The 2006 Conference on Marine Industry Technical Training (COMITT) again gathered representatives from all segments of the industry and educators together to connect and share information about current training programs and discuss what else needs to be done to make that training more accessible and pervasive.

Begun last year by co-producers the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Professional BoatBuilder magazine (PBB), the second COMITT proved to be another important step along the road to a better-trained workforce.

COMITT '06 provided a forum where attendees could not only hear from speakers on how to uncover "resources for success," but also meet, discuss ideas with and ask questions of the newly formed 22 member Marine Industry Technical Education Council (MITEC), an organization created as a result of COMITT '05. The MITEC has not only come along way since COMITT '05, but it made much progress through the assistance and input of this year's conference attendees. MITEC will continue to make progress towards implementing a coordinated approach to addressing the education, training and professional development needs of our industry, and we look forward to the continued support and commitment of our industry and education representatives.

A photo album of COMITT 2006 follows. We hope all those who joined us had a fun and educational experience!

Attendees listen in the opening day's General Session to Keynote Speaker Dr. David DeLong, who presented real solutions for retaining and regaining lost workforce knowledge.	Dr. David DeLong, COMITT Keynote Speaker and workforce development expert.
Ed Boncek, MITEC Chair, introduces the MITEC members and Division Chairs and gives an update on MITEC.	Garry Appleby from Riviera Marine traveled all the way from Australia to discuss their apprenticeship program with conference attendees.
Attendees listen to Garry Appleby during the lunch session on Day 1.	Ed Sherman, MITEC member and Division Chair, leads the MITEC Professional Development Division working group.
Skip Burdon, MITEC Secretary and Division Chair leads the MITEC Career Awareness & Opportunities Division working group.	Attendees Guy Beckley, Dan Gribble, Randy Renn and Jack Hornor enjoy the cocktail reception.
On Day 2, attendees could choose from educational sessions to attend in the morning and afternoon. Barbara Montalbano from Sea Ray Boats presented on "Obtaining Funding for Employee Training."	Alex Wittig of the Council on Occupational Education presented an educational session on "Steps to Becoming an Accredited Education Institution."
Ed Lofgren, MITEC member and co-Division Chair ran a session on "How to Develop a Continuing Education Program in Your Area."	Participants listen on during the closing General Session.
COMITT co-producers present Bill Yeargin a gift in appreciation of his work as moderator of COMITT for the second year in a row.	MITEC's Executive Committee, made up of Division Chairs (from L to R) Joe DeMarco, AMTECH; Skip Burdon, ABYC; Ed Boncek, Sea Ray Boats; Dolores Blueford, NW Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing; and Ed Sherman, ABYC.
The Marine Industry Technical Education Council (MITEC): From Left to Right: Skip Burdon, MITEC Secretary/ABYC President, Conrad Kreuter, Moriches Boat & Motor, Greg Eck, Yanmar Marine Ed Boncek, MITEC Chair/Sea Ray Boats, Inc., James Mills, Yamaha Marine Group, Curt Ainsworth, Cape Cod Regional Technical High School Tom Miller, Mercury Marine, Joe DeMarco, MITEC Vice-Chair/AMTECH, Jack Hornor, Marine Survey & Design, Co., Peter Dahl, Quadrant Marine Institute, Barry Acker, The Landing School, Nancy Bodick, Milford Boat Works, Roger Hellyar-Brook, The Landing School, Ed Sherman, ABYC, Dolores Blueford, NW Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology, Sarah Devlin, EMarineTraining.com, Tom Marhevko, National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), Steve Kitchin, New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) Absent members: Larry Goudy, G&G Marina Charles Teran, Fiberglass Specialties Joe Thompson, YBAA Kenneth Weinbrecht, Ocean Bay Marine Services