Bristol, R.I. – The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) along with partners, Connecticut Marine Trade Association (CMTA) and Massachusetts Marine Trade Association (MMTA), as well as sponsors Gowrie Group, Newport International Boat Show, Roger Williams University, Safe Harbor Marinas and Starkweather & Shepley, will host the second-annual environmental conference for the region’s marine industry on March 11, 2020. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Roger Williams University, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island.

Speakers will include:

  • Daniela Abbott, Pare Corporation
  • Eric Anderson, Enviro Clean Restore
  • Liz Burdock, Business Network for Offshore Wind
  • Kathleen Burns, CMTA
  • Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group
  • Tom Davis, North Sails
  • Chris Edmonston, BoatU.S. Foundation
  • Adam Fortier-Brown, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA)
  • Jay Frechette of Starkweather & Shepley
  • Bridgid Murphy of North Sails
  • Shaun O’Rourke of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank

The schedule of events is as follows:

  • 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Registration
  • 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. – Our Environment, Our Future: Introductory Keynote – Chris Edmonston, BoatU.S. Foundation
  • 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. – Building a Culture of Compliance – Kellie Crete, Gowrie Group
  • 10:00 – 10:10 a.m. – Break
  • 10:10 – 11:00 a.m. – Can Your Business Float? Resilience and Preparedness at Any Facility – Daniela Abbot, PARE Engineering, Shaun O’Rourke RI Infrastructure Bank
  • 11:05 – 11:55 a.m. – Sustainability from the Ground Up – An Update with North Sails – Tom Davis and Bridgid Murphy, North Sails
  • 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
  • 1:10 – 2:00 p.m. – Insurance Outlook: Learning Liabilities, Eliminating Risk and Recovering from Disaster – Jay Frechette, Starkweather & Shepley and Eric Anderson, Enviro Clean Restore
  • 2:05 – 2:45 p.m. – From New England to Capitol Hill: 2020 Environmental Legislative Outlook – Kathleen Burns, CMTA, Adam Fortier-Brown, MRAA, and Clay Crabtree, NMMA
  • 2:50 – 3:20 p.m. – Updates on Offshore Renewable Energy Development in New England – Liz Burdock, Business Network for Offshore Wind
  • Closing Remarks
  • 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Refreshments and Networking

For more information click here or contact Evan Ridley at evan@rimta.org or call 401-396-9619.

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About RIMTA:
Rhode Island’s long tradition of boat building and hosting competitive sailing events has given rise to a vibrant marine trades sector. From boat builders to manufacturers, marinas, retailers, yacht and charter brokers, sailmakers, and schools and educational programs, the Ocean State has a concentrated nexus of expertise that is unparalleled in any other area of the country. The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, or RIMTA, is the trade association that links these marine businesses together and works in concert with industry, government and other nonprofits to coordinate the programs and policies that give this sector an edge in the global recreational boating business. rimta.org

WHO:  The Rhode Island Marine Trades Association
WHAT:  Second-Annual Southern New England Marine Industry Environmental Conference
WHEN:  Wednesday, March 11, 2020 – 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Roger Williams University, 1 Old Ferry Rd., Bristol, RI 02809