|
FEBRUARY 2025
DISTRIBUTED BY THE MARINE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF THE TREASURE COAST.
MARTIN COUNTY | ST. LUCIE COUNTY | INDIAN RIVER COUNTY | OKEECHOBEE COUNTY |
|
Welcome Aboard: Meet Our Newest Members
|
|
| New members not shown have not uploaded their logo to their profile page. |
|
Reminder: Don't Forget to Update Your MIATC Membership Profile
|
|
|
|
Contact details change sometimes. Remember to periodically check your member profile to make sure that the current information is listed there.
Members can also assign tags or labels to their profile so that a website visitor can search for your particular skill set. If a particular label isn't included in the list, please send us an email and we'll get it added for you.
Member renewals are coming due in a few months, so keep a lookout for a reminder email from us. The new website allows you to store your payment data for automatic renewals too! |
|
WOW! What a great Stuart Boat Show this year! Not only were we blessed with beautiful weather, but thanks to further investment by our producer, AllSports Productions, went as smoothly as can be. All indications point to one of the highest attended shows in recent history and the show sold out the exhibitor space almost 5 months early.
For 51 years the Stuart Boat Show has been a staple of the Treasure Coast. The close partnership with the City of Stuart, the local land owners, the producer and the MIATC continues to deliver one of the highest profitable weekends for the downtown vendors. The Stuart Boat Show highlights all the best things about the City; friendly people, beautiful sights and the economic power of the marine industry.
The MIATC thanks everyone who had a stake in making this year's show such a success! |
|
|
Meet with other members, buy a drink and food while supporting the MIATC initiatives! Great refreshments and a beautiful setting await.
Even better? Bring someone along who should be a member of the MIATC. We're stronger together! |
|
|
|
MIATC APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
|
|
|
|
Rob Mac Keen Chosen as New E.D.
The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIATC) announced the hiring of Rob Mac Keen as its new executive director. A seasoned veteran of the industry, Mac Keen’s extensive and experience outshined the strong slate of finalists, says Dan Romence, chair of the MIATC board of directors as well as president of the Indiantown Marine Center.
“Rob has more than 40 years’ worth of experience in the marine industry,” says Romence. “He got his start helping out at his father’s shipyard when he was quite young and he’s built an impressive career since then. His expansive knowledge of the local region and ability to understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities our members face made him the perfect professional for the position. We’re excited about the caliber of leadership he’ll bring to the association.”
Throughout his career, Mac Keen has acted as a surveyor, yacht and ship owner’s representative, project manager, general manager, vice president and director of operations for various shipyards, boatyards and ferry services. Through his maritime consultancy company MacKeen Group (www.mackeengroup.com), Rob additionally serves as a technical advisor and software consultant.
An MIATC member since 2019, he served on the board of directors representing Derecktor Ft. Pierce, a major yacht repair and refit facility in the Treasure Coast. Prior to assuming the role of Executive Director, Rob vacated his role on the board and was replaced by Lauren DeLuca of Safe Harbor Harborage Yacht Club in Stuart.
“The MACKEEN GROUP is proud to take on this important agenda for the rapidly growing marine industry of this region,” says Mac Keen. “Taking the reins from Justin Beard, our outgoing director, could not have been easier since we have previously worked together and respect each other tremendously. I’m so invigorated about what this association is going to do as well as the huge potential of the region for the marine industry as a whole.”
Mac Keen plans to concentrate his efforts on key MIATC priorities such as:
- Crafting, upholding and advancing state, local and regional policies that protect vital industry initiatives such as, among others, safe navigation, working waterfronts, commercial fishing, boat repair and boatbuilding.
- Guiding workforce readiness programs to ensure the multibillion regional industry retains its vital role in the economy.
- Environmental advocacy and waterway cleanups.
- Building on the ongoing success of the Stuart Boat Show
- Strengthening membership services and expanding the overall strength of the Marine Association.
Rob can be contacted at:
exec@miatc.org or (954)520-4560 |
|
|
WORKFORCE READINESS INITIATIVES
|
|
|
|
The MIATC has been heavily involved in Workforce Readiness. Here are some of the recent highlights of those efforts:
MIATC representatives spoke at the Martin County Business Development Board roundtable as part of the "Talent Advancement Team" (TAT) initiative at Indiantown Highschool on Jan 30th.
The MIATC Executive Director participated in the Stuart/Martin Chamber "Passport to Careers" event at Martin County Highschool on Feb 10th.
The Executive Director will be participate in the Ft. Pierce Yacht Club "Chart Your Course" event on Feb 20th.
Exciting news is coming from Chapman's School of Seamanship. We can't disclose too much right now, but members are going to be excited about it!
Several discussions with Indian River State College regarding their amazing Advanced Manufacturing curriculum and proposed Apprenticeship training program.
Email MIATC >> |
|
The 18th Annual Waterway Cleanup is coming!
|
|
Yet again, our army of volunteers and sponsors is getting ready for the Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup event. This large scale effort collects trash and debris from the shorelines, mangroves, reefs and water bodies across Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
You don't need a truck. You don't need to fill a contractor bag. There is so such thing as too small a contribution. Everything helps. Giving your time to the effort is appreciated by the community as well as the delicate ecosystem that is the Indian River Lagoon and nearshore reef systems.
For more information, registrations and sponsorship opportunities, click here >> |
|
IT'S FEBRUARY - DO YOU HAVE A HURRICANE PLAN?
|
|
Hurricane season is (officially) 3.5 months away but we've all seen that Mother Nature doesn't pay much attention to our calendar. When she wants to deliver a storm, she'll do at at her own time, own speed and own direction.
Many insurance underwriters have specific language regarding hurricane damage. Make sure to read your policy well, or speak to your agent about what is - and what is not - included in your coverage. Some policies have a double deductible for named storms. That means you will pay twice as much out of your own pocket before the insurance company covers the balance. Other policies may require a haulout or storage ashore to have coverage. There are policies that geographically limit where the boat can be for a storm and there are a select few that offer no hurricane coverage at all.
So what are your options?
1) Take your chances that a storm won't hit. Akin to rolling the dice, there are times you will come out of the storm season with double 6's but there's the chance you'll be looking at snake eyes and all is lost.
2) Have a plan to run away. Even when evaluating the safety your home and your family, this is a smart thing to have when the forecast looks really bad. In light of the tornado damage last year's storm delivered, everyone should have some way to bail out of the area knowing that traffic will be terrible, towing your boat will make it worse and hotel lodging at a premium.
3) Have a hurricane haulout plan. These are becoming less available because of insurance limitations on the boatyards that used to do it. All boatyards are on the water and are likely in some sort of flood or evacuation zone. Underwriters don't like that much risk. The few yards that can accommodate a hurricane plan are usually booked early in the year.
GET YOUR HURRICANE HAULOUT CONTRACT NOW!
Even if you plan on buying a boat this year, get your name on the waiting list at the boatyard. Shopping for a place to take your boat when there's a storm already barreling towards the area is the wrong time to take that initiative.
The MIATC website is developing a list of companies that offer hurricane plans. Some are already sold out with no expected availability. Some have a waiting list. Hardly any are going to say that they have excess capacity.
Don't get caught in the storm. Prepare your home. Prepare for your family. Prepare for your pets. Prepare for your boat.
Rob Mac Keen
Executive Director |
|
ABOUT MIATC
The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast is the only nonprofit marine trade organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and growing marine-related business and recreational boating interests in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Okeechobee counties.
Established in 1974, MIATC keeps the public informed on important marine-related issues across the Treasure Coast by promoting boater safety; supporting workforce readiness within the marine industry; advocating for clean waterways, navigable passageways and ocean access; and policies supporting maritime interests.
As owner of the Stuart Boat Show (the region’s largest and most successful boat show), MIATC and its member businesses help drive an annual economic impact of more than $1.3 billion on the Treasure Coast. MIATC members range from family-run businesses and specialized tradespeople to yacht brokers and megayacht shipyards, who collectively make the Treasure Coast an ideal destination for boating.
For more information or to become a member of the association contact Rob Mac Keen, Executive Director, at exec@miatc.org or 772-692-7599.
If you are already a member, thank you. The group is getting bigger and stronger thanks to your support. Don't forget to invite others to apply for membership as well! |
|
Do you have information you would like to share with the MIATC Member Network?
Send us an email to be included in a future edition of the Boatlines newsletter. |
|
Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast
2024-25 Board of Directors
|
|
President: Dan Romence, Indiantown Marine Center
Past President: Tom Whittington, Manatee Pocket Yacht Sales
Vice President: Lauren DeLuca, Safe Harbor Harborage Yacht Club
Secretary: Butch Olsen, Port Salerno Commercial Fishing Dock Authority
Treasurer: Sean Ebersold, Ebersold Boatworks
Senior Director: John Yudin, Guy Yudin & Foster LLP
Senior Director: Janet Zimmerman, Florida Inland Navigation District
Lauren Abbott, Oceanwide Electronics
Hank Berry, Carpenter On-Board
Amy Cimber-Snodgrass, Onward & Upward Events
Ryan Helmig, Sea Tow Treasure Coast & Palm Beach
Thomas O'Brien, Chapman Marine Supply
Donald Spaeth, Freedom Boat Club - Fort Pierce
John Sprague, JH Sprague Consulting LLC
Brian Trappy, Land 'N' Sea Distributing
Executive Director: Rob Mac Keen, MacKeen Group LLC |
|
|
|
