ABYC Hosts Virtual Educator Forum Connecting Educators and Industry Leaders

On Jan. 21, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) hosted its Educator Forum, bringing together 25 educators, administrators, and marine service program leaders from across the U.S. This virtual event provided a platform to address challenges, share resources, and explore opportunities for schools training the next generation of marine service technicians. All major outboard manufacturers participated, emphasizing the crucial role of collaboration across the industry in addressing workforce challenges.

ABYC's event brought together representatives from Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Mercury-who shared their strategies for supporting marine technology programs. They emphasized the importance of investing in education and the positive return on investment resulting from these efforts.

"These manufacturers commitment to not only investing in new safer products but also in education is truly incredible," said David Broadbent, ABYC senior director of business development. "Their investment in developing more accessible training for schools and commitment to partnering with schools will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the technician shortage."

Educators had opportunity to share strategies for creating effective shop environments, securing funding and donations, and working with advisory committees. The event also featured updates from Maciej Rynkiewicz, ABYC standards developer, on advancements in ABYC standards to equip educators with the latest industry knowledge.

"The Educator Forum is an invaluable platform for educators and industry leaders to connect and shape the future of marine training programs," said Sarah Devlin, ABYC Foundation accreditation director. "We look forward to continuing this dialogue and expanding our collaborative efforts.

ABYC invites industry leaders passionate about workforce development to join future forums.

The next Educator Forum will be held on April 2, 2025, in a hybrid format. For more information, visit teachboats.org or contact Sarah Devlin at [email protected].