ABYC Announces Broadbent as SkillsUSA National Technical Chair for Marine Service Technology

The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) announced that Dave Broadbent, ABYC senior director of business development, has been appointed SkillsUSA National Technical Chair for Marine Service Technology. ABYC is sharing the news during National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, observed each February to spotlight hands-on, career-focused education and the role it plays in building a skilled workforce.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that serves students preparing for careers in skilled trades and technical fields through hands-on training, leadership development and national competitions.

"Having the marine industry represented at the national level helps students see marine service as a rewarding career path and ensures what they learn aligns with the skills employers need," said Broadbent. "If you haven't looked into SkillsUSA, I encourage you to connect with your local chapter and see how you can get involved."

Broadbent will provide technical leadership for the Marine Service Technology competition at the SkillsUSA Championships, the organization's annual national competition that brings together top students from across the United States to demonstrate their skills. As National Technical Chair, Broadbent will support the development and review of contest criteria, and collaborate with educators, judges and industry partners to ensure a fair, current and high-quality competition.

"The work that SkillsUSA does to ready the next generation of our country's workforce is critical to the success of the marine industry, and I have full confidence that David will grow the competition and industry support needed to attract new talent to our industry," said Gregg Snyder, Yamaha's senior technical specialist. Snyder served as the Marine Service Technology competition chair for the last eight years.

In addition to its work with SkillsUSA, ABYC supports workforce development through school partnerships, its marine service technology curriculum, the Marine Trades Accreditation Program, industry collaboration, and training and certification programs.

For more information about SkillsUSA and the Marine Service Technology competition, visit https://www.skillsusa.org. To learn more about ABYC and its education programs, visit https://www.abycinc.org.