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www.PowersportsBusiness.com MOTORCYCLE Powersports Business • April 8, 2014 • 25 MOTORCYCLE Husqvarna names new brand manager Husqvarna has named industry veteran Steve Lawler as the company's new North American brand manager. Lawler will be based out of Husqvarna Motorcycles North America's all-new facility in Murrieta, Calif. Lawler has been a sales manager for BRP for the last 10 years and was with Yamaha for more than two decades prior to that. "We are very proud to welcome Steve Lawler to Husqvarna," vice president Brad Hagi said. "His vast industry experi- ence and passion for motocross make him the ideal person to help shape the new Husqvarna. We are heading into a land- mark year for this historic brand, and Steve is going to be a big part of bringing Husky back to its premium status." "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportu- nity," Lawler said. "I think the sky is the limit to where we can go with Husqvarna, and I'm very excited to be a part of the team. I have a long history with dirt bikes — I still race to this day in events like the Vet World Championships and Mammoth Motocross. I have a well-rounded skillset off the bike, as well, with a diverse background in market- ing and sales, and I'm looking forward bring- ing it all together as brand manager for the new Husqvarna." ADP LIGHTSPEED TO OFFER DEALERSHIP WEBSITES ADP Lightspeed will be offering websites to powersports dealers, adding to a marketplace that includes PowerSports Network, ARI/50 Below and Dealer Spike, among others. "This has been the most requested prod- uct that dealers have been asking for from us," ADP Lightspeed general manager Greg Smith told Powersports Business. "The initial reaction has been huge, very favorable, and the dealers are happy we're doing it." Testing of the product, called Lightspeed Websites, is ongoing, with a launch date of May 1. The website will also come with an iOS and Android mobile app for dealers to instantly post units on the site. "Our research in working with dealers showed that the number one piece of func- tionality that dealers requested was integra- tion, ease of use," Smith said. "So it will be fully integrated with our DMS platform, Cus- tomer Experience Management CRM, Loyalty Rewards Program and our other products. We focused on coming up with a very clean, attractive website product that will meet the needs of our dealers and have it fully inte- grated with the rest of our products." Pricing has not been announced, but "it will be a very disruptive price point," Smith said. EBR PUTS WISCONSIN GRANT TO USE EBR was awarded a Global Business Devel- opment Program grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. EBR used the grant to attend Motodays Fiera DIGEST Dennis McNeal, vice president-motorcycle operations at Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., has been elected as the new chair of the Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Direc- tors. McNeal succeeds outgoing chair Mark Blackwell, who served as chair in 2013 and is retiring from his position as vice president, special projects at Polaris Industries. For 2014, Jon-Erik Burleson, president of KTM-North American Inc., will continue to serve as vice chair, while Larry Little, vice president and general manager of Market- place Events Motorcycle Group, was elected secretary/treasurer. "I'm honored to be elected as the chair of the MIC, just as the organization begins its second century of vital work preserving, protecting and promoting motorcycling," McNeal said. "This is an exciting time for the industry's trade association, with great potential ahead, and an excellent team of veterans and fresh talent on the board and among MIC staff assembled to take on challenges and opportunities." McNeal also thanked Mark Blackwell for his term of service to the MIC. "Mark Blackwell was, and will remain, a tre- mendous asset to the MIC," McNeal said. "His vast industry experience, genuine enthusiasm and leadership skills were greatly appreciated over the past year, particularly as the MIC embarked on expanded initiatives such as the new class of MIC membership for dealers and retailers nationwide." "Serving the industry, dealerships and, ulti- mately, riders everywhere, the MIC is con- tinuing, in its next 100 years, to represent motorcycling before legislators, with regard to land use and technical and emissions regula- tions," Burleson said. "We want to help keep two-wheelers and other powersports products accessible, usable and desirable." Market research and helping members expand the market remain key aspects of MIC efforts, Little said. "An ongoing mission includes understanding the wide variety of American consumers and enticing more of them to ride, whether it's for transportation or recreation," he said. Along with McNeal and Burleson, the MIC Board of Directors includes recently elected and appointed members Steve Menneto, vice presi- dent, motorcycles, Polaris Industries Inc.; Sarah Schilke, marketing and public relations man- ager at Schuberth North America; and Little, a past MIC chair who is serving his 18th year as a director. Each is beginning a two-year term. They are among 12 MIC directors, six elected and six appointed by motorcycle manufacturers and distributors that pay MIC dues based on market share. Continuing to serve on the board for 2014 are: Hans Blesse, vice president, BMW Motorrad USA; Steve Bortolamedi, senior communications man- ager, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.; Russ Brenan, senior advisor, government relations and public affairs at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.; Don Emde, owner/president of Don Emde, Inc.; Frank Esposito, president at Ken- don Industries, Inc.; Robert Gurga, vice presi- dent, motorcycle division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Steve Johnson, of Tucker Rocky Distributing. PSB 2012 H-D FLHX Street Glide sees 103 percent increase in hits BY DAVE McMAHON EDITOR IN CHIEF Kelley Blue Book's website saw a dramatic rise in hits on its powersports vehicles during the spring and summer months of 2013, followed by a wane in the winter months. But when MIC elects McNeal as board chairman KBB.com shows steady bike interest during Q4 24 • April 8, 2014 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com The 2014 Motorcycle Industry Council board of directors celebrate the trade association's 100th anniversary near the headquarters in Irvine, Calif. Seated are vice chair Jon-Erik Burleson and Sarah Schilke. Standing are Russ Brenan, Frank Esposito, chair Dennis McNeal, Steve Menneto, Don Emde and secretary/treasurer Larry Little. Not pictured are board members Hans Blesse, Steve Bortolamedi, Robert Gurga and Steve Johnson. An unsteady top 10 in the scooter segment showed the 2013 Honda PCX150 gaining the most views on KBB.com in Q4 2013. See Digest, Page 28 STEVE LAWLER P24x28-PSB5-Cycle.indd 24 3/27/14 11:25 AM