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The International BoatBuilders' Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) will offer a full schedule and wide range of topics for the 2017 Education Program. This year at the Tampa Convention Center, attendees will have access to 80 education sessions, starting with nine half- and full-day Super Sessions on Monday, September 18, and 56 Seminars and 15 Tech Talk workshops from Tuesday, September 19 through Thursday, September 21, 2017.

"We are expanding our education series to include even more topics that appeal to a wider audience within the marine industry. I am always interested in hearing what the industry wants so we can address the right topics at IBEX," said Sarah Devlin, Education Director for IBEX. "Of course, we still offer the technical education and hands-on training we have provided for decades, from gelcoat repair to straddle lift training. Our most popular speakers, such as Nigel Calder, Steve D'Antonio, John McKnight, Richard Downs-Honey, and Jeffrey Bowles, are all returning this year, with many new faces as well."

The IBEX Seminar Series offers fundamental skills to cutting-edge advanced training for the boatbuilding, design, and repair industry through eight tracks focused on Design & Engineering; Composite Methods & Materials; Onboard Systems; Marine Electrical Systems; Manufacturing Management & Policy; Survey & Repair; Boatyard & Marina Operations; and new for 2017, the IBEX Extras. Highlights of the new IBEX Extras track include seminars such as Bionic Lightweight Design, Don't Leave Your Profit on the Shop Floor, Life Cycle and the Future of the Marine Industry, and Smartphones and Sea Trial.

The IBEX Education Partners-ABBRA, ABYC, NMEA, NMMA, and Professional BoatBuilder magazine-continue to work closely with Devlin on the Seminar Series as a whole to develop IBEX seminars that will both benefit and appeal to attendees. New for the 2017 Seminar Series, Marina Dock Age magazine and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) are hosting three seminars. Marine Dock Age magazine is leading two topics, both of which touch upon the day-to-day operations of a marina that offers service or a yard with a marina component, A Copper Paint Ban? How this Impacts You and Marina & Boatyard Service Efficiency.   MRAA is offering a 90-minute seminar titled, Creating a Competitive Advantage through Dealer Development, which will showcase proven methods manufacturers can use to strengthen their relationships with dealers, improving sales and profitability.

The nine Super Sessions on Monday, September 18 are sponsored by the International Marina Institute, NMEA, Power Products Marine Solutions, West System, SNAME, AWLGrip, Diab, and Grow Boating.  Attendees will be able to access free Tech Talk workshops at the Tech Talk Theater with 15 one-hour sessions sponsored by exhibitors.  For the full schedule, click here.  

CEUs are available for paid and verified participation at IBEX seminars at one CEU per one hour. Each 1.5-hour seminar is worth 1.5 CEU credits. The maximum credit hours for taking a full, seven-seminar curriculum at IBEX is 10.5. IBEX is offering advance rate pricing for the conference program until August 25th. Click here to learn more about IBEX's conference programs advance rate pricing. To register for IBEX 2017, click here.