Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Freedom Boat Club celebrates global growth and franchise network success at annual conference

by Freedom Boat Club 7 Mar 2024 23:05 GMT
Freedom Boat Club © Andrew Toogood

Freedom Boat Club, the world's largest boat club operator, recently held its annual franchise conference, the 2024 Freedom Forum. This year's forum, including "Freedom University" reflects Freedom's commitment to providing enriching educational content to achieve the Club's shared mission of delivering remarkable member experiences to the world's largest boating community.

More than 425 attendees descended on Southwest Florida for a week of engaging workshops, the largest vendor and partner expo in franchise history, and collaboration during the largest Freedom conference to-date.

"As we continue to reaffirm our position as the market leader, we are committed to arming our franchise partners with the knowledge, tools and resources to deliver best-in-class member experiences and growth opportunities," said Louis Chemi, Vice President, Freedom Franchise Network. "Our annual conference provides a forum for our global network of franchise operators to come together to share best practices and ideas, as well as highlight the investments we're making in our technology, operational and marketing efforts to support their businesses. We believe 2024 will be another record-breaking year for the Club, and we are energized by the passion of our franchise operators who are committed to expanding the boating industry and reaching the next generation of boaters."

The Forum kicked off with Freedom's largest-ever partner and vendor expo giving franchisees exposure to products and services to support their business growth. During the expo, Freedom hosted more than 20 boats from 14 brands for attendees to engage in on-water testing, as well as 30 additional partners showcasing everything from Fliteboard, the world's most advanced eFoil surfboard and onboard electronics packages from Navico Group to insurance and marketing programs to assist franchisees in providing best-in-class member experiences.

The conference concluded with an award ceremony recognizing many franchisees for their performance and contributions over the past year. For 2023, the North American Franchise of the Year was awarded to Matt Carrick and Matt O'Connor from Freedom Boat Club of Greater Boston and Cape Cod, the EMEA Franchise of the Year was awarded to Jason Bond and Antony Birchell from Freedom Boat Club of Torquay, and the APAC Franchise of the Year was awarded to Patrick Edwards and Aaron Hunt from Freedom Boat Club of the Gold Coast.

Other award recipients included:

  • Territory Expansion - Matt Carrick and Matt O'Connor; Freedom Boat Club of Greater Boston and Cape Cod
  • Highest % of Revenue Increase - The Sheriff family, Ross Roadman, Mariah Lawrence and David Drake; Freedom Boat Club of Tennessee
  • Pacesetter Club Award (Recognizes clubs who meet specific financial growth benchmarks)
    • Freedom Boat Club of Ocean and Monmouth County NJ
    • Freedom Boat Club of Ohio
    • Freedom Boat Club of Puerto Rico
    • Freedom Boat Club of Space and Treasure Coasts
    • Freedom Boat Club of Tennessee
  • Change Champion of the Year - Carly Warren; Freedom Boat Club of Greater Boston and Cape Cod, Freedom Boat Club of Ocean and Monmouth County NJ, Freedom Boat Club of Ohio, Freedom Boat Club of Northeast Florida
  • Technology Trendsetter of the Year - Kevin Seelig; Freedom Boat Club of Northeast Florida
  • Freedom Excellence Program Award - Matt O'Hara, Lexy Metivier and Adam Riley; Freedom Boat Club of Lake George
  • Marketer of the Year - Nick Hooge; Freedom Boat Club of Seattle and Greater Puget Sound
  • Membership Executive of the Year - Bill Edinger; Freedom Boat Club of Northeast Florida
  • Best Dock Staff of the Year - Freedom Boat Club of Lake George and Freedom Boat Club of Pittsburgh
  • The John R. Giglio President's Award - Steven Dobreff, Freedom Boat Club of Lake St. Clair and Matt O'Hara, Freedom Boat Club of Lake George
  • Rookie Franchise of the Year - Mike Centeno, Edwin Rodriquez and Eddie Nieves; Freedom Boat Club of Puerto Rico

Related Articles

Aspire Merlin Rocket Nationals at Looe Day 3
The very keenest of rocketeers launched as soon as Delta flew Eager to get over the disappointment of blasting to the start line on Creation Covers race day two only to wallow as the wind shut off, the fleet were eagerly anticipating the prospect of a three-race day out in Looe Bay. Posted today at 8:20 pm Puerto Portals 52 SuperSeries Sailing Week preview
Who can put the winning pieces together in Puerto Portals to win? Having raced there every since year since 2015, for the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet the return to Puerto Portals, Mallorca always feels like a welcome return to the home-from-home of the world's leading grand prix monohull circuit. Posted today at 7:38 pm 12 Metre North Americans 2025 Preview
A legacy of elegance returns to Newport The elegance of classic yachting returns to Narragansett Bay this fall as the 12 Metre North American Championship comes to Newport, hosted by Ida Lewis Yacht Club in partnership with the International Twelve Metre Association Americas Fleet. Posted today at 7:04 pm Whitstable Week 2025
61 boats competing and all 10 races completed for the first time Whitstable Yacht Club held its annual Whitstable Week regatta on August 6th-10th with the five days being blessed with glorious sunshine but mostly light breezes. The good weather certainly brought out the crowds with 61 boats competing! Posted today at 6:05 pm Kiel Canal to get to Portsmouth?
Is this Holcim PRB & Allagrande Mapei answer to make The Ocean Race Europe Leg 2 start? While the five IMOCA yachts still racing in Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe are closing in on Portsmouth, the race is on for Holcim PRB and Allagrande Mapei to do their repairs after their crash at the start. Posted today at 5:47 pm Bembridge SC racing during and after Cowes Week
Keelboat report from the east of the island Six One-Designs has two excellent races on Tuesday morning in a F4, gusting F5 breeze with the occasional sunny period. The start of the first race was nothing to write home about with most of the fleet some way off the line when the hooter sounded. Posted today at 4:09 pm The Ocean Race Europe Leg 1 Day 3
Approaching the halfway point, Meilhat's team tightens their grip as the drag race to England begins After an intense start to Leg One, with all-out racing through the Baltic and a bruising first 24 hours along the Danish coast, the IMOCA fleet has enjoyed a much-needed chance to recharge. Posted today at 3:34 pm Rooster partners Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron
Official technical clothing provider to the oldest yacht club in the Americas Rooster is proud to announce its official partnership with the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron (RNSYS), the oldest yacht club in the Americas, marking the beginning of an exciting collaboration in Canada. Posted today at 1:30 pm Horning SC's Open Regatta Week 2025
Horning Town Regatta has sailors racing not only for glory but for silver spoons Horning Sailing Club's Regatta Week took place from 2nd-8th August, and saw its usual share of excitement and thrills during the activities. Posted today at 12:42 pm ILCA UK Nationals at Plas Heli day 1
235 competitors from 15 countries descend on Plas Heli Two hundred and thirty five competitors from fifteen countries descended on Plas Heli, the Welsh National Sailing Centre for the ILCA UK National and Open Championships. All the sailors and one hundred volunteers were warmly welcomed. Posted today at 11:14 am
Copyright 2025 YY Online Services Ltd. registered in England no. 7895890
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy