YBAA agenda will zero in on the economy
Yacht brokers meet in Baltimore Feb. 22-24 for talks on how to ride out the continuing downturn
By Melanie Winters / Associate Editor
m.winters@tradeonlytoday.com
Yacht brokers from around the country will gather in Baltimore in February
in search of the tools they need “to
weather the raging economic storm.”
The Yacht Brokers Association of
America holds its annual conference
Feb. 22-24 at the Conference Center of
the Maritime Institute in Baltimore.
YBAA again is partnering with the
American Boat & Yacht Council and
YachtWorld.com, along with affiliate
member sponsors, to offer educational
sessions, roundtable discussions, networking opportunities and inspirational speakers.
YBAA says the conference provides
the perfect opportunity for brokerage
principals, brokers/salespersons and industry leaders to get up-to-the-minute
information, insights and ideas to better manage their brokerage businesses,
connect with industry leaders and increase sales. In the context of the global economic climate, the need for that
kind of information is greater than
ever, the association says.
“The biggest issue is the economy itself,” says YBAA executive director Joe
Thompson. “That’s going to override a
lot of other issues.”
Thompson says the continuing slump
in marine sales makes it more important than ever for brokers to set themselves apart through professional certification. The conference will enable attendees to hone their craft and earn
points toward recertification.
“The economy exacerbates the
challenges yacht brokers face in
being seen as professionals in the
eyes of the consumer,” says Thompson. “That’s what we’re trying to
achieve with certification.”
The YBAA developed the National
Yacht Broker Certification Program
nearly 10 years ago. The association recently broke through the milestone figure of 500 certified brokers in the United States and Canada.
Thompson says the benefits are tangible for those who achieve certification.
“There are boaters now who seek out
brokers with certification,” he says.
“That’s one way to know these professionals are qualified.”
Each certified broker who attends
the entire conference will earn 15 recertification credits. Brokers need 30
credits every three years to earn recertification.
The conference sessions will explore
keys areas such as laws and regulations,
technical knowledge of boats and systems, transactions management, ethics,
and business practices and broker responsibilities. The agenda includes
technical sessions presented by ABYC,
technology seminars presented by
YachtWorld.com, the annual Manufac-
turers’ Perspective program, presentation of the new Paul Bennett Memorial
Award and the Brokers and Principals
table discussions.
In addition to the educational benefits, Thompson says the YBAA conference offers networking opportunities
that can help in completing sales.
“There’s a lot of business generated
broker to broker,” he explains. “Net-
working is important for co-brokering.”
The agenda also includes a keynote
address by Sgt. Matt Eversmann, the
Army Ranger depicted in the film,
“Black Hawk Down.” The movie is a
heroic account of a group of elite U.S.
soldiers sent into Mogadishu, Somalia,
in 1993 as part of a U.N. peacekeeping
operation.
Eversmann is a friend of Steve
McPherson, chairman of conference
planning committee.
Thompson says the YBAA likes to
bring in inspirational speakers from
outside the brokerage field to give
participants a broader perspective
on how to improve their own businesses and achieve higher levels of
professionalism.
For information, visit www.ybaa.com. n
