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MATES Launches Newly Re-Designed Website
MATES Launches Newly Re-Designed Website
Site features discussion weblog and document-sharing capabilities among members
CHICAGO, September 15, 2006 - - The Marine Association for Technology Standards (MATES) recently launched a newly-revamped website, firstmates.org, to coincide with the association’s evolution as a membership-driven affiliate of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).
The re-designed site includes a weblog, intended for discussion of standards in development and a means of gathering feedback from site visitors on topics related to MATES’ vision—development of data communication exchange standards by which the marine industry at large can operate. The site also includes MATES’ first published standard: a Sales Lead specification used by the Discover Boating Lead Generation system; an online member resources library; and a searchable membership directory, which will be significantly expanded as membership in the organization grows.
“In addition to explaining our mission, the updated and improved site provides workspace for document sharing among member subcommittees and sample files intended to expand adoption of MATES standards for use in marine applications,” says MATES executive director John Warnik.
To help educate the industry regarding its strategic goals, MATES will begin holding monthly conference calls for non-members beginning Tuesday, September 19 at 1:00 p.m. EST. Additionally, several MATES Board members will be on hand at the upcoming International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), taking place November 1-3 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. During the event, association members will host a MATES Open House, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, November 2.
Originally founded by a small group of industry leaders, the idea behind MATES is to streamline efforts needed to conduct business between trading partners (internal customers) so that each partner can focus on the revenue-generating aspects of their business (external customers). The association’s goal is to develop a set of data communication exchange standards by which the marine industry at large can operate, effectively reducing IT burdens, eliminating system incompatibility and making it easier for companies to transact business with one another.
MATES founding and charter members include: boats.com; Brunswick Boat Group; Channel Blade Technologies; Dockmaster Software; MarineMax; NMMA; and Watch Captain.
Non-members interested in participating on the MATES open conference call September 19 should call (978) 964-0031 10 minutes before its scheduled 1 p.m. EST start time and use passcode 4912934#.
For more information on MATES or the specific benefits of membership, visit firstmates.org or contact Warnik at (312) 946-6295; jwarnik@nmma.org.
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is the leading association representing the recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the United States. The association is dedicated to industry growth through programs in public policy, market research and data, product quality assurance and marketing communications.
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Added: Thu Oct 26 2006
