Sixty Attend ABYC’s Education Training Conference

The American Boat and Yacht Council’s “Marine Service Technology: Educator Training Conference” ended July 25, bringing 60 attendees together to work toward boosting the marine workforce for the future.

Margaret Podlich, ABYC Foundation executive director and conference organizer, was “thrilled with the response to this first conference, both from attendees as well as the industry. The ETC ‘Class of 2019’ is like a new set of dominos, lined up to create ripple effects in the marine industry for years to come. And the industry really stepped up to the plate too.”

Maine, Maryland and Michigan Marine Trades Associations gathered financial support to help teachers from their state attend the event. Groupe Beneteau sponsored a former employee, who now teaches at a SC technical college, to attend. Beneteau hopes to start a marine technical course that will help feed its Marion plant’s need for trained workers.

During the event, Rob Berenwick, the marine service technology instructor at Ocean County Vocational Tech School (NJ), was awarded ABYC’s Horizon Award. Over the years, his students have won more than 30 SkillsUSA medals in Marine Service Technology at the state level and two national medals. This award is given in recognition of consistent and conspicuous contributions to the future success and growth of ABYC and the recreational marine industry.

Sponsors of the 2019 Educator Training Conference include: Powerproducts, Group Beneteau, Evinrude, NMEA, Imtra, Safe Harbor Marinas, CWR Wholesale Distributors and West Marine Pro.