Jim Ellis of BoatU.S. Scheduled as Keynote Speaker at Marina Conference

Jim Ellis, the former president of the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatU.S.), is scheduled as the keynote speaker for the 2007 International Marina & Boatyard Conference (IMBC) in Tampa, Florida, January 28–31, 2007. Ellis will kick off the conference, run jointly by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and the American Boat Builders and Repairers Association (ABBRA), Monday morning the 28th at 9:30.

As a representative of the largest constituency of boaters in the United States, Ellis plans to address the relationship between owners and marinas, as well as potential future issues for the marina industry. He will focus on how the marina industry can solve tomorrow’s challenges by working together as a community.

With over 20 years’ experience, Jim Ellis became president of BoatU.S. in 2003. He is the former president of the BoatU.S. Foundation, as well as former president for the National Boating Safety Council and past chair of the American Boat & Yacht Council. In 2004, Ellis was inducted into the Boating Safety Hall of Fame. He announced his retirement from BoatU.S. this past October.

Formed in 2002 as the National Marina & Boatyard Conference, the International Boatyard & Marina Conference is currently the only show catered specifically to marina owners, managers, and staff, as well as boat repairers and yards. Over the course of three days, nearly 600 conference attendees from around the world choose from a dozen seminars, roundtable discussions, and panels. The show floor, which remains open for the duration of the conference, exhibits up-and-coming products along with tried-and-true vendors. IMBC is owned and operated by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA).

The Association of Marina Industries (AMI) is a non-profit membership organization providing management training, education, and information about research, legislation, and environmental issues affecting the marina industry.

The American Boat Builders and Repairers Association (ABBRA), founded in 1943, strengthens and encourages professionalism in the boat building and marine service industry by providing its members with timely information, training, education, and business services.

For more information, a complete agenda, and to register for the International Marina & Boatyard Conference, please call 401–252–9544, or click on the International Marina & Boatyard Conference logo at the AMI web site: www.marinaassociation.org.