Marina Dock Age Magazine

10/29/2025

⛈️ Think you’re “grandfathered in”? Think again.

Docks Expo Education Session;
Grandfathering is a Myth: Can You Rebuild Your Marina After a Hurricane?
📅 Wednesday, December 3
🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

When disaster strikes, outdated permits and insufficient insurance can leave marinas stranded. This session breaks down what happens after the storm—navigating new regulations, securing funding, and expediting permits to rebuild faster and stronger.

🎤 Featuring:
Robert Fowler, President, Fowler Construction and Development

Discover proactive planning strategies to protect your investment and ensure your marina is ready to weather whatever comes next.

10/29/2025

📐 Build smarter, not harder.

Sound Design and Engineering Solutions for New or Updated Marina Facilities
📅 Wednesday, December 3
🕐 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Designing or upgrading a marina isn’t just about putting docks in the water—it’s about creating a facility that performs, endures, and delivers a return on investment. This session explores how site conditions, boater demand, and environmental factors all play into building a safe, efficient, and future-ready marina.

🎤 Featuring:
Dan Williams, PLA, ASLA, Principal Landscape Architect, MSA Professional Services, Inc.
Marcus Rue, PE, Senior Project Engineer, MSA Professional Services, Inc.

You’ll learn how to evaluate waterfront sites for feasibility, design for accessibility and compliance, and align with the Planning and Design Guidelines for Small Craft Harbors (Manual 50). The discussion will showcase marina projects where foresight, collaboration, and smart engineering led to lasting success.

10/27/2025

🛟 Safety first, success always!

The Docks Expo Education Session:
Anchored in Safety: Creating a Culture of Safety and Avoiding Common Marina Operating Mistakes
📅 Wednesday, December 3
🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

A safe marina is a thriving marina. This session dives into real-world examples and proactive strategies to help you identify hazards, reduce risks, and strengthen safety culture for boaters, staff, and the environment.

🎤 Featuring:
Terry Rogers, Regional Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Safe Harbor Marinas
Dan Natchez, President, Daniel S. Natchez and Associates, Inc.

Learn how to avoid common operating pitfalls and keep your marina running smoothly—and safely.

10/27/2025

💡 Fresh ideas, proven profits!

The Docks Expo Education Session:
Revenue Generating Ideas to Set Your Marina Apart
📅 Wednesday, December 3 Keynote
🕤 9:30–10:30 AM

Back by popular demand! Following the packed panel at last year’s Docks Expo, a new lineup of marina leaders will share creative, high-impact strategies driving unexpected revenue growth. From innovative services to customer experience upgrades, this session delivers inspiration you can put into action.

🎤 Featuring:
Kyle Bostwick, General Manager, Lake Industries (Moderator)
Charlotte Jacunski, General Manager, Northshore & Waterford Marinas – VIP Marinas
Mitchell Hansen Booth, Marina Manager, Horseshoe Bay Resort Marina

Join the conversation, swap success stories, and walk away with ideas to boost your bottom line.

10/24/2025

Signage might not be the first thing that comes to mind when envisioning a well-run marina, but industry experts agree it plays a pivotal role in both safety and customer experience.

Proper sign placement and design can protect marina owners from liability and promote a safer, more organized environment.

10/22/2025

📄 Uncover the truth behind certificates of insurance!

The Docks Expo Education Session
Certificates of Insurance: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Truth
📅 Tuesday, December 2
🕔 4:15–5:15 PM

Certificates of insurance are essential for protecting marinas—but they’re often misunderstood. This session breaks down what coverages should be required, how to spot red flags, and how to defend your business from fraud and liability gaps.

🎤 Featuring:
Lori Sousa, President, Sea Land Insurance

Learn what every marina operator should know about verifying contractor and vendor insurance, identifying fraudulent certificates, and ensuring your business is properly protected.

10/22/2025

💰 Navigate the new landscape of marina grant funding!

The Docks Expo Education Session
Grant Funding in the DOGE Era
📅 Tuesday, December 2
🕔 4:15–5:15 PM

Federal funding changes, staffing shortages, and shifting priorities have transformed the grant programs marinas depend on for pumpouts, resiliency, and infrastructure improvements. This session brings together grant writers, developers, and administrators to share how programs are evolving—and what marina owners can do to stay competitive.

🎤 Featuring:
Kathy Weykamp, Principal, Edgewater Resources
Mike Morphey, PE, Principal, Edgewater Resources
Greg Weykamp, CRMP, Principal, Edgewater Resources
Sarah Orlando, Ohio Clean Marinas Program Manager, Ohio Sea Grant

Gain practical strategies to strengthen your proposals, build coalitions, and secure the support needed to fund your next big project.

10/21/2025

💻 Streamline your operations with smarter software!

The Docks Expo Education Session
Marina Software: Streamline Operations and Improve Customer Experiences
📅 Tuesday, December 2
🕒 3:00–4:00 PM

From reservations to reporting, the right technology can transform how your marina runs. This panel brings together top software innovators to explore the latest tools designed to simplify workflows, boost efficiency, and deliver better customer experiences.

🎤 Featuring:
Moderator: Brent Wierson, VP of Sales & Services, Storable Marine (Molo | Stellar)
Reid Burns, Sales Team Lead, Dockwa
Noah Elorfi, Operations, Sharper Marina Management
Jamie Gilman, Sales Executive, DockMaster Software
Kenny Mass, Sales Business Development Manager, Scribble Software

Discover the future of marina management and how tech can help you do more—with less hassle.

10/20/2025

⚖️ Protect your business from costly risks!

The Docks Expo Education Session
Liability and Property Insurance: How Much is Too Much or Too Little
📅 Tuesday, December 2
🕒 3:00–4:00 PM

Nuclear verdicts and major storm events can devastate a marina’s bottom line. This session unpacks the age of litigation funding, skyrocketing repair costs, and insurance trends reshaping risk management across the industry.

🎤 Featuring:
Matt Roper, Marine Practice Leader, One80 Intermediaries
Dan Rutherford, Director, Claims and Risk Management, One80 Intermediaries
DJ Tyler, Vice President & Co-owner, Marine Specialties Limited

Learn how to safeguard your operation from multi-million-dollar settlements and reduce financial exposure before disaster strikes.

10/20/2025

📣 𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮! 👉 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘨𝘦, Association of Marina Industries and Molo Simple Marine Management have teamed up to conduct a joint industry survey. Tell us how business is going at your marina. The survey closes on October 31. We'll report the results at the 2025 Docks Expo and Marina Conference and in an upcoming issue of 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘨𝘦.

We want to hear how business is going at your marina. Marina Dock Age, Molo/Stellar, and the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) have teamed up to conduct an industry-wide 2025 Trends Report. We encourage U.S.-based marinas to take the survey. The results … Learn More

10/17/2025

⚓ Ready to future-proof your marina operation?

Join us at The Docks Expo & Marina Conference,
📅 December 2–4, 2025 | 📍 Music City Center, Nashville, TN
brings together marina and boatyard professionals from across the country for:
✅ Expert-led education on safety, staffing, and operations
✅ A trade show packed with marina-focused innovations
✅ Networking that fuels partnerships all year long

Whether you’re an owner, manager, or industry supplier, this is where the marina community connects, learns, and grows together.

🌐 Learn more and register today at docksexpo.com



https://facebook.com/docksexpo/videos/601805825663605/

10/16/2025

💪 Strengthen your workforce from the inside out!

Docks Expo Education Session:
Employee Life Cycle: Building a Team that Lasts
📅 Tuesday, December 2
🕐 1:45–2:45 PM

Discover practical strategies for hiring, onboarding, training, and retaining the right people to keep your marina running smoothly and successfully.

🎤 Featuring:
Amanda Funk, Owner, Compass Maritime Group

Gain tools to make confident hiring decisions, engage with local tech schools, and tap into grants and apprentice programs that support long-term employee growth and satisfaction.