Ohio Marine Trades Association Hosts First Conference Since 2008

The Ohio Marine Trades Association (OMTA) hosted the 2025 Ohio Boating Conference on March 18 and 19 at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel, marking the first time since 2008 that the association has held a statewide conference. The two-day event brought together more than 100 marine businesses, industry professionals and state policymakers to address key issues impacting the recreational boating industry in Ohio, which generates a $6.4 billion annual economic impact for the state.

The conference featured panel discussions with state legislators focused on water quality and economic and workforce development, as well as breakout sessions on industry trends, marketing, and leadership development.

Highlights included presentations from Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas; marketing expert Dilara Casey, director of marketing at Bertec; and leadership consultant Dr. Bethany Klynn, president of Insight Leadership Consulting. Panel participants included Representative Sean Brennan, Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, and Representative D.J. Swearingen for the water quality discussion, and Representative Jack Daniels, Representative Melanie Miller and Senator Bill Reineke for the economics and workforce development session.