IRVINE, Calif. – Eric Anderson and Jim Woodruff were re-elected by members of the Motorcycle Industry Council to serve on the Board of Directors, representing the aftermarket and allied trades members.
Anderson, VROOM Network founder and president, will be entering his ninth term on the MIC board. Anderson has nearly 40 years of experience in the powersports industry, beginning in the 1980s, when he worked with the MIC as a technical analyst. He then joined Intersport Fashions West, working there 18 years before co-founding Scorpion Sports Inc. Anderson also served as sales and marketing VP for Motorcycle Aftermarket Group before creating VROOM Network.
Anderson, who recently bought the 43rd motorcycle of his life, is also currently involved with three MIC committees: the MIC Aftermarket & Allied Trades Committee, the MIC Rider Safety Subcommittee, and the MIC Membership Subcommittee.
“This is an especially tumultuous time with advancing technology and changing customer habits. Despite the discomforts associated with change, we must avoid being left in the dust by those more willing to disrupt our traditional ways of doing business,” Anderson said. “The women’s market remains important while we also continue gaining ground in sharing the motorcycle experience through programs such as the new RiDE initiative, sponsored by the MIC in association with Feld Entertainment. I know the issues, and I look forward to working hard to implement and recruit new ideas, new energy and new members to the industry.”
Woodruff, chief operating officer for National Powersport Auctions, was first elected to the MIC board two years ago and currently serves as its Secretary/Treasurer. He has worked 15 years with NPA, the industry’s No. 1 wholesale channel for pre-owned vehicles. Woodruff, a lifelong rider, has started and grown a number of businesses, including VertX Commerce Corporation and Captiva Software Corporation, and is involved in many industry groups, including serving on the board of Powersports Finance. He is also an editorial contributor to Motorcycle & Powersports News, Powersports Business News and Dealer News.
Woodruff also advised the MIC on its successful acquisition of the American International Motorcycle Expo in 2015.
“I have seen up close the hard work of everyone involved with the MIC. In the last two years, the MIC has signed up dozens of new members, delivered critical market data to decision makers, expanded the influ of the flagship AIMExpo trade show, tirelessly promoted the powersports industry to the world and much more,” Woodruff said. “Still, there is much work to be done. I believe growing the base of powersports riders to be our most important objective right now. The MIC and Feld Entertainment recently took a first step with the RiDE initiative to bring the powersports experience to the masses. Yet we need to do more to entice consumers, which means we need to recruit more powersports companies to become MIC members and contribute to our cause. I know we can make that happen, in addition to expanding rider training programs, focusing our research efforts, and continuing our outstanding government relations efforts. I am excited and honored to be part of this effort for another term.”
MIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair: Mr. Paul Vitrano
Vice President, Global Government Relations, Indian Motorcycle
Vice Chair: Mr. Chuck Boderman
Vice President, Motorcycle Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer: Mr. Jim Woodruff
Chief Operating Officer, National Powersport Auctions
Director: Mr. Eric Anderson
Founder, President, VROOM Network
Director: Mr. Russ Brenan
Senior Advisor, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Director: Mr. Mike Doughty
General Manager, Motorcycle Sales and Marketing, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Director: Mr. Kerry Graeber
Vice President MC/ATV Sales & Marketing, Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
Director: Mr. John Hinz
President, KTM North America, Inc.
Director: Mr. Andrew Leisner
Vice President, Group Publisher, Bonnier Motorcycle Group
Director: Mr. Michael Peyton
Vice President, BMW Motorrad USA
Director: Mr. Paul Puma
Executive Vice President, Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance
The MIC Board’s structure consists of six appointed directors who represent the six top original equipment manufacturers by market share, and six elected directors — representing one OEM and five aftermarket companies — who are voted into service by MIC’s membership and serve two-year terms.
The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, AIMExpo, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories and related goods and services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.
The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at mic.org.