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Washington, D.C., May 17, 2017 – The 2017 American Boating Congress (ABC), organized by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), honored today the Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA) with the ABC Co-Host Marketing Award, recognizing each year an ABC co-host who goes above the call of duty to promote the conference through various marketing initiatives.

“We’re proud to bestow this year’s Co-Host Marketing Award to the Connecticut Marine Trades Association,” declared NMMA President Thom Dammrich. “Their outstanding marketing efforts and achievements greatly contributed to raising awareness of the 2017 American Boating Congress, building enthusiasm for boating advocacy and driving attendance to this year’s conference.”

After a comprehensive nomination and review process, CMTA stood out as a marketing leader in 2017 for its immense efforts to endorse and raise awareness around ABC. CMTA launched their 2017 marketing strategy for the conference nearly a year in advance, reaching out to members, industry leaders and other stakeholders emphasizing the importance of attending ABC. Marketing initiatives included daily and weekly newsletters, emails and social media updates.

Taking it a step further, during Senator Chris Murphy’s ‘walk across the State’ last September, CMTA met with him directly at a marina stop, encouraging Murphy to support the Boating Caucus and to welcome members during Hill visits in 2017. And finally, this past March during the General Session of CMTA’s annual meeting, the Association included a full presentation of ABC and its importance to the recreational boating industry, encouraging member participation.

25 organizations from the recreational boating industry came together in 2017 as co-hosts of ABC, spending months planning and promoting the conference to raise awareness and bring the industry together to present a unified front on Capitol Hill. Co-hosts sent emails to their network of contacts, included articles in their newsletters, provided ads on websites and in magazines, and included content on their social media channels.

“The American Boating Congress would like to thank all of our co-host organizations for their efforts in making this year's event such a success,” said Dammrich. “With our co-hosts help, ABC has evolved into the marine industry’s premier political and legislative event, effecting positive change in Washington for recreational boating.”

Previous Co-Host Marketing Award winners include: the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (2014); The Yacht Brokers Association of America, Inc. (2015); and Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (2016).

For media inquires, please contact Kelsi Morris, [email protected], (202) 737-9752.

To come on board as a co-host for ABC in 2018, please contact Laura Crisler, [email protected]. Co-hosts for ABC 2017: American Sportfishing Association, Association of Marina Industries, Boating Industry Magazine, BoatU.S., Boats Group, Center for Sportfishing Policy, Connecticut Marine Trades Association, International Yacht Brokers Association, Lake Erie Marine Trades Association, Marine Industries Association of South Florida, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, Michigan Boating Industries Association, National Marine Distributors Association, National Marine Lenders Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Safe Boating Council, National Yacht Broker Certification Program, Norman-Spencer Marine Insurance, Soundings Trade Only, States Organization for Boating Access, The American Boat Builders and Repairers Association, The Boating Trade Association of Metropolitan Houston, U.S. Superyacht Association, Yacht Brokers Association of America.

Sponsors for ABC 2017 include: PRESIDENT’S LEVEL – Brunswick and Mercury, Yamaha and Yamaha Watercraft; ADMIRAL’S LEVEL – Correct Craft, Indmar; CAPTAIN’S LEVEL – BRP and Evinrude, Center for Sportfishing Policy, Groupe Beneteau, SeaStar Solutions, White River Marine Group; FIRST MATE’S LEVEL – ILMOR, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, Sea Tow, Suzuki, Volvo Penta; PURSER’S LEVEL – BoatUS, Chaparral, Dometic, Freedom Boat Club, Infinity Luxury Woven Fabrics, International Yacht Brokers Association, Marine Concepts, SureShade, Syntec, Water Sports Industry Association. Contact John Marcinek, [email protected], to come on board as a 2018 ABC sponsor.

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About NMMA: The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading trade organization for the North American recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, marine accessories and gear used by millions of boaters in North America. The association serves its members and their sales and service networks by improving the business environment for recreational boating including providing domestic and international sales and marketing opportunities, reducing unnecessary government regulation, decreasing the cost of doing business, and helping grow boating participation. As the largest producer of boat and sport shows in the U.S., NMMA connects the recreational boating industry with the boating consumer year-round. Learn more at www.nmma.org and get engaged with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.