* Schedule subject to change
MONDAY , JANUARY 20 5:30 PM - Welcome Reception @ NASCAR Hall of Fame For the opening night reception of Boating Industry Elevate Summit , Powersports Business Accelerate Conference and OPE + Power Forum we will all be together to take over the third and fourth floors of the NASCAR Hall of Fame , known as Inside NASCAR and Heritage Speedway . You can explore NASCAR history while engaging with interactive content . All attendees will have access to exhibits , including the Pit Crew Challenge . And you can also put yourself in the driver ’ s seat with the NASCAR Racing Simulators . Don ’ t worry , you don ' t need to be a hardcore NASCAR fan to enjoy it . To embrace the reception style event , we set the space with high top tables and soft seating . You can eat , drink , play and repeat at your own pace .
TUESDAY , JANUARY 21 8:30 AM - Opening Keynote : Managing - and Making - Disruption International bestselling author Jay Samit is a dynamic entrepreneur and speaker who is widely recognized as one of the world ’ s leading experts on disruption and innovation . Chairman of a transformative Artificial Intelligence company , Samit was once described by Wired magazine as “ having the coolest job in the industry .”
Samit gets people passionate about innovation , overcoming obstacles , and teaches them how to think bigger . Designed to be as entertaining and inspiring as it is informative , Samit delivers a speech that stays with the audience long after the conference has ended .
10:00 AM - Boating Industry 2024 Mover & Shaker of the Year Meet this year ’ s Mover & Shaker of the Year , Dometic Marine president , Eric Fetchko . Moderated by Boating Industry editor-in-chief Adam Quandt .
11:00 AM - Recreational Boating Market Data We are excited to welcome back Jack Ellis of Info-Link and Rob Grant of Lightspeed DMS for a session featuring their proprietary recreational boating market data . They not only have the numbers , but they can also tell you the conclusions , takeaways , trends and stories behind the metrics .
12:00 PM - Lunch and Networking with Exhibitors
1:30 PM - Boost Sales Through Better Business Communication We are communicating more these days , and also more poorly , as David Gee , professional keynote speaker and former editor-in-chief of Boating Industry will tell us in this interesting and informative session . And when you have excess inventory , rising costs , staffing issues , and other assorted headwinds , every interaction counts with employees , prospects and customers . You ’ ll leave with tips , takeaways and new tools you can use right away to enhance listening and storytelling skills that boost productivity , employee morale , customer satisfaction , and sales !
3:15 PM - State of the Power Trade Industry For the first time ever , we will be featuring a representative from the boating industry , outdoor power equipment and powersports , to talk about successes , best practices and how we can all be stronger together . We are still finalizing some of the participants for this panel . Moderated by professional keynote speaker and former editor-in-chief of Boating Industry David Gee .
5:00 PM - Ignition of Ideas Reception
WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 22 8:30 AM - Keynote : Resurgence - or Return to Normal ? What ' s Ahead for the Economy in 2025 Entertaining and economist aren ' t often used in the same sentence , but Elliot Eisenberg , Ph . D ., an internationally acclaimed economist and public speaker , specializes in making the arcana and minutia of economics fun , relevant , and educational . Dr . Eisenberg is the Chief Economist for GraphsandLaughs , LLC , a Miami-based economic consulting firm that serves a variety of clients across the United States .
He is a frequent speaker on topics including economic forecasts , interest rates , inflation , supply chains , strategic business development , and other current economic issues . He has a B . A . in economics with first-class honors from McGill University in Montreal , as well as a Master ' s and Ph . D . from Syracuse University .
10:00 AM - Women in the Power Trades Panel Journalist , award-winning marketer and moderator Wanda Kenton Smith of Kenton Smith Marketing returns for the fourth year to lead our power-packed women ’ s panel featuring Hubbard Powersports GM and Partner Montana Bolin ; National Marine Distributors Association ( NMDA ) and the Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Association ( OPEESA ) Executive Director Nancy Cueroni ; and Digital Throttle Marine Group President and Motorsports Sales Director Captain Vicki Norman .
11:15 AM - Top 100 Dealers Panel Discussion Learn from – and interact with – some of the best dealers in the nation as they detail how they are dealing with all of the challenges and opportunities of the recreational boating industry . Moderated by Boating Industry editor in chief Adam Quandt .
12:00 PM - Exhibitors Lunch - Breakdown & Networking
6:00 PM - Boating Industry Top 100 Gala Reception & Awards Celebration ( by invitation only ) Reception and awards presentation located at Big Chill , approximately 4 blocks west of the Charlotte Sheraton .
Boating Industry announces its 2024 Top 100 winners at our annual black-tie gala . This event recognizes those in the marine industry who are unsurpassed in business operations , professionalism , marketing tactics , customer service and more .
The Boating Industry Top 100 has recognized the top performers in North America every year since 2005 . This invitation-only event requires RSVP . Full information provided with official invite .
For further details , please visit www . boatingindustryelevate . com / 2025 / agenda .
12 december 2024 / january 2025 www . boatingindustry . com