Helping Businesses Create Better Experiences, Stronger Leaders and a More Prosperous Future
Meet Matt Gruhn
For more than 30 years, Matt Gruhn has studied what separates good businesses from great ones and has dedicated his career to helping dealerships create better experiences for customers, stronger opportunities for employees, and a more prosperous future for the industries they serve.
As President of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, author, speaker, researcher, and lifelong student of business, Matt has spent three decades working alongside dealers, manufacturers, lenders, and industry leaders to understand what drives sustainable success.
His work focuses on leadership, customer experience, dealership performance, organizational growth, and the future of retail businesses operating in industries fueled by passion, recreation, and discretionary spending.
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Get to know Matt Gruhn through this podcast interview that goes deep into his history and vision for what's next.
Association Leadership
Sharing lessons from building and leading mission-driven organizations that create value, grow engagement, strengthen industries, and amplify collective impact.
Customer Experience and Loyalty
Understanding how trust, personalization, and meaningful customer interactions drive loyalty, advocacy, retention, and long-term business success.
Dealership Operational Excellence
Exploring systems, processes, and leadership disciplines that enable dealerships to deliver consistent performance, stronger profitability, and exceptional customer experiences.
Leadership and Performance
Examining how intentional leadership, culture, accountability, and continuous improvement create organizations capable of thriving through change and uncertainty.
Industry Transformation
Helping leaders identify the forces reshaping their industries and translate emerging trends into strategies that create long-term relevance, resilience, and growth.
Speaking Topics
Matt Gruhn believes great dealerships have the power to change lives.
Whether it’s helping a family create memories on the water, enabling an employee to build a meaningful career, or supporting a local business owner pursuing a dream, the impact of a well-run business extends far beyond financial performance.
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That belief has shaped Matt’s career.
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His mission is simple: help businesses become more capable, more customer-focused, and more intentional in the experiences they create.
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Through his writing, speaking, leadership, and industry initiatives, Matt works to help organizations navigate change, improve performance, and build businesses that thrive in an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving marketplace.
Beyond The Office
Matt lives in Minnesota with his wife and family. A lifelong boating and outdoors enthusiast, he enjoys fly fishing, boating, camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with his family.
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He is passionate about conservation and believes deeply in the transformative power of time spent outdoors and on the water. And helping more people experience the benefits of life on the water begins with helping businesses serve them better.
Building Frameworks for the Future
Throughout his career, Matt has helped create programs, research initiatives, and professional development frameworks designed to elevate dealership performance and strengthen the marine industry.
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His work has contributed to:
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The Top 100 Dealers Program
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Dealer Week Conference & Expo
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Dealership Certification Programs
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Industry Workforce Research Initiatives
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The Dealer-Manufacturer Scorecard Program
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The ANCHORING Leadership Framework
- The Dealership of the Future Framework
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Leadership development and peer-learning communities