Day 2 Breakout Sessions
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
1) Employee Engagement From A to Z: How to Execute a Successful Journey, Jill Christensen Sponsored by
This session lays out the Employee Engagement Roadmap from start to finish. From engaging other leaders, to determining who is on the Core Team, to gathering baseline engagement data, to developing the strategy, to engaging managers and holding them accountable, to measuring progress, this content is a must for any organization that is about to embark on a journey or whose journey is not realizing the desired results. Attendees will leave knowing:
- The six steps they need to take to successfully execute an employee engagement journey.
- Tactics to engage leaders and managers in employee engagement.
- How to hold managers accountable and measure results.
Will the rise in boating during the pandemic lead to a huge issue with abandoned, foreclosure, or repossessed boats? Will people who have been drawn to boating walk away in favor of travel vacations? Do you have abandoned boats that you are seeking to destroy and remove from the facility? Have you considered the hazards of lead paint or Asbestos? This session provides an overview on how to navigate the process to get title, sell or safely dispose of those boats.
3) ADA – A Headache or a Revenue Increasing Opportunity? Dan Natchez, President, Daniel S. Natchez & Associates, Inc., and Industry Representative on issues relating to marina specific ADA regulations
While ADA is the law, and often is considered a headache, it can be a major opportunity. Will include discussion and highlights of the Federal ADA requirements, and how to upgrade and improve one’s facility while melding them into both maintenance and capital improvement projects, and using them as a means for enhancing revenue producing activities.
4) Want to Lead! Be Self-Aware, Jim Frye, CMM, President Emeritus, Association of Marina Industries (AMI) Sponsored by

Every business problem is a people problem! The best leaders are those on a journey to self-awareness and an understanding of emotional intelligence is a well-placed step in that journey. It’s important as well to understand the strengths and weaknesses within your team by better understanding them as individuals. As a seasoned leader in the marina industry, Jim Frye, CMM will share his success in nurturing individuals and developing teams to bridge the chasm between your business strategy and the targeted results you’re seeking. In addition to a discussion of leadership styles, the levels of leadership and team building strategies, Frye will demonstrate resources to better hiring, team design, and inspiring performance through talent optimization.
5) 15 Cybersecurity Best Practices For Small Businesses James McQuiggan,KnowBe4
Worried about cybercrime hitting your business? In this session, we are tackling this issue and providing our top 15 Cybersecurity Best Practices that every organization should be doing to protect themselves and their customers.
If you're asking yourself any of these questions, this session is for you:
- What can we learn from the recent cyberattacks in the news?
- What are practical cybersecurity best practices I can implement in my organization?
- How can I create a culture of cybersecurity awareness?
1) Ten Steps Toward Becoming a Clean Marina, Eric Kretsch, AMI Sponsored by
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The green and clean revolution is here, and a growing number of consumers are making choices based on environmental impact. Investors are increasingly incorporating social and ecological governance metrics into their decision making too! Position your business to succeed.
In this 101-style session, you’ll learn the basic clean marina concepts, the steps to becoming a trained marina professional, and the process of verifying that your marina is a clean marina.
In this session, you’ll learn about the many state programs and AMI’s new to 2022 Clean and Resilient Marina Training Program.
2) Are You Leaving Money on the Table? Guidance for a Successful BIG Grant Award, Preston Smith, VA Department of Health
BIG awards can exceed $500,000 for projects targeting non-trailerable and transient boats. Did you know the federal government will give you money to construct facilities--from docks to fuel pumps, restrooms to gazebos--for your visiting boaters? They do this under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant Program or BIG. Money is available each year and this session will walk you through a successful application process.
3) Review and Analysis of Marina Design Construction Failures, Greg Weycamp, Edgewater Resources, LLC Sponsored by
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There is much to be learned in the review of storm damaged facilities: why did the storm damage occur, how much residual capacity may remain, how do you correct/prioritize remedial actions? And these lessons can then also be applied to your existing facility by undertaking a condition assessment of the marina’s construction, including what to look for in terms of risks, dangers, liabilities and costs.
4) Customer Service Speedway Style, Josh Harris, Daytona International Speedway
Join Josh Harris of the Daytona International Speedway for a session on Customer Service. Josh will share their tips and strategies for consistently delivering exceptional customer service and how they develop their team to ensure a customer-focused experience for each person who visits the speedway.
5) Don’t PANIC…Reach for the PANIC MANUAL!, Dave White, New York Sea Grant
In the late 90’s, Florida Sea Grant created the “Panic Manual” for marinas, and while it has been updated, it has been well over a decade. New York Sea Grant in partnership with AMI, MRAA, and the Boating Industries Association of Upstate NY, is revising the guide to reflect current emergencies and concerns (including those caused by the pandemic). Join Dave White from NY Sea Grant to review the guide and provide your insight as to what needs to be added for today’s marina to help when “PANIC” strikes.