American Boatbuilders Flag Upcoming Conference

The American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) announce the line-up of topics & speakers at its January 2013 Fort Lauderdale conference.

ABBRA inforn that the event will focus strictly on issues important to boatyards, boat builders and marine service/repair businesses. Participants will hear updates on opportunities and challenges facing the boatyard/boatbuilding marine industry sector. Speakers will offer national and global perspectives on changes in the marine business environment and what may be expected in the future.

The upcoming conference is entitled 'Sustainability & Growth in the New Global Marketplace' and speakers will offer presentations, amongst other topics, on the following,

• Ed Sherman , Curriculum Development Director, ABYC  - "Get On the FastTrac – ABYC Rolls Out Their New FastTrac Program"

• .B. Turner , Managing Partner Front Street Shipyard; Taylor Allen , Owner, Rockport Marine; Steve White , Owner, Brooklin Boat Yard ; and Kenneth Priest , President, Kenway Corporation - "A Model for Success: The Connection Between the Traditional Boatyard of the Past and the Boatyard in the new Global Marketplace – What has Changed and What has Stayed the Same"
• Jim Bronstein , Owner, Marine Business Advisors; and Ron Helbig , General Manager, Noank Village Boatyard - "Professionalism has nothing to do with the size of the boat?  What Large Megayacht Refit and Repair Yards Have in Common with Smaller Yards"

The ABBRA Boatyard Business Conference is made possible through the support of Presenting Sponsors Starkweather & Shepley and Great American Insurance Company – Marine Division. Additional sponsors include American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), Soundings Trade Only, Marine Travel Lift, Interlux/AwlGrip, Brownell Boat Stands , My-Villages, Pier Vantage and Sea Hawk Paints.