Arundel boatbuilding school launches first-of-its-kind program to teach boatyard management
Courtesy / The Landing School
The Landing School will provide a simulated boatyard for a new training program in boatyard management.
A new program provides first-hand training in boatyard management, with everything from planning, estimating, executing, ordering parts, invoicing and personnel management.
It is expected to fit right into an industry that has deep roots in Maine.
The Landing School in Arundel is building on its decades-long mission to prepare students for careers in the marine industry through what it said to be a first-of-its-kind program focused on management in the marine industry.
The program will involve managing the work of a simulated boatyard.
“This new program is the first of its kind, making the Landing School uniquely qualified to provide the marine industry with managers-in-training, essentially graduating a workforce that is ready to mentor other employees,” said Sean Fawcett, the school's president.
It’s expected the curriculum will prepare graduates to find employment as entry-level department leads, project managers, service managers, or yard managers in the marine industry.
To prepare for the new program, the Landing School expanded its boatyard capabilities with the purchase of a Hostar hydraulic trailer, a one-ton pickup truck and a forklift. The purchases were made possible through donations.
“As our marine systems program has evolved to provide students with practical, hands-on experience through meaningful project boat work, the school is looking more and more like a functioning boatyard,” said Fawcett. “We will leverage this environment to teach business and project management principles by having students manage the work of a boatyard.”
The program is open to students who have completed one of the other school’s programs in wooden boat building, composite boat building, marine systems, or yacht design. The program includes coursework and hands-on management of projects taking place on campus.
Jeff Stack of Maine Yacht Center lauded the program, saying it would instill confidence in technicians as they rise through their boatyard careers and bring structure to “complexities unique to marine management.”
Students will have a chance to manage real-life projects and teams, including financial management, marina management and organizational behavior.
“My technicians are constantly managing projects and customer communications,” said Stephanie Makoujy of Portland Yacht Services. “I think anyone participating in the boatyard management program will have the framework necessary to ensure this customer/technician relationship can flourish.”
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