitment to providing exceptional customer service experiences across all superyacht service offerings, including buying, selling, insuring, building, crewing, and chartering. We are very excited that Ben Young MBE, founder of SYM, and his team with their many years of invaluable yacht management experience will join forces with Northrop & Johnson.” 

________

MarineMax announced that it has invested in and partnered with online marketplace Boatzon.
Boatzon is the first fully online marine retailer, MarineMax said in a statement yesterday. It offers boats, engines, trailers and other products, as well as financing and insurance.
 
"The partnership aligns well with our higher-margin business growth and diversification goals," MarineMax president and CEO W. Brett McGill said. "It enhances our industry-leading innovative technologies and digital tools."
 
Based in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Boatzon launched last year.
 
"Being avid boaters, as well as technology entrepreneurs, we realized that the marine industry lacked the online customer experiences many industries offer and consumers have come to expect," Boatzon CEO Bryan Lenett said. "When we set out to develop Boatzon, we wanted to incorporate best-in-class technology for the marine industry to provide an experience that offers a dramatically different end-to-end customer experience."

Member News: Boatyard

Boatyard, the first customer experience platform designed for the marine industry, has announced a new integration with Lightspeed, an industry dealership management system. This new data partnership allows Lightspeed dealers to connect their operational processes with Boatyard’s customer communication tools.
 
Nathan Heber, founder and CEO of Boatyard, comments, “Boatyard is on a mission is to make boating easy by transforming the customer experience for boat owners. By integrating with a market leader like Lightspeed, we empower our dealers to deliver remarkable customer experiences without the need to duplicate data entry between the two platforms. We want to help dealers make the most of Lightspeed by adding our suite of customer experience tools to their existing Dealer Management System.”
 
By integrating Lightspeed with Boatyard, dealers can:

• Digitally receive and manage service requests
• Streamline and automate customer communications
• Reduce accounts receivable with Boatyard’s digital estimate, invoice, and payment features
• Utilize Boatyard’s photo and video sharing tools

Upcoming Events 2022

As spring begins to turn to summer and we look towards our new fiscal year starting, MIASF invites its members to join us at our 2022 Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon on May 18th at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. In addition to a keynote speaker, MIASF will recognized its Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 year, honor its 2022 Golden Anchor Award and Awards of Excellencerecipients, and look ahead to our goals for the upcoming year.

MIASF members are invited to the MIASF Office for its June Member Connect event. June’s event will be the perfect kick-off to the summer season with an ice cream social and opportunity to meet the new MIASF Board of Directors that will officially take their positions on July 1st. The event will be from 5 pm to 7 pm and more details, as well as a link to register to attend, will be shared soon.

Past Events in April 2022

The marine industry froze going from the water to the ice this past month as MIASF and YPY hosted their Marine Industry Night at the Florida Panthers Hockey Game. Our group took over Stanley’s Loft for the night as the Panthers took on the Detroit Redwings. The game resulted in a dominating performance by the division-leading Panthers as they skated to a 5-2 victory over the Red Wings. Our group was able to enjoy the stellar performance over an incredible spread of complimentary food and beverage cheering on the home team and catching up with one another. MIASF and YPY look forward to making this an annual event for more members to come out and take part in.

Due to extreme weather conditions and keeping the safety of the students, mentors, committee, and all involved our top priority, MIASF had to make the difficult decision to cancel the 25th Annual Plywood Regatta. We thank all who continue to support this annual event and look forward to hosting it next year.

Featured Job: Customer Service/Cashier, Sailorman

Customer Service/Cashier – Sailorman

Job Description: Looking for a new customer service-oriented crew member with a friendly smile and cashier experience (with references) to run the registers and answer phones in a fun, family-owned marine store. English/Spanish speaking would be a plus. Punctuality is important. Saturdays 9-5 would be part of the regular schedule. Sundays off as well as one weekday. Hours range between 8:30-6. Ideally a full time 40 hour week, but would consider a part time position for a student or other with the right qualifications and availability. The position requires you to be on your feet all day in a non-air-conditioned environment. Marine experience preferred, but not required. Benefits include paid time off and healthcare. Must be able to fill the position immediately.

Qualifications: Basic cash register and computer skills, Customer service skills, Saturday availability

Benefits: Health & Dental Care, Paid Time Off & Vacation Pay, Fun Working Environment, Employee Discounts

How to Apply: Please apply by sending your resume to jobs@sailorman.com or calling 954-522-6716 for an interview.

Did You Know... About Salty Jobs?

Did You Know… that MIASF members have the opportunity to showcase one of their jobs in an episode of Salty Jobs at no cost?! Contact Megan Piggott at megan@miasf.org for more information. 

Welcome Aboard New Members in April 2022

Wide Effect Talent Solutions
James Maitland
Email: James@WideEffect.com
Website: wideeffect.com
Address:
2525 Marina Bay Dr W
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Phone: 954-295-5524
Company Description: Wide Effect serves the Maritime Industry with customized, sector-specific staffing solutions. Our recruiting team members have operated in all verticals of the maritime industry, and that hands-on knowledge allows them a unique perspective in screening potential candidates for their skill, experience, commitment to their craft, and respect of the history and traditions of maritime culture. We have the networks, connections, and relationships to bring first-class, marine talent to your team. Our Maritime recruiting specialists understand the rigorous requirements of staffing for maritime positions. With an eye to safety, committed craftsmanship, deep knowledge of the industry, and a passion for maritime trades and culture, we have built our database of candidates to include all levels of labor and leadership and experience serving in new construction, repair, superyacht, and government/ military/ naval roles.
Business Category:
Boatyards / Shipyards
Crew Placement / Employment Agencies
Education / Training