Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/679587
PSB FOCUS 14 • May 23, 2016 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com This issue: Executive of the Year Next issue: Tire & Wheel With 15 launches in just a few years, Yamaha is on the throttle When it comes to new product, the past few years have been extraordinary for Yamaha, especially on the motorcycle side. More than a dozen models have been launched or signifi- cantly updated since 2013. The result? Yamaha has increased sales and grown market share in some of its popu- lar segments. That's why Dennis McNeal, vice president of Motorcycle Operations at Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS), couldn't be over- looked as the 2016 Powersports Business Execu- tive of the Year. In his 38 years with Yamaha, McNeal has risen in ranks from district sales manager to his current VP position. But he hasn't only contributed within his company; he is also a staunch supporter of the industry. A five-year veteran of the Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Directors, McNeal was elected chair in early 2014. DREAM JOB McNeal has been a motorcycle enthusiast from a young age. He graduated from high school in 1972 and began working in the steel industry, as many high school graduates in Ohio did. McNeal's father, however, encouraged him to attend night school, which led McNeal to earn a degree in communications from Ohio University in Athens. It was after graduation that he realized working in powersports could be a reality. One of McNeal's riding buddies and high school friends was Jim Ryan, who in the 1970s joined Cycle News. "We lived a street away from each other, rode bikes and went to college together, and when he got that job at Cycle News, I thought I could do that," McNeal recalled. "Find a job that pays you to be in the motorcycle industry? It was kind of a dream at the time that became a reality." McNeal's first job out of college was as a district sales manager for Yamaha, and he hasn't looked back since. After serving DSM roles in the Northeast and Midwest, McNeal was named a regional sales manager, and his role at Yamaha continued to evolve. "[Former YMUS president] Jim Gentz brought me to California in 1994 as field sales manager. That was the beginning of what brings us here today," McNeal said. Soon after moving to California, McNeal was named the national sales manager of Motorsports, leading the motorcycle, snow- mobile and power products segments, before serving as general manager of Yamaha Motor- sports. He was promoted to his current role in the early 2000s. But he never left Yamaha, he said, because of "the products, the people and the passion, not just that the employees and my co-workers have, but also the customers, for the brand and the products. Every day is a learning experi- ence, even after 38 years." A full career surrounded by trailblazers and positive role models helped. "I had the opportunity to be mentored by what I would consider the best managers in the industry — Jim Gentz, former president of Yamaha; Ed Burke, retired product plan- ning manager for Yamaha; Buzz Huse, retired service and accessories manager for Yamaha. In 38 years, I can truly say they were some of the best teachers and mentors I could've come across," McNeal said. He added, "And that's not a negative against other contemporaries. I've had the pleasure to work with Rod Bush from KTM, Ray Blank from Honda and Mel Harris from Suzuki, who really created the industry that we see today. Bob Gurga, who just retired from Honda, and Steve Piehl, who just retired from Harley- Davidson, are friends of mine. So it wasn't just limited to working with Yamaha, it was work- ing with the industry. I've been very blessed with the opportunities that Yamaha's presented to me." McNeal also pointed to Tim Buche and Kathy Van Kleeck of the MIC; Arnie Ackerman, chairman emeritus and founder of Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG), and Don Emde, owner of Don Emde, Inc., as those from whom he has learned over his decades in the industry. "Some of the best and brightest in the indus- try are really mentoring and watching what's going on with our business," he said. But McNeal has been a leader in his own 2015 Holger Mohr, president, Kuryakyn 2014 Greg Heichelbech, CEO, Triumph North America 2013 Keith Wandell, CEO, Harley-Davidson Motor Co. 2012 Rob Dingman, CEO, American Motorcyclist Association 2011 Scott Wine, CEO, Polaris Industries 2010 Jack Snow, CEO, Sheffield Financial 2009 Bennett Morgan, president & COO, Polaris Industries 2008 Eric Bondy, CEO, KYMCO USA 2007 Paolo Timoni, CEO, Piaggio Group Americas 2006 Michael Lock, CEO, Ducati North America 2005 José Boisjoli, CEO, BRP 2003 Jeff Bleustein, CEO, Harley-Davidson 2002 Tom Tiller, CEO, Polaris Industries 2001 Ray Blank, vice president, American Honda 2000 Fred Fox, chairman and founder, Parts Unlimited 2015 Brian Klock, president, Klock Werks Kustom Cycles; Tim McKercher, president, LOOK Marketing; Larry Little and Mike Webster, vice president and general manager/president, Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group 2014 Tim Calhoun, CEO, Speedmob, Inc.; Steve Menneto, VP Motorcycles, Polaris Industries; Mark-Hans Richer, senior VP & chief marketing officer, Harley- Davidson Motor Co.; Sarah Schilke, head of Marketing & Public Relations, Schuberth North America 2013 Roy Olivier, CEO, ARI Network Services, Inc.; Sam Yourd, vice president of Marketing, Motorsports Division, GE Capital Commercial Distribution Finance; Cristiano Silei, CEO, Ducati North America; Sam Dantzler, president, Sam's Powersports Garage & Sam Dantzler Consulting 2012 Bill Jenkins, vice president of Sales, Kawasaki Motors Corp.; Chris Carlson, president, Sportech; Jim Woodruff, partner, National Powersport Auctions; Keith Wandell, president, CEO and chairman of the board, Harley-Davidson 2011 Yves Leduc, vice president and general manager, BRP North America division; Steve Johnson, president/ COO Tucker Rocky Distributing; Paul Vitrano, general counsel, MIC & executive VP ROHVA; Claude Jordan, CEO, Arctic Cat 2010 Chris McIntyre, president, EagleRider; Malcolm Smith, president, Malcolm Smith Motorsports; Laurn Rice, vice president, ADP Lightspeed; Holger Mohr, CEO, Custom Chrome 2009 Philip McCaleb, president, Genuine Scooter Co.; Brian Etter, CEO, MAG; Christopher Carter, owner, Motion Pro; Cliff Clifford, CEO, National Powersport Auctions PAST EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR PAST INDUSTRY LEADERS McNeal leads Yamaha through bike growth See McNeal, Page 15 DENNIS McNEAL Vice President, Motorcycle Operations, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. 2016 EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR