The second Yamaha Marine Maintenance Certification Program (MCP) Instructor training held at PWSC.

The second Yamaha Marine Maintenance Certification Program (MCP) Instructor training took place at Prince William Sound College in Valdez, Alaska from May 20 to 22, 2024. Representatives from Yamaha, including District Service Manager Dan Jedlicka and Kenyon Ward from Workforce Development at Yamaha Marine, visited the campus to provide support and training to educators from across the state. Yamaha's MCP instructor training program provides technical schools with training needed to teach students about Yamaha outboard products. This visit is part of a larger initiative by Yamaha Marine and the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium (AMEC) to establish marine technical training programs across Alaska's population centers.

Kenyon Ward, who is responsible for workforce development at Yamaha Marine, stated that the company partners with over 120 high schools and colleges across 33 states, from Key West in the south to Fairbanks in the north, including locations like Phoenix, Arizona, and Portland, Maine. Kenyon's role is to support schools in obtaining the resources new and legacy schools need to succeed, aiming to place new technicians in Yamaha Marine dealerships.

A significant shortage of technicians in the marine industry leads to long wait times for boat repairs. The industry average wait time for a warranty repair is 54 days, much longer than the automotive industry. Yamaha Marine aims to address this shortage by training new technicians for Yamaha dealerships through partnerships with high schools and colleges, thereby increasing the quantity and quality of technicians entering the field.

The boating industry in the United States is mainly concentrated to the east of the Mississippi, particularly on the Gulf Coast and East Coast, where the largest concentration of Yamaha Marine dealerships and technical school institutions can be found. Alaska is an exception, as the state has a high ratio of Yamaha outboards per capita.

Kenyon discussed the establishment of a network of schools in Alaska for training purposes. The idea was prompted by feedback from politicians and senior executives, who emphasized the unique usage conditions of Yamaha outboard products in Alaska. Due to high commercial usage and logistical challenges, Yamaha outboard products are often replaced instead of repaired. In response, Yamaha partnered with the Alaska Maritime Education Consortium to offer accessible marine and Yamaha outboard training. The focus was creating local experts within communities to support and educate young people interested in maintaining and repairing with these products.  Individuals represented by the Coastal Villages Relief Fund (CVRF) attended Yamaha training both in Valdez and factory training in Kennesaw, GA. This allowed them to return to their village communities as experts in maintaining and repairing Yamaha outboards.  

Yamaha's MCP instructor training program is in its second year in Alaska, which marks a significant milestone. People from approximately 48 locations across Alaska have received training from either Prince William Sound College’s marine services technology program or Yamaha's MCP instructor training program hosted at PWSC. Valdez, Kenai, Kodiak, Ketchikan, Dillingham all currently offer Yamaha outboard training classes.  It is expected that two more Alaskan boroughs will offer Yamaha training by the end of 2025. Kenyon mentioned that he has observed significant success, particularly in Alaska, and anticipates significant growth in the program over the next two years.