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www.BoatingIndustry.com INDUSTRY NEWS 12 | Boating Industry | April 2017 ORIR holds Capitol Hill briefings on growing the outdoor recreation economy The Outdoor Recreation Industry Round- table held briefings for staffers from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, introducing the newly formed organization itself and detailing the tremen- dous economic impact of outdoor recreation within the United States. ORIR representatives reported that outdoor recreation generates $646 billion in direct economic spending and supports some 6.1 million jobs in the U.S. And they explained that there are great opportuni- ties to increase that impact in the future by expanding access to healthy, active fun outdoors on America's public lands and wa- ters. They also briefed Congressional staff- ers about ORIR's key goals. The ORIR also delivered another key message: tight federal budgets should not be allowed to reduce access to public lands and waters or diminish the quality of out- door recreation experiences. Solutions to budget-related challenges involving part- nerships and private investment have long been a tradition on the nation's public lands and need to be embraced. The group said the well-attended brief- ings opened doors to improved communi- cation and partnerships between ORIR and Congressional offices that will continue to raise Congressional awareness of the impor- tance of outdoor recreation and encourage actions to improve recreational opportunities on America's public lands and waters. Four marine industry women recognized for excellence in manufacturing Four marine industry women have been se- lected among 130 recipients to receive the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award from the Manufacturing In- stitute for 2016. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated ex- cellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing in- dustry, from the factory-floor to the C suite. Selected from the marine industry are Kris Carroll, president, Grady-White Boats; Jan Morton, vice president – supply chain, Bruns- wick Boat Group; Katelyn Vara, project en- gineer, Mercury Marine; and Marcea Weiss, plant operation manager, Mercury Marine. The STEP Ahead Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recogni- tion, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent. A recent survey from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute found that six out of ten open skilled production positions are un- filled due to the talent shortage. Part of clos- ing the skills gap means closing the gender gap, Alderman points out. On April 20, the Manufacturing Institute will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP Ahead Awards at a reception in Washing- ton, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards pro- gram will highlight each honoree's story, including their leadership and accomplish- ments in manufacturing. Freedom Boat Club franchise network experiences continued growth Over the past year, Freedom Boat Club has experienced exponential growth, a fact President and CEO John Giglio attributes to greater brand awareness of the boat sharing concept, coupled with the opening of new clubs and the resulting consumer demand for the unique maintenance-free boating lifestyle. According to Giglio, the company has expe- rienced a 40 percent growth in franchise club expansion since December 2015. In the past six months, Freedom Boat Club has opened new markets and opened multiple clubs in Seattle; Stockton, Calif.; Seneca, S.C.; and Fort Pierce, Fla. Recent existing franchise owner/opera- tors have also announced major regional expansions, adding clubs in their respective territories. Other recent franchise market expansions and/or upcoming 2017 season openings include Baltimore and Washington D.C.; Boynton Beach, Palm Coast and a second location in Jacksonville, Fla.; Pittsburg, Calif.; Stratford and Branford, Conn.; and a second location in Babylon, Long Island, N.Y. "Freedom Boat Club offers a proven revenue model and the success is clearly reflected in the numbers of new franchise owners opening new clubs, the growth of new members and the continued investment of the club in new boats and marine-related goods," said Giglio. "We expect this robust trend to continue, with several new locations currently under review throughout the U.S. and Canada. We also anticipate launching the club abroad where exciting new oppor- tunities abound." Golden Boat Lifts launches dock company Golden Boat Lifts has launched a separate dock manufacturing company, Golden Marine Systems. Michael Shanley was named president of Golden Marine Systems, which designs, engineers and manufactures state-of-the-art custom floating aluminum docks and gang- ways. Leveraging the American Welding Society-certified workforce of ISO 9001-cer- tified Golden Boat Lifts, the new company's products are built using premium quality ma- rine grade aluminum and stainless steel and they have a life expectancy of 35+ years and come with a 10-year limited warranty, the company said. Shanley is a 35-year marina industry veteran and the chair of the Florida Clean