State MTA’s Address Workforce Development

State MTA’s Address Workforce Development

From coast to coast, three of the industry’s top state marine trade associations are featuring programs and initiatives to boost important local workforce development programs, still another example of the positive impacts of MTA’s and what they do for members.

In Washington, Michigan and Massachusetts, the MTAs have a variety of programs and initiatives aimed at ensuring good careers in our industry are recognized. From scholarships to job listings, the MTA efforts are wide-ranging.

WASHINGTON: The Northwest Marine Trade Association this year marks a decade of prioritizing workforce development using its Seattle Boat Show and other means to reach thousands.

“Workforce has been a major challenge for the industry since at least 2011,” says NMTA president George Harris. “The topic was introduced at a Recreational Boating Leadership Summit in Chicago. In 2014, NMTA started its support of Core Plus Maritime, and we’re proud to say it has created nearly 2,000 enrolled students each year.”

Harris emphasizes this has been accomplished in partnership with Core Plus Maritime, which has created 30 high school marine shop classes in Washington with NMTA’s financial and in-kind support.

“There are many national and regional efforts to fix and understand the workforce shortage,” says Harris. “Here, in addition to Core Plus Maritime, there are now other quality marine K-12 and trade school programs that help.”

NMTA uses the Seattle Boat Show to call widespread public and media attention to the career opportunities in boating. It’s widely promoted as the “Seattle Boat Show Career Fair.” The fair is loaded with exhibits from schools, career counseling, boatbuilders, marine service companies and more, with hundreds of high school students and job-seekers attending.

MICHIGAN: The Michigan Boating Industries Association is tackling workforce development issues.

“We want to move mountains in Michigan with our workforce development efforts,” says MBIA executive director Nicki Polan. “We have on our staff a full-time workforce development director, Kelly Kerchoff. She has been successfully implementing our new or expanding workforce development initiatives.”

Among the major programs is the Career Day held at the Detroit Boat Show, with plans now to replicate it at MBIA’s Grand Rapids Boat Show. All students and their families get into the show free by simply preregistering. Then they go through 10 designated locations on the show floor to learn more about the industry and explore the career paths available to them.

In a unique addition, school counselors are invited to attend a special learning session that includes a presentation on career paths in recreational boating. Moreover, the counselors receive continuing education credits they need each year through arrangements made by MBIA with the Oakland school system.

“We’re committed to making many new roads in our workforce development programs going forward,” says Polan. “Kelly is regularly out making presentations and is now developing new educational opportunities at both Ferris State University and Lake Michigan College."

MASSACHUSETTS: The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association is actively addressing the “demands of the booming Massachusetts boating industry,” notes Randall Lyons, executive director. “Workforce development is a top issue here.

“Among our latest initiatives, we’re excited to announce MMTA is now teamed up and supporting the Center for Community and Professional Education at Cape Cod Community College (4Cs).

Lyons says 4Cs will now be offering a full Marine Technician/Mechanic Training Program, in partnership with Yamaha Motor University, to meet the demands of the Massachusetts boating industry. “Established in 1961, 4Cs is known for providing educational programs that cater to the unique requirements of Cape Cod residents, the canal region, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and the greater Plymouth area,” he adds.

“As the only comprehensive college on Cape Cod, it offers an extensive range of degree options, including associate of arts, associate of science and associate of applied science degrees, plus a diverse selection of academic certificate programs. Appropriately, this program will be held at the Marine Technology Labs at 4Cs and has our enthusiastic support.”

Attracting, training and retaining good employees has been a challenge for the marine industry for years. But growing opportunities and using resources to show people our good-paying, enjoyable career paths is being addressed in these examples and many more positive ways.

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