Press Releases

Contacts:

Barbara Jean Walsh, Professional BoatBuilder magazine (888) 668-8801
proboattraining@proboat.com

Caroline Chetelat, ABYC (410) 990-4460 ext. 22
cchetelat@abycinc.org

Tom Marhevko, NMMA (312) 946-6200
tmarhevko@nmma.org

July 25, 2007, Annapolis, MD; Brooklin, ME; and Chicago, IL: COMITT (Conference on Marine Industry Technical Training) will take place once again February 18 - 20, 2008 at the Gallery One Fort Lauderdale, a Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, says Steve Kitchin, Chair of the Marine Industry Technical Education Council (MITEC) and Vice President, Corporate Education and Training at New England Institute of Technology.

Produced by MITEC and co-sponsored by the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and Professional BoatBuilder magazine, COMITT 2008 will provide a dynamic forum in support of technical workforce education, training, certification, and professional development. "The purpose of COMITT '08 is to bring everyone concerned about maintaining and expanding a top-notch marine industry workforce together to learn and discuss how to draw qualified people into our schools and workplaces," says Kitchin.

According to COMITT Planning Committee Chair, Barbara Jean Walsh (Professional BoatBuilder magazine), "COMITT 2008 will be a great opportunity to discuss key issues with a dedicated corps of boatbuilders, marine manufacturers, suppliers, surveyors, marine underwriters, repair facilities, and dealers -- as well as educators, occupational training experts, and other recreational industry training experts. We encourage anyone interested in addressing this issue to attend!"

COMITT will offer numerous opportunities for industry networking, with several activities specifically geared toward helping attendees make connections with the right people, projects, vendors, and tools for their individual endeavors. "We'll also provide updates on grants and financial support; training tools, materials, and processes; and best practices in marine-industry technical training," says Walsh.

Thanks to the support of Elluminate, Inc., selected COMITT presentations will be broadcast over the Internet via ProBoat E-Training's web site. ProBoat E-Training will also set up an online forum where people can take part in ongoing discussions -- before, during, and after the conference.

"That site will be updated regularly as speakers and topics are confirmed," says Walsh. "Already, we have confirmed several speakers, including Susan Swanton and Stacey Palmer from the Maine Marine Trades Association, talking about their state's WIRED grant; Bob Lacovara (ACMA) on training frontline supervisors; and Hilary Mason (Johnson & Wales University) explaining how 'new media' applications can benefit the industry."

ABYC's Caroline Chetelat adds, "And, of course, the primary COMITT web site is up and running at www.comitt.org, and we are ready to accept registrations. People can also send an email to COMITT2008@gmail.com to be added to our mailing list."

Even as planning is still underway, people interested in keeping up to date can join the COMITT 2008 group on the social network Facebook to share their ideas and concerns. There is also an interactive news page at www.pageflakes.com/COMITT2008 and a "connections" map at www.attendr.com/COMITT2008.

For those who do attend, this year's venue is a remarkable draw. Located on the IntraCoastal Waterway, Gallery One offers outstanding views, easy access to the beach and to area attractions, an impressive art collection, and high-tech capabilities that are ideal for showcasing COMITT's conference presentations.

The conference's February dates were chosen deliberately to overlap with the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS). According to NMMA's Tom Marhevko, "We will be providing bus transportation and admission to MIBS for attendees who chose to participate in this special event on Monday Feb. 18." That evening, COMITT will also host an onsite reception at Gallery One where participants can enjoy the sparkling beauty of the waterway after dark.

In 2005, COMITT assembled a diversified mix of industry and education representatives who built the foundation for a unified approach to establishing quality marine technical education training and professional development. A year later, the second COMITT provided a further opportunity for attendees to discover "resources for success," and also to meet and discuss ideas with the newly formed 22-member MITEC -- which was created as a COMITT action point a year earlier.

"MITEC members again will be available and accessible at COMITT 2008," says Chetelat. "We want to continue MITEC's momentum by providing new information and tools for our industry to use in assessing and addressing the current shortage of skilled marine technicians."

Walsh closed by saying, "We do still have sponsorship opportunities. Anyone who is interested can contact us through the ABYC Education Office at (410) 990-4460, or by sending an email to COMITT2008@gmail.com."