Pack Your Bags, NPAA Conference Heads to Florida!
Category: article
Mar 1st, 2022 by Keith Worrall
Modified Mar 1st, 2022 at 11:57 AM
Premier event looks to gather industry pros for career-changing seminars, networking opportunities and product demos.
Forestville, WI (March 1, 2022) – There’s big news on the convention front for the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA). The 1,400-member non-profit sportfishing trade association has decided to host its 2023 Annual Conference in sunny Fort Myers, January 6th through 8th.
“There is no better state in the nation to host our annual NPAA Conference than Florida – especially with an early January time slot,” says Patrick Neu, NPAA’s president. “As a destination location, Florida simply cannot be beat.”
Coming off a three-year conference hiatus due to COVID-19 concerns, the NPAA is looking to make a big splash with their next annual event.
“This will be one for the record books,” assures Neu. “Florida leads the nation in license sales, and fishing opportunities, both in freshwater and salt. With early January timing, we expect the event will be well attended by many of this country’s top anglers and industry representatives.”
After an extensive search, the award-winning Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport has been chosen as the 2022/2023 Conference host.
“This location couldn’t fit our needs better,” says Neu. “The hotel and conference center are built next to a lake and will be large enough to allow us 225 total attendees.”
With plenty of attractions and great fishing nearby, the NPAA expects to reel in some of the most visible and knowledgeable industry professionals to speak at this event.
“Having our conference in Florida should be very inviting,” Neu says. “And it is representative of the NPAA’s ever-growing nation-wide professional membership.”
The NPAA Conference is an annual event packed with educational seminars, networking opportunities, and product demonstrations. It is a key component of the NPAA platform, which exists to help members grow their professional angling careers and run successful industry businesses.
“For anyone from tournament anglers, charter captains and guides – to tackle shop staff, service crews and industry representatives,” says Neu, “joining the NPAA and attending the annual conference are essential if you are serious about making a living as a true fishing professional.”
In addition to superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy, and professional development, the NPAA also offers a monthly member newsletter, a weekly industry NewsBLAST and access to significant discounts on gear and services provided by many of its nearly 80 supporting partners.
Additionally, the organization is active in promoting youth fishing activities and entry into the sport – supporting over 100 Future Angler Clinics in 2021. With assistance from the Future Angler Foundation, member volunteers distributed over 4,000 NPAA Future Pro T-shirts and 3,000 rod and reel combos to youth anglers.
For information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net.
Photo courtesy of www.visitfortmyers.com