American Boating Congress 2025 Opens with Leadership Insights on Growth, Policy
Today kicks off the first full day of events for the 2025 American Boating Congress (ABC). Early this morning, NMMA President and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer led fireside chat-style introductory remarks with Brett McGill, Marine Max President & CEO and Bryan Redmond,Suntex Marinas CEO and Co-founder.
A warm welcome and thank you were given to ABC 2025 attendees. CEO’s Hugelmeyer, McGill, and Redmond helped to set the stage for ABC 2025. They also discussed important and timely issues for NMMA members.
Key Insights:
- The recreational boating industry is navigating significant headwinds, from shifting market dynamics to changing demographics—underscoring the need for forward-looking strategies that cultivate the next generation of boat owners.
- Delivering a seamless, tech-enabled customer journey that builds confidence, demonstrates value and removes intimidation is critical to long-term engagement.
- A full-circle strategy, rooted in targeted marketing and a clearly defined customer profile from manufacturer to showroom, is essential for sustained growth.
- Embracing innovation, including emerging technologies like AI, presents a timely opportunity to modernize operations and attract the next wave of boaters.
Following the ABC 2025 welcome remarks and roundtable, NMMA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Chief Advocacy Officer Robyn Boerstling moderated the Charting the Course for a Shifting Regulatory Landscape panel with Braden Boucek, Southeastern Legal Foundation VP of Litigation and Roger Nober, Director of the GW Regulatory Studies Center Professor of Practice of Public Policy and Public Administration.
Panel discussion focused on how the Administration and Congress are shaping a deregulatory agenda that is heavily influenced by the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision and other rulings. The panel explored new initiatives and opportunities to address regulatory costs, legislative clarity, and burdens on business.