Yamaha Outboards recently designated Atlantic Marine of Wilmington with a top honor for the second year in a row: Yamaha Pro Elite Plus Dealer.

According to a news release, the Yamaha Pro Elite Plus award was bestowed up 15 Yamaha Service Centers in the world this year.

"The Atlantic Marine Service Center is also the only service center in North and South Carolina that holds this award for outstanding service," the release stated.

According to the release, 11 qualifications had to be met to receive the accolade, ranging from participation in training to facility upkeep and quality of service. One of two major qualifications is involvement in the local Yamaha school. Atlantic Marine does this by maintaining a scholarship endowment at Cape Fear Community College and hiring technicians directly out of the school's Yamaha Program, the release stated.

"At Cape Fear Community College, we are proud of our partnership with Atlantic Marine Service. Their dedication to excellence elevates industry standards and creates invaluable opportunities for our students. The Yamaha Pro Elite Plus Status highlights their commitment to quality service and community engagement. We look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts with this local business to prepare the next generation of skilled technicians,” stated CFCC President Jim Morton in the release.

The second major qualification is maintaining a high customer satisfaction index score. Out of all Yamaha Service Centers, Atlantic Marine ranks in the top 1%, according to the release.

"Customer service and community involvement are the cornerstones of Atlantic Marine. I recognize the hard work and dedication of our staff that propelled us to secure these honors” said David Floyd, president of Atlantic Marine, in the release. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank them as well as our loyal customers for making us who we are. I also recognize the importance of a strong community and how much their patronage and support have helped Atlantic Marine become the company it is today.”