CHICAGO — Fourteen more boat dealerships recently became certified under the Grow Boating Initiative's Marine Industry Dealership Certification program. With the addition of these dealerships, a grand total of 214 marine retail outlets now officially carry the "Marine Industry Certified" designation.

All newly-certified dealerships participated in Marine Industry Dealership Certification Launch Workshops across the country prior to earning their "certified" status and successfully completed an on-site visit.

Newly-certified dealerships are: Empire Marine, San Bernadino, CA; Full Tilt Marine, Grasonville, MD; Full Tilt Marine, Woodbridge, VA; G&G Marina Inc., Roach, MO; Glenn Marine Family Boating Center, Northport, NY; Ivancic Marine, Cleveland; Minmar Marine, Sea Isle City, NJ; Nautica Marine, Georgetown, SC; Pat's Boats, Akron, OH; Schock Boats, Newport Beach, CA; Sea Ray of Columbia, Irmo, SC; Sea Ray of Lake Norman, Cornelius, NC; Sportsman's Outfitter and Marine, Lee's Summit, MO; and Texas Marine of Beaumont Inc., Beaumont, TX.

"We salute these dealerships for all the hard work and effort they put forth to become Marine Industry Certified," says Phil Keeter, vice president of Marine Certification Inc. and president of the Marine Retailers Association of America. "This prestigious designation confirms each dealerships' ongoing commitment to providing the best customer service experience our industry has to offer."

Dealership Certification actively addresses one of the key factors essential to fostering growth in the marine industry: Customer service. An effective dealership certification program that provides both consumer and dealer benefits is fundamental to the industry's Grow Boating Initiative.

The new Marine Industry Dealership Certification program was developed by dealers, for dealers and focuses on the areas that affect dealership quality-operations, facilities, professional sales/service processes, customer satisfaction and employee training/satisfaction.

To date, a total of 442 dealerships have enrolled in the Marine Industry Dealership Certification program, 214 of which have completed the process and earned the official "Marine Industry Certified" designation. Spring Launch Workshop dates are posted on DealerCertification.org.

The complete list of Marine Industry Certified dealerships is posted on the consumer website www.DiscoverBoating.com, which was visited by more than one million individual consumers in 2006. Marine Industry Certified dealerships have direct access to consumer prospects generated through the website.