Nearly 200 Attend 20th BOB Conference

The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) hosted its 20th annual BOB Conference at the Lakeview Pavilion in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on January 22. The conference brought together nearly 200 attendees.

The professional development conference provided attendees with sessions that included industry updates, sales and service data to help evolve to a changing consumer, a workforce panel discussion, AI marketing tips and tools, Hanson Milone Safe Boating law updates, employment law, legislative and government relations updates and more.

The conference included two lunchtime presentations, including a special performance by Comedian Kelly MacFarland. Additionally, the MMTA awarded State Representative Kathy LaNatra with the 2025 MMTA Legislative Official of the Year. MA state legislators in attendance included Boating Caucus co-chairs Sen. Paul Feeney & Rep. Steven Xiarhos.

The BOB conference is planned and organized by a volunteer conference committee and MMTA Executive Director Randall Lyons. The conference was made possible through the generosity of its sponsors and attendees, including 18 table sponsors and 62 annual sponsors of the Association.

With workforce and training remaining a priority within the recreational boating industry, nearly 25 school administrators, instructors, and students from ten schools, including Bunker Hill CC, Cape Cod CC, Cape Tech, Whittier Tech, Upper Cape Cod Tech, Marblehead HS, New Bedford Tech, Mass Maritime, U Mass Lowell and NEIT.