Marine Industries Association

What Marine Industries Association does

Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) is a not-for-profit trade organization founded in 1961, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and recognized as the largest marine trade organization in the Southeast United States. It serves more than 500 member businesses across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties — including boat dealers, marinas, yacht service providers, manufacturers, and marine businesses — through structured membership tiers, advocacy, networking, and workforce development programs. The association also functions as a workforce intermediary, operating the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program (YSTAP) with the Florida Department of Education and Atlantic Technical College, and producing the Salty Jobs video series for marine career awareness.

MIASF's product portfolio is predominantly event- and program-driven rather than technology-driven. It owns the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the world's largest in-water boat show, which it produces in partnership with Informa Markets and which spans approximately three million square feet across seven venues with 1,300+ boats and 100,000+ attendees from 93 countries. Its other operating assets include the Flagship Room event venue in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, signature community events (Waterway Cleanup, Plywood Regatta), the Marine Research Hub consortium, and the United States' first recreational marine Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ No. 241, a 16-site subzone), which provides customs duty benefits to member businesses. Operationally, MIASF is supported by a small staff (1-10 employees) led by CEO/President Phil Purcell and a Board of Directors, with revenue derived from membership dues, event production income (primarily FLIBS), and venue rental.

The organization's revenue model combines recurring annual membership fees (Associate and Marine Industry tiers at $500, and Anchor tier at $3,000) with event-driven and ancillary revenue from FLIBS, Flagship Room rentals, and program sponsorships. The 65th FLIBS generated $823.5 million in exhibitor sales and $1.778 billion in statewide economic impact, with MIASF acting as the owner and beneficiary of production economics. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer-style for membership acquisition (website, events, member referrals) plus event-driven exposure through FLIBS, while distribution channels include a membership portal, online directory, job board, iOS mobile app, and direct member services. The customer base is segmented into marine industry businesses (primary), marine industry workforce (secondary), and boating enthusiasts (secondary, through FLIBS attendee funnel).

Name

Marine Industries Association

Legal name

Marine Industries Association of South Florida

Website

https://miasf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MIASF is a 1961-founded not-for-profit marine trade association serving 500+ member businesses across South Florida through membership, advocacy, workforce development, and ownership of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world's largest in-water boat show.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Three-tier membership structure providing networking, advocacy, communications, professional development, and member benefits. Revenue generated from annual membership fees at Associate ($500), Marine Industry ($500), and Anchor ($3,000) levels.
2. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS): MIASF owns FLIBS, the largest in-water boat show in the world. The 65th annual show generated $1.778 billion statewide economic impact with $823.5 million in exhibitor sales. Informa Markets produces the show in partnership with MIASF.
3. Flagship Room Venue Rental: The Flagship Room venue in Downtown Fort Lauderdale is available for rental to members at reduced rates, providing event revenue from weddings, corporate events, and parties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

MIASF is a not-for-profit marine trade association that promotes and protects the South Florida marine industry through a three-tier membership program (Associate, Marine Industry, and Anchor) and a portfolio of signature events and initiatives. Its core offerings include the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the world's largest in-water boat show; workforce development via the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program (YSTAP) and the Salty Jobs video series; the Foreign Trade Zone No. 241 subzone for customs benefits; the Flagship Room venue; the Marine Research Hub consortium; and advocacy at local, state, and federal levels on behalf of 500+ member companies.

Product overview

The Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) is a not-for-profit trade organization and the largest marine trade organization in the Southeast United States, founded in 1961. Rather than a unified software product, MIASF offers a portfolio of programs, events, and services including the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) — the world's largest in-water boat show — the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program (YSTAP), the Salty Jobs video series for marine career awareness, the Marine Research Hub consortium, the Foreign Trade Zone No. 241 subzone for customs benefits, and signature events like the Waterway Cleanup and Plywood Regatta. Additional offerings include The Flagship Room venue, a Job Board for members, an Interactive Waterway Map, live Waterway Cameras, and a Mobile App. MIASF serves over 500 member companies across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MIASF Membership Program (Associate, Marine Industry, Anchor tiers) Three-tier annual membership for marine industry businesses in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, providing networking, advocacy, communications, professional development, FLIBS tickets, job board access, member directory visibility, health insurance access, and Flagship Room venue rates.
• Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) The world's largest in-water boat show, owned by MIASF and produced by Informa Markets. A five-day event spanning nearly three million square feet across seven locations, attracting over 100,000 attendees, 1,200+ exhibitors from 93 countries, and 1,300+ boats on display.
• Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program (YSTAP) A two-year registered apprenticeship program providing apprentices with shipyard skills covering rigging, forklift operation, pipefitting, welding, carpentry, painting, HVAC, and more, with classroom instruction one evening per week at Atlantic Technical College.
• Salty Jobs Video Series A three-time Telly Award-winning educational video series showcasing marine industry career paths, featuring real-world marine professionals and available free on YouTube to attract job seekers to the industry.
• Marine Research Hub A non-profit Florida consortium founded by MIASF with eight founding members including Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, and the University of Miami to advance marine research and collaboration across South Florida.
• Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 241 Subzone A 16-site Foreign Trade Zone subzone approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce, allowing marine businesses to defer, reduce, or eliminate customs duties on imported yachts, parts, and equipment.
• Waterway Cleanup An annual environmental event founded by MIASF, the county's largest and longest-running cleanup, drawing 78K+ volunteer participants and removing 2.2+ tons of trash from waterways, rivers, and canals.
• Plywood Regatta A student boat-building competition where teams of middle school, high school, and marine technical school students build sea-worthy vessels using plywood, caulk, and zip ties over two days, with 5.1K+ participants. All proceeds benefit marine industry education programs and scholarships.
• The Flagship Room Venue A two-story historic event venue in Downtown Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk district offering indoor and outdoor space with a large ballroom and two balconies, available to members at reduced rates for weddings, corporate events, parties, and business meetings.
• Job Board An electronic job board on the MIASF website connecting marine industry employers with job seekers in the South Florida region, available to member companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.778 billion statewide economic impact from FLIBS (65th annual)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of CommercecoreOthers · 1 January 2016Approved MIASF to operate a marine industry subzone as part of Foreign Trade Zone No. 241. This 16-site subzone is the first recreational marine FTZ in the United States, allowing businesses to defer, reduce, or eliminate duties on imported goods.
• Informa MarketscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProduction partner for FLIBS (Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show). Informa acquired Show Management in 2017 and became the production partner for all Florida boat shows including FLIBS, Palm Beach International Boat Show, St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show, Miami Yacht Show, and Suncoast Boat Show. Andrew Doole serves as Ex-Officio Board Member representing Informa.
• Florida Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in establishing the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program (YSTAP), the state's first registered apprenticeship program for yacht service technicians. Provides state-level credentialing and program approval.
• Atlantic Technical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner for the YSTAP apprenticeship program. Provides classroom instruction one evening per week for apprentices. Located in Broward County, Florida.
• Marine Research Hub of South FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIASF is a founding member of this non-profit consortium. Other founding members include: Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Miami-Dade Beacon Council, Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Florida Atlantic University (Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute), Florida International University (Marine Sciences Program and Medina Aquaris Program), Nova Southeastern University (Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center), and University of Miami (Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science).
• Captain Sandy's CharitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Salty Jobs video series, supporting marine industry workforce recruitment and awareness efforts.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA): International umbrella body for national marine industry associations. Provides a direct peer reference for trade association strategy, advocacy frameworks, and global industry coordination comparable to MIASF's regional mandate.
• National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA): The largest US recreational marine trade association, NMMA represents boat, marine engine, and accessory manufacturers and runs the Miami International Boat Show. Directly comparable as a membership-based marine industry advocacy and event-producing organization.
• Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA): Trade association for yacht brokers and dealers in North America. Comparable membership model, code of ethics, and advocacy scope within the marine industry.
• Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA): Trade association serving North American boat dealers and marine retailers with education, advocacy, and member benefits. Operates a similar membership-tier model focused on dealer and retailer members.
• American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC): Non-profit membership organization that develops safety standards for boat design, construction, and repair. Comparable as a marine trade association providing technical standards, certification, and advocacy for industry members.

Others

• Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF): National non-profit funded by the Sport Fish Restoration & Boating Trust Fund to grow boating and fishing participation. Shares adjacency with MIASF's workforce and awareness programming such as Salty Jobs.
• Discover Boating: Consumer marketing initiative funded by the recreational boating industry to grow participation. Adjacent to MIASF's Salty Jobs workforce campaign as a peer industry-funded awareness program.

Broad incumbents

• Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS): Large US boating membership organization providing consumer-facing services, advocacy, and insurance. Comparable membership-driven model, though focused on boat owner consumers rather than marine businesses.
• British Marine: UK trade association for the leisure, superyacht, and small commercial marine industry. Comparable membership, advocacy, and event-producing model serving a different geographic market.

Regional players

• Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County: Regional marine trade association covering Palm Beach County, overlapping with MIASF's South Florida footprint. References the same member universe and producer/regulatory ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/marineindustriesassociationofsouthflorida
• Facebookfacebook.com/marineindustriesassociationofsouthflorida
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marineindustriesassociationofsouthflorida
• Instagraminstagram.com/miasf61
• Xx.com/miasf61

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marine Industries Association