IRVINE, Calif., July 20, 2016 – Kerry Graeber, vice president of MC/ATV sales and marketing at Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., will be representing Suzuki as a new member on the Motorcycle Industry Council Board of Directors.
Graeber boasts more than 20 years of experience in the powersports industry and has enjoyed a long relationship with Suzuki. Prior to his current role, he directed the strategic efforts of Questus, Suzuki’s national advertising agency. Before that, at the Marketplace Events Motorcycle Group, he helped develop the marketing strategy that lead to the successful launch of the American International Motorcycle Expo, now owned and produced by MIC Events. And, in the competition world, Graeber served as the vice president of communications at AMA Pro Racing, just after his first tenure with Suzuki as associate director of brand marketing and advertising.
“With his impressive history in the industry, we’re fortunate to be getting Kerry’s wide range of skills to add to our other veteran talents on the MIC board,” said Dennis McNeal, MIC chairman and vice president of motorcycle operations at Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA.
“There is important work to be done on the MIC board, working with other industry leaders on protecting, preserving and promoting our industry,” Graeber said. “I’m happy and honored to serve, and am looking forward to contributing in any way I can.”
The 2016/2017 MIC Board of Directors includes Dennis McNeal, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA; Jon-Erik Burleson, KTM North America, Inc.; Russ Brenan, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.; Arnold Ackerman, Motorsport Aftermarket Group; Eric Anderson, VROOM Network; Chuck Boderman, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Don Emde of Don Emde Inc.; Andrew Leisner, Bonnier Motorcycle Group; Kris Odwarka, BMW Motorrad USA; Paul Vitrano, Polaris Industries Inc.; and Jim Woodruff, National Powersport Auctions.
The MIC Board’s structure consists of six appointed directors who represent the six top member OEMs 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.