MMTA Hosts Annual BOB Conference

On Thursday, January 23rd, the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) hosted its 19th annual Business of Boating (BOB) Conference at the Lakeview Pavilion in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The conference brought together nearly 200 attendees.

The professional development conference provided attendees with sessions that included workforce development, AI marketing tips and tools, Safe Boating updates, employment law, technological advancements within the industry, government relations, legislative issues and more. The conference included two lunchtime presentations, one awarding State Senator Paul Feeney as the 2024 MMTA Legislative Official of the Year. The second was the keynote address from MA Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler, Ph. D. Massachusetts state legislators in attendance included Boating Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Paul Feeney, Rep Steven Xiarhos and Rep Jessica Giannino, joined by Boating Caucus members Rep Joan Meschino and Rep. Michael Chaisson.

The MMTA plans, organizes and hosts the BOB conference, through its volunteer Conference Committee and MMTA executive director Randall Lyons. The conference was made possible through sponsors and attendees, including 16 table sponsors and 60 annual sponsors of the MMTA.

With workforce and training remaining a priority within the recreational boating industry, nearly 25 school administrators, instructors and students from 12 schools, were in attendance, including attendees from Bunker Hill CC, Cape Cod CC, Cape Tech, Whittier Tech, Upper Cape Cod Tech, Marblehead HS, New Bedford Tech, North Shore CC, Salem HS, The Landing School, IYRS and NEIT.