Connecticut Marine Trades Association

What Connecticut Marine Trades Association does

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1954 by marina owners and boat dealers to promote and protect the recreational boating industry in Connecticut. Headquartered at 20 Plains Road in Essex — purchased by the Association in 1988 — CMTA represents approximately 300-350 member businesses including marinas, boatyards, boat dealers, yacht brokers, service technicians, electronics experts, welders, canvas creators, and financial and insurance service providers. The organization is led by Executive Director Rebekah Coffey with a board composed of industry operators, and it operates exclusively in the Connecticut market as a member-funded association.

CMTA's service portfolio centers on five pillars: legislative advocacy at the Connecticut General Assembly via monthly legislative update newsletters; the Hartford Boat Show, presented by CMTA for over 50 years and now held at Mohegan Sun since 2019; the Connecticut Clean Marina Program, originally co-developed with CT DEEP in 2002 and now administered by CMTA after state budget cuts prompted a transfer of stewardship; workforce development grants of up to $5,000 per applicant for Connecticut residents; and member services including the Dock & Dine directory, an online job board, the Young Marine Professionals networking group, and the Jeanne Czel Person of the Year Award.

The business model is membership-dues funded (subscription/recurring) supplemented by event revenue from the Hartford Boat Show and ancillary programs such as the annual golf tournament. Distribution is direct to member businesses through the website and industry events. Technology footprint consists of a WordPress-based website, email newsletters, and an open job board; there is no proprietary platform, no AI capability, and no software products. Geographic scope is limited to Connecticut, with informal reciprocal relationships with the marine trade associations of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.

Name

Connecticut Marine Trades Association

Legal name

Connecticut Marine Trades Association

Website

https://ctmarinetrades.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association is a 1954-founded nonprofit trade association representing approximately 300-350 recreational boating industry member businesses in Connecticut through advocacy, the Hartford Boat Show, the Clean Marina Program, workforce development grants, and industry networking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Essex

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CMTA operates primarily as a membership-based trade association. Business owners serving recreational boaters or waterfront property owners in Connecticut are encouraged to join and support efforts to showcase Connecticut's waterfront as a viable resource.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CMTA is a nonprofit trade association that provides membership services to approximately 300-350 marine-related businesses in Connecticut, including marinas, boatyards, boat dealers, yacht brokers, and service technicians. The association sells membership access, produces the Hartford Boat Show, administers the Clean Marina Program, awards workforce development grants (up to $5,000), and advocates for the recreational boating industry at the Connecticut state legislature.

Product overview

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association (CMTA) operates as a trade association for the recreational boating industry in Connecticut, not a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of member services including membership programs, the annual Hartford Boat Show (held at Mohegan Sun), the Clean Marina Program certification, Dock & Dine member directory, workforce development grants, legislative updates, Young Marine Professionals networking, and an open job board. These services work together to support, promote, and advocate for Connecticut's marine trades businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMTA Membership Annual membership subscription for Connecticut marine-related businesses providing access to legislative advocacy, workforce development grants, networking events, the Clean Marina Program, the Hartford Boat Show, and member directory listings.
• Hartford Boat Show Annual boat show event held at Mohegan Sun where CMTA members (dealers, brokers, marine service businesses) exhibit and sell recreational boats and related products to consumers.
• Clean Marina Program Environmental certification program for marinas and boatyards that encourages best practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution and promote clean water and air.
• Workforce Development Grants Financial grant program awarding up to $5,000 per winning applicant to support workforce development, education, and training for any Connecticut resident who wishes to work or is currently employed in the marine trades industry.
• Legislative Updates Service Monthly newsletter and online resource hub providing updates on legislative session activities, committee updates, regulatory developments, and court decisions affecting the recreational boating sector in Connecticut.
• CMTA Dock & Dine (Member Directory) Member directory program listing CMTA member marinas and waterfront restaurants along the Connecticut coastline that offer docking and dining services to boaters.
• Young Marine Professionals Networking and professional development group for industry professionals under 40 working in the Connecticut recreational boating industry, featuring regular meetings with speakers and strategic discussions.
• Open Job Board Online job board that connects marine industry employers with job seekers, listing positions across various marine trades disciplines in Connecticut.
• CMTA Golf Tournament Annual golf tournament that provides networking opportunities for Connecticut's boating and marine industry members, sponsors, industry partners, and supporters.
• Jeanne Czel Person of the Year Award Annual award program recognizing CMTA members or member-company representatives who have gone above and beyond in service to the recreational boating industry, the association, or their community. Named in memory of Jeanne Czel (Ritt's Marine Center).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of Hartford Boat Show production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 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.

• Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002CMTA collaborated with CT DEEP in 2002 to develop the Connecticut Clean Marina Program, which encourages environmental excellence at marinas and boatyards to reduce nonpoint source pollution and promote clean water and air. CMTA has assumed administrative functions of the Clean Marina Program from CT DEEP after state budget cuts threatened the program.
• Massachusetts Marine Trades AssociationminorOthersRegional marine trades association with mutual interest in the marine industry ecosystem.
• Rhode Island Marine Trades AssociationminorOthersRegional marine trades association with mutual interest in the marine industry ecosystem.
• MTANJ (Marine Trades Association of New Jersey)minorOthersRegional marine trades association with mutual interest in the marine industry ecosystem.
• AmtrakminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMTA partnered with CT DEEP and Amtrak during the railroad's electrification era to address issues affecting the marine industry.
• Mohegan SuncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMohegan Sun has been the venue for the Hartford Boat Show since 2019, hosting the annual event that showcases Connecticut's marine business community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Marine Trades Association: Direct state-level peer organization serving recreational marine businesses in Massachusetts with similar advocacy, education, and event programming. Operates in the same New England ecosystem and competes for overlapping marina, dealer, and broker members.
• Rhode Island Marine Trades Association: Direct state-level marine trades association for Rhode Island with comparable membership, advocacy, and boat show offerings. Already a listed mutual partner of CMTA and serves a directly adjacent recreational boating market.
• Marine Trades Association of New Jersey (MTANJ): New Jersey's state marine trades association, also listed as a CMTA peer organization, providing advocacy, education, and an annual boat show for NJ marine businesses. Mirrors CMTA's member segments and operational model in an adjacent Northeast state.
• New York Marine Trades Association: Direct regional peer serving the New York recreational marine industry with advocacy, workforce, and event programming analogous to CMTA. Targets the same marina/dealer/broker membership profile in a neighboring market.

Broad incumbents

• National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA): National-level trade association representing the U.S. recreational boating industry, including boat manufacturers and accessory providers. Operates as CMTA's federal-level counterpart and a broader incumbent whose advocacy, certification, and shows (e.g., IBEX) overlap with CMTA's mission at scale.
• Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA): National trade group specifically focused on marine retailers and dealers, offering education, certification, and advocacy that directly overlaps with CMTA's boat dealer and broker member segments. Operates at a national scale where CMTA is regional.
• Association of Marina Industries (AMI): National trade association for the marina industry, providing education, certification, and an annual conference. Comparable to the marina-and-boatyard half of CMTA's membership, but at a national scope rather than a single state.

Others

• BoatUS: National advocacy and services organization for recreational boaters with policy work and member benefits that overlap with CMTA's legislative and consumer-facing initiatives. Operates at national scale where CMTA is state-scoped.
• Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau: Regional destination-marketing organization with which CMTA and the Hartford Boat Show could be considered ecosystem partners for promoting Connecticut boating tourism. Indirect relationship — adjacent rather than directly competing.

Regional players

• Maine Marine Trades Association: Maine's state-level marine trades association serving a similar mix of marinas, dealers, and service technicians with comparable advocacy and show offerings. A regional peer operating in a non-overlapping New England geography from CMTA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CMTAboating
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut-marine-trades-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Connecticut Marine Trades Association