ABYC Foundation Educator Forums
This is a FREE online event.
The online ABYC Foundation Educator Forum provides a valuable platform for high school and post-secondary educators, as well as industry trainers and administrators of marine service technology programs, to connect, share challenges, explore available resources and discuss opportunities for students. Join your fellow Marine System Technology educators, along with ABYC staff and industry professionals to discuss what you're doing. Industry members are invited to participate throughout the event.
These events are recorded so you can come and go as your schedule allows, but still have access to the entire conference discussion. Times are Eastern.
Future 2026 Dates:
April 7, 2026
January 28 Agenda
2:00pm - 4::30pm (Eastern)
2:00pm
Exploring New Courses: A Case Study
Skagit Valley College has launched a new marine surveying program that runs for nine weeks in Anacortes, WA. This course, part of the school's "Cruisers College," is for experienced marine industry professionals transitioning into a marine surveyor career,, allowing the school to tap into a new revenue stream in continuing education.
Presenters: Mike Reese & Mike Beemer, Skagit Valley College
2:30pm
Expanding Your Curriculum
Here, we will discuss how you can potentially expand your existing curriculum with other offerings available through ABYC, such as hosting onsite courses for your community. Bring your questions and ideas!
Presenters: Tim Murphy & Mike Bonicker, ABYC
3:00pm
Preparing Your Students for the Job
That first day on the job is daunting. We've mentioned it before, and we'll say it again: students graduating from your programs are not turn-key employees. They need onsite training, regardless of how well they do in school. Here, we'll talk to Rebecca Cute and Tim Moll, the Talent Acquisition Manager and Senior Service Training Advisor, respectively, at Safe Harbor Marinas, the largest owner/operator of US marinas. TIm and Rebecca will discuss what they look for in new hires, how they train their employees, and how students can utilize training opportunities to grow their careers.
PResenters: Rebecca Cute & Tim Moll, Safe Harbor Marinas
3:30pm
MTAP Q&A
We get multiple questions from schools about how to become a Marine Trades Accreditation Program (MTAP) school. Here, we will be matching non-MTAP schools with MTAP educators so they can hear from the horse's mouth. What makes an MTAP school special and what do they offer that your school can provide?
Moderator: Sarah Devlin, ABYC
3:50pm
Educator of the Year Announcement
Join us to find out who the 2025 Educator of the Year is!
Sponsored by West Marine
4:00pm
Open Discussion for Educators
This is the stuff right here. At previous Educator Forums, these discussions have opened the door for some of the projects we're working on at ABYC. We've seen professional connections develop between educators. And, we've posed educator challenges to the group with multiple solutions coming up. Bring your questions, your war stories, and your challenges and solutions.
4:30pm End
About the Educator Forums
The Educator Forum provides a valuable platform for high school and post-secondary educators, as well as administrators of marine service technology programs, to connect, share challenges, explore available resources, and discuss opportunities for students.
ABYC invites industry leaders who are passionate about marine workforce development to participate as speakers. These professionals can share insights about their businesses, the industry as a whole, and strategies for bringing qualified marine technicians into the field. Interested speakers are encouraged to submit a description of their proposed talking points by visiting www.abycinc.org/EducatorForumApplication.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for industry leaders to engage with educators who are shaping the next generation of marine professionals,” said Sarah Devlin, ABYC Accreditation Director. “By sharing their expertise and insights, industry leaders can influence the education and training of future marine technicians. This collaboration benefits students and helps businesses by fostering a workforce that is ready to contribute from day one.”
Questions? Let's talk!
Get in touch so we can start working together. Contact ABYC Accreditation Director, Sarah Devlin at sdevlin@abycinc.org for questions!
