Surprising Seminar Series Delivers Eye-Opening Lessons at ICAST

ICAST Lunch & Learn has become a can’t-miss resource for staying on top of changing trends in the business of recreational fishing.

The countdown to sportfishing’s largest trade show is well under way. Registration is open, booths are being designed, and reservations are already being made for ICAST 2024. And while a village of fishing tackle filled with thousands of new products remains the irresistible lure to the annual, summer event, veteran retailers know there’s more to ICAST than placing orders and perusing products.

To improve the experience at ICAST, the host organization, the American Sportfishing Association, introduced the Lunch & Learn series in 2021. Now a staple of the event, thousands of business leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs gather each day to learn about the state of the industry and emerging technologies, among other things.

One featured speaker has stood out as a favorite among ICAST attendees each year – Sid Dobrin.

In the past 12 months, the Adobe Thought Leader and University of Florida Department of English Chair has charted a course to more than 60 institutions, building a bridge between academia and industry to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Yes, artificial intelligence. The sea change in technology is sending shockwaves throughout sportfishing, too. Academic audiences in Singapore, Australia and across the United States have been captivated by Dobrin’s expert input on the subject, and last year, ICAST attendees benefited, too.

In 2023, Dobrin found himself on stage at the epicenter of the sprawling trade show. There, he bestowed Phd-level lessons to a captivated crowd of industry professionals. One of a handful of elite industry experts hosting daily Lunch & Learn seminars on the show floor of Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, Dobrin transfixed a packed crowd that furiously took notes, learning how artificial intelligence is already impacting business operations, marketing and social media.

Retail store owners, fishing guides, marine and tackle manufacturers and media members all gathered around to hear Dobrin’s talk. “I think people who are running businesses in recreational fishing, particularly small businesses, don’t always have a lot of time to do business stuff,” added Dobrin. “They’re kind of focused on keeping things running. So, a lot of time after the talks, I will get questions that are very specific to their business. People want to stay in touch.”

Last year, Dobrin’s seminar was accompanied by a gallery of other insightful presentations: from using influencers to drive sales and customer loyalty to navigating federal excise taxes and learning how to generate revenue from social media content. Each of those talks were served up free of charge to ICAST attendees.

“I see people who attend Lunch & Learn for the first time and their eyes open like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot going on out there. I wasn’t aware of that,’” said American wildlife conservation and outdoor recreational industry analyst Rob Southwick.  “And they come back every year to learn the latest. Business senses, the market and the customer are constantly changing. Lunch & Learn is as a way to keep up on those changes. There’s so much more you can learn in the show besides which products you should offer in your inventory,”

Southwick—the go-to source for some of the sportfishing industry’s most insightful analytics— has been a presenter at Lunch & Learn since the beginning.

Southwick was joined on stage by Stephanie Vatalaro, Senior Vice President of Communications for the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation. Stephanie is tasked with understanding the ever-shifting trends of angler and boater recruitment, retention and reactivation, known as “R3,” to help the industry grow.

She also has access to the most up-to-date data on consumer trends in the sportfishing world, and she regularly doles out on stage at Lunch & Learn. “Business owners should be the visionaries,” said Vatalaro. “If they understand what’s going on out there, they can grow their bottom line and profit.”

“Running those businesses requires other kinds of knowledge besides basic fishing knowledge,” added Dobrin. “Lunch & Learn provides a forum for experts in various areas to talk specifically about what it takes to run a business in recreational fishing. We talk about operations in the context of policies. We talk about taxes and sales and other ins-and-outs of running a business. It’s sort of an insider’s track on thinking about how to run a business specifically from the perspective of the recreational fishing industry.”

Dobrin, Southwick and Vatalaro say audience feedback is effervescent at ICAST. Despite the fast-paced atmosphere whirling around the Lunch & Learn area, attendees regularly make time to ask more questions, network and connect. It’s commonplace to hear more from Lunch & Learn attendees during and after the weeklong show.

“Lunch & Learn sessions allow us an opportunity to provide valuable information to the industry,” added Vatalaro. “The response to our sessions has been very positive. Attendees have commended our efforts, engaged with our collateral and followed up with us in meaningful ways after the show.”

For show officials, that message resonates loud and clear. ICAST Lunch & Learn seminars are making a much-anticipated return at ICAST 2024 with a full slate of experts taking the stage.

Dobrin and Vatalaro will be there. So, too, will an audience of attendees who make time to take notes about fresh new ideas that are worth their weight in gold once they return to the day-to-day routine of running their business.

“Business seminars like these might cost people thousands of dollars,” said ASA’s Trade Show & Membership Vice President Blake Swango. “The take home value of Lunch & Learn is tremendous. It’s one of the events I most recommend making time for at the show.”

Set for July 16-19, online registration for ICAST is already open. Qualified attendees like tackle dealers and other industry retailers can register to join the collective global sportfishing community there for free. To secure a spot in Orlando this year, visit ICASTFishing.org.