Select each education session to read more.

Tuesday, December 1

8:00 am – 12:00 pm • PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP AND LUNCH
HR Bootcamp. Essential Employee Relations: Handbook, Hiring, Discipline, Termination & Harassment
Music City Center (Separate $100 registration required. Limited to 100 attendees.)
Chris Bellamy, Partner, Co-Chair Corporate Criminal Investigations and White Collar Defense, Fisher Phillips
Chantell C. Foley, Partner, Fisher Phillips
Marie Scott, Partner, Fisher Phillips
Robert Smith, Safety Consultant, Fisher Phillips

 

This 4-hour seminar gives marina owners and managers practical, legally-minded guidance for handling the most common and high-risk employee relations issues. Through short presentations, real-world scenarios, and interactive discussions, participants will explore how to: run compliant and bias-aware hiring processes; build and maintain an effective employee handbook and documented training; recognize “run of the mill” matters that may involve criminal elements; mitigate and handle crisis situations; prevent and respond to harassment and retaliation; apply progressive and documented discipline; manage lawful and respectful terminations; and establish an effective rapid-response program. Emphasis is on clear policies, defensible decision-making, documentation of best practices, remaining ready for the unexpected, and communication strategies that reduce legal risk and support a productive workplace.

12:30 – 1:30 pm • OPENING SESSION
Insurance for Marinas: A Look into the Future
Music City Center
Lori Sousa, President, Sea Land Insurance Corporation
Dan Rutherford Director, Claims and Risk Management, One80 Intermediaries

 

For marina owners, insurance isn’t a checkbox—it’s what stands between a bad day on the water and a business-ending loss. Over the next five to ten years, the market will be shaped by bigger coastal weather swings, higher rebuild costs, stricter underwriting, and smarter technology that can speed up claims (or tighten eligibility). This session looks at the trends most likely to affect marina property, liability, pollution, workers compensation, and boat storage/yard operations—so you can renew with fewer surprises and more leverage.

1:45 – 2:30 pm • SAFETY
ADA – Making it Work for You – It’s More than the Law
Music City Center
Dan Natchez, President, Daniel S. Natchez and Associates, Inc.

 

Making the facility accessible is more than just a legal requirement it can help increase the bottom line.

1:45 – 2:30 pm • FUNDING/FINANCING
Dead Money: Don’t Let Bad Capital Investments Kill Future Income and Value
Music City Center
Robert Fowler, Jr., President, Fowler Construction and Development

 

Every marina owner is playing the same game: some capital investments earn their rent, some sit on the board collecting dust, and some actually cost you more money. Learn to read the board and make good decisions on when to renovate, replace, and/or reposition. In this session, Rob Fowler of Fowler Construction & Development draws on 40+ years of Florida marina projects to introduce the Capital Allocation Board: a simple, visual framework for spotting the tipping points for deciding when to renovate, replace, reposition, or reconsider.
You’ll leave with practical strategies for playing the capital investment game, understanding the considerations for prioritizing those investments for best returns, and insights for turning your property’s potential into future value. Whether you’re planning a renovation, repositioning for a new market, or wondering if it’s time to rebuild, this session will help you avoid Dead Money – the capital that goes into a marina and never comes back out as revenue, occupancy, or resale value.

2:45 – 3:30 pm • CONSTRUCTION
Climate Resilience Without Overbuilding: Practical Marina Planning for Changing Water Levels, Storms and Ice
Music City Center
Alejandra Lira-Pantoja, Project Engineer, Edgewater Resources, LLC
Jack Cox, Principal, Edgewater Resources, LLC

 

Marina owners and operators are increasingly asked to plan for changing water levels, stronger storms, flooding, erosion, heat, drought, and ice impacts, but resilient design does not always mean building bigger, higher, or more expensively. This session will focus on practical engineering and planning strategies that help marinas prepare for future conditions while avoiding unnecessary overdesign. The discussion will explore how water level variability, wave exposure, overtopping, ice damage, drainage, shoreline erosion, and aging infrastructure affect marina operators and long-term capital planning.
Attendees will learn how early risk screening, phased improvements, targeted engineering studies, and smart material or layout choices can reduce future repair costs and support better funding, permitting, and budgeting decisions. The goal is to help marina owners invest in the right improvements at the right time, rather than reacting after damage occurs or overbuilding based on uncertainty.

2:45 – 3:30 pm • FUNDING/FINANCING
New Revenue Opportunities for Marinas: Ideas That Are Working
Music City Center
Moderator: Kyle Bostwick, Buoyancy Advocate, Lake Industries
Josh Conley, COO and Co-Founder, New Haven Marinas
John Judice, General Manager, Marina Bay Harbor Marina
Chris Fontana, Operations Manager, VIP Marina

 

Marina owners and operators are constantly looking for new ways to increase revenue while improving the customer experience. Building on the popularity of previous Docks Expo sessions, this year’s discussion features a new group of panelists sharing real-world examples, lessons learned and ideas that attendees can adapt for their own marinas. Audience participation is encouraged, making this a collaborative exchange of experiences and revenue-generating strategies.

3:45 – 4:30 pm • CONSTRUCTION
Stand Your Ground
Music City Center
Zac Morris, PE, Principal, AMI Consulting Engineers, P.A.

 

In the AEC Industry, there is nothing more frustrating than having a client that will not stand their ground. They want something a certain way, and demand it a certain way, but ultimately do not get what they want due to pressure or even coercion from the Architect, Engineer, and/or Contractor. This presentation will discuss the perils of not standing your ground and will reinforce the extremely challenging job an owner is tasked with.
Case studies will be presented where the client did not stand their ground. An emphasis will be placed on both the Architect-Engineer industry and the construction industry. Specifics on contracts, risks, liabilities, red flags, project costs, and project performance will be highlighted. The audience will walk away with a renewed commitment to standing their ground, being careful of the “grease”, and having greater confidence in their ability to enforce contracts.

3:45 – 4:30 pm • CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
We Build Boaters™
Music City Center
Roxanne Rockvam, Owner, Pontoon Girl LLC

 

Marinas do more than rent slips, sell fuel, or store boats — they build boaters.

In this high-energy and framework-driven presentation, Roxanne shares the customer growth philosophies and operational systems developed during her 30 years operating a multi-profit-center marina business built around customer experience, retention, and boating participation. Roxanne combines operational experience, customer psychology, and modern marketing strategy into a practical framework specifically designed for the marina industry. Built from real-world implementation across eight intertwined profit centers, the We Build Boaters™ philosophy explores how marinas can intentionally guide customers through “The Boater Journey” — transforming first-time customers into lifelong boaters through systems, communication, operational readiness, and customer experience.Attendees will be introduced to several signature frameworks, including:
• The Boater Journey
• Infinity Marketing Machine
• Rockvam Ready
• One Profit Center Away
• Bubble Buster

And will leave with:
• Actionable ideas to improve customer retention and engagement
• A practical framework for evaluating customer experience
• Strategies for using profit centers as customer entry points
• Ideas for improving responsiveness and operational readiness
• A new perspective on customer lifetime value in the marina industry
• A worksheet/checklist they can immediately bring back to their teams

Wednesday, December 2

9:30 – 10:15 am • CONSTRUCTION
Keep the Marina Open: Smart Resilience Upgrades Without Losing a Season
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Margaret Boshek, Senior Coastal Engineer, Kimley-Horn

 

Marina reinvestment is getting harder: higher water levels, aging infrastructure, storm damage, and tighter budgets; yet owners can’t afford to lose slip revenue during construction. This session delivers a practical framework for prioritizing and phasing resilience upgrades while protecting day-to-day operations.
Attendees will learn a simple “3P” approach: Prioritize → Phase → Protect Revenue and how to quickly diagnose issues. The session will highlight the highest-return upgrade opportunities, common mistakes that lead to repeat repairs, and three phasing patterns that can keep portions of the marina open while work is underway. Participants will leave with a one-page checklist and phasing worksheet they can apply immediately, including the right questions to ask designers and dock contractors before spending money.

9:30 – 10:15 am • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Succession by Design
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Jim Erben, Founder and Speaker, Erben Associates

 

80% of privately-held business owners do not have a written plan for their exit.
All leaders will exit their company by succession, acquisition, or death. Yet, the majority of business owners are not prepared to exit. In their absence, the company and the key executives scramble to survive, at best or rapidly decline until the company has little value.
You spent your life building a successful business. Now it’s time to create an exit plan that honors the time and commitment you invested.
Jim uses storytelling to provide insight and best practices from his 30 years of succession planning experience. Your audience will leave challenged with new ideas for an exceptional exit or succession plan with minimal risk.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm • OPERATIONS
Coverage Gaps: What You Don’t Know Can Cost You
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Lori Sousa, President, Sea Land Insurance Corp

 

Protecting a marine facility requires more than simply having insurance in place—it requires knowing where coverage begins, where it ends, and what gaps could leave your business exposed. This practical insurance bootcamp is designed for marine facility owners and managers who want a clearer understanding of the policies, liabilities, and contractor requirements that matter most before a claim occurs. Attendees will leave better equipped to evaluate their current coverage, ask more informed questions of their insurance advisor, and strengthen their risk management strategy.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm • CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Content Creators in the Marine Space: How to Brand and Monetize a Passion
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Sam Claitor, Founder and Lead Strategist, Hammer and Nail Marketing

 

We exist in an economy where your boaters’ attention is more precious than a shipwreck treasure. The static marina without a clear and visually striking brand is a forgettable marina.

In this live podcast, roundtable-style discussion, the Hammer and Nail Marketing team will sit down for a conversation with marine industry voices who have built followings through YouTube content creation and marine video production. They’ll discuss the approaches and strategies that helped them build a passion into a dynamic and visually driven revenue stream.

1:15 – 2:00 pm • SAFETY
Anchor the Culture: Building a Safety-First Marina Community
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Robert Smith, Safety Consultant, Fisher Phillips

 

This session shows marina managers, dockhands, and owners how to transform safety from a checklist into a living culture. Through practical leadership practices, staff training strategies, incident learning loops, and customer engagement techniques, attendees will learn how to reduce accidents, improve compliance, and increase operational resilience. Real-world examples and an action plan will help teams leave with measurable steps to embed safer behaviors across their marina.

1:15 – 2:00 pm • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
From Chaos to Control: How to Stop Hiring in Panic Mode
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Amanda Funk, Founder, Compass Maritime Group
Tyson Townsend, Human Resources Executive, Amplified People Solutions
This interactive session is designed specifically for marina owners and operators who want to regain control of their hiring process without adding unnecessary complexity. Rather than focusing on theory, the session walks attendees through a practical framework for proactive hiring that starts with planning, not job postings.
Using guided discussion and optional worksheets, attendees will work through real-world questions around hiring budgets, workforce forecasting, and building a repeatable hiring process that fits their operation. The session concludes with a focus on using onboarding and early retention to protect hiring investments and reduce future staffing emergencies.
Attendees will leave with practical tools, clear next steps, and a better understanding of how to move from reactive, panic-driven hiring to a more controlled and intentional approach.

2:45 – 3:30 pm • OPERATIONS
Beyond the Buzz: Practical AI for Smarter Marina Operations
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Brent Wierson, VP, Sales and Service, Storable Marine
Andy Hornbeak, Customer Experience Manager, SharperMMS

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way marinas operate, but the biggest opportunities are not about replacing people. AI implementations are about helping teams work more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and make better business decisions. This session will explore practical AI applications marina operators can use today. Through real-world examples, Brent and Andy will share how AI can support customer communications, marketing, reporting, forecasting, service operations, and other day-to-day workflows. Whether you are just getting started or already experimenting with AI, you will leave with actionable ideas you can begin applying at your marina right away.

2:45 – 3:30 pm • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Creating a Preventive Mindset with Your Team
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Robert Holmes, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Xanigo Marine

 

Preventive maintenance isn’t just a checklist—it’s a culture. This session is designed to help marina operators and service teams shift from reactive problem-solving to a proactive, preventive mindset that protects assets, saves time, and drives long-term value.
We will explore how small, consistent actions—when understood and embraced by the entire team can dramatically reduce breakage, limit costly repairs, and extend the life of boats, docks, equipment, and infrastructure. More importantly, we focus on how leadership can instill accountability, discipline, and pride in preventive practices at every level of operation.
Participants will learn how preventive thinking translates directly into:
• Reduced repair and replacement costs
• Increased asset longevity and retained resale value
• Significant time and labor savings
• Improved operational efficiency and team confidence
• Fewer service disruptions and customer complaints

This session blends real-world marina examples with practical frameworks your team can apply immediately. Attendees leave with a clearer understanding of why prevention matters, how to implement it consistently, and what habits and protocols create measurable results over time.

The goal is simple: build a team that protects value instead of reacting to loss—and turn prevention into a competitive advantage for your marina.
Thursday, December 3

9:15 – 10:00 am • CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Beyond the Water’s Edge: Connecting Harbors to Communities Through Integrative Design of Marina, Uplands, Parks and Architecture
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor

Suzie Fromson, Senior Landscape Architect, Edgewater Resources LLC
Michelle Rumsa, Senior Architect, Edgewater Resources LLC
Greg Weykamp, President, Edgewater Resources LLC

 

Successful marinas and waterfront communities are evolving to meet the changing expectations of today’s boaters and visitors. Increasingly, guests seek destinations that offer a variety of experiences, authentic connections, and compelling reasons to stay longer and return more often.

This presentation explores practical strategies to expand the marina experience beyond the docks and transform marinas into vibrant waterfront destinations. Through examples of marina-inspired upland planning, waterfront parks, and shoreline communities, we will examine how thoughtful landscape and architectural design can support local culture, heritage, and character while creating authentic places that attract boaters, visitors, and residents alike.

Featured projects include marina amenity buildings, beaches, parks, waterfront trails, public gathering spaces, family activities, food and beverage destinations, and connections to downtowns and local attractions. Whether your marina is established, expanding, or seeking its next chapter, you’ll discover inspiration to shape a successful future.

9:15 – 10:00 am • OPERATIONS
2026 Industry Survey
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Brent Wierson, VP, Sales and Service, Storable Marine
Christi Kleiner, Editor, Marina Dock Age
Marina Dock Age, Storable Marine, and the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) partnered on a nationwide industry survey to better understand marina business operations, infrastructure, and expenses across the United States. Respondents shared insights on revenue, occupancy, rates, and technology. The findings from this joint survey will be revealed during the opening session.

10:30 – 11:15 am • CONSTRUCTION
Structural Materials: Balancing Cost, Longevity and Performance in Marina Design
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Nick Cortes, Project Engineer, Edgewater Resources LLC
Colin Hassenger, Senior Engineer, Edgewater Resources LLC
Every marina operator faces the critical decision of selecting the right structural materials for bulkheads, piers, and framing. Choosing between steel, aluminum, concrete, timber, and advanced composites is a balancing act of upfront capital costs, long-term maintenance, and environmental resilience. This session provides a practical comparison of these materials, examining the distinct advantages and disadvantages of each in real-world marine environments. Attendees will learn how environmental factors like corrosion or UV exposure impact material lifespan, and how smart selections can prevent maintenance issues. Designed for private operators and owners, this presentation offers actionable frameworks to evaluate total cost of ownership, optimize capital planning, and make material choices that maximize infrastructure longevity while keeping operational budgets in check.

10:30 – 11:15 am • OPERATIONS
From Marina Data to Revenue: Turning Operational Insight into Commercial Performance
Halls C/D Tradeshow Floor
Jamaine Campbell, CEO and Founder, Elite Dynamics

Marinas generate vast amounts of data every day across berthing, maintenance, finance and customer activity. The challenge is not collecting it, but turning it into something commercially meaningful.

This session at focuses on how marina operators can move beyond visibility alone and start using data to actively drive revenue, improve margins and make more confident decisions. Built around the EliteRevenyx model — Operations → Insight → Revenue — the session demonstrates how structured, connected data becomes a true commercial asset.

Attendees will see how improving operational visibility is only the first step; the real value comes from translating that visibility into measurable financial outcomes. Using Microsoft technologies including Dynamics 365, Power BI and Copilot, alongside real-world applications within EliteMarinas, the session will explore how marinas are:
• Gaining full visibility across operations in a single, trusted view
• Using reporting to identify revenue opportunities and margin leakage
• Making faster, more confident commercial decisions
• Scaling operations without increasing complexity

A key focus will be how Copilot acts as an acceleration layer enabling teams to interrogate their data using natural language, surface opportunities instantly and take action without relying on specialist resource. The session will also address a critical point: AI does not create value in isolation. Its impact depends entirely on the quality and structure of the underlying data. By getting the foundations right, marina operators can move from reactive reporting to proactive, revenue-focused operations.

Designed for marina owners, operators and senior leaders, this is a practical session focused on one core outcome, turning everyday operational data into stronger commercial performance.