Category Archives: Industry News
BlueRibbon Coalition Seeks Executive Director
POCATELLO, ID (September 4, 2014) — The BlueRibbon Coalition is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization which champions responsible use of public lands and land access for outdoor recreation.
The Executive Director is hired by the BlueRibbon Coalition Board of Directors and serves as a full time, salaried BlueRibbon Coalition employee to execute the business of the BRC, excepting for those functions reserved for the Board in its by-laws.
The Executive Director will be responsible to manage BRC staff, to develop and execute a plan to achieve BRC’s goals, and to properly present the “public face” of BRC through various communication formats, including social and print media, oral and written presentations and other forms of outreach.
The Executive Director also will be responsible for providing leadership for membership development and fund raising while maintaining financial stability and insuring compliance with applicable laws.
The Executive Director position requires excellent communication skills. The Executive Director shall provide the board of directors with on-going information regarding the health and direction of the BRC, the status of operational and financial plans, the synergy of the BlueRibbon Team and is the primary representative of the coalition.
The person applying for this position must demonstrate a successful record of fundraising and organizational leadership. It will be considered a plus if the applicant has a history of effective advocacy in the field of public recreation.
Serious individuals should submit resumes to:
Glen Zumwalt, Chair, Executive Director Search Committee
c/o BlueRibbon Coalition
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 83202
208-237-1008 ext 105
brc.exdir.apply@sharetrails.org
Polaris Industries Honors New Hall of Fame Inductees As Company Celebrates its 60th Anniversary Year
Retired Employees, Leading Dealers & Key Supplier-Partner Are Inducted
MEDINA, Minn. (July 29, 2014) – Polaris Industries Inc. today inducted three retired employees, including two executives, three premier dealerships, and a key supplier into the Polaris Hall of Fame. They were honored for their significant contributions to the company’s success – along with the community of Roseau, Minnesota, and the company’s Roseau workforce – during a ceremony at the Polaris National Sales Meeting held in Minneapolis.
The Polaris Hall of Fame was established during the company’s 50th anniversary in 2004. Retired employees, Polaris dealers, and key material and technology suppliers have been recognized annually for their roles in the company’s growth and success.
“As Polaris celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, it’s an honor to recognize these special individuals, dealers, and key supplier-partner for their tremendous contributions,” said Polaris CEO Scott Wine. “It’s also fitting that we pay tribute to Roseau, where Polaris was founded, along with the outstanding workforce at our Roseau production facility.”
The 2014 Polaris Hall of Fame inductees are:
• John Corness, who served as Vice President Human Resources from 1999 to 2011, a period of tremendous growth for Polaris. John and his HR team contributed greatly to that growth and to the company’s ongoing success by hiring outstanding personnel to expand and elevate programs and processes, by implementing effective employee evaluation practices, and by establishing programs such as the Engineering Development Program.
• Mark Blackwell, who joined Polaris in 2000 as General Manager of the Victory Motorcycles division, and later served as VP of the Victory division and Polaris VP of International Operations. Mark joined Polaris after a hall of fame motocross racing career and two decades of successfully directing powersports businesses, and he guided Victory through a decade of tremendous improvement in product innovation, quality, performance, and sales. He helped to energize the company’s commitment to product quality, and helped create the product development process Polaris still uses today.
• Les Olson, who started as a Polaris snowmobile dealer in 1975, became a District Sales Manager for Polaris in several Rocky Mountain states, and closed his Polaris career as an extremely valuable member of the Polaris Way Out Training Team. The WOTT group Les was part of toured the country and provided sales personnel from Polaris dealerships with effective product and sales training. Now retired and living in northern Minnesota, Les contributed greatly to the success of dealerships coast to coast.
• Lube-Tech (aka Lubrication Technologies, Inc.) in the early 1990s created for Polaris its first brand-exclusive, specially blended motor oil for Polaris 2-stroke snowmobile engines. Lube-Tech has since provided the company with specially formulated oils for engines in all Polaris vehicles, with each oil specially engineered for optimal performance and engine longevity. Lube-Tech has provided Polaris with exceptional customer service and breakthrough technology, including the first synthetic oil for a 4-stroke ATV engine, the first synthetic for 2-stroke engines, and the first smokeless 2-stroke oil.
• Arlen Ness Motorcycles, a leading Victory Motorcycles and Indian Motorcycle dealership in Dublin, California. Its principals, legendary custom bike builder Arlen Ness and his son, fellow custom builder Cory Ness, have long served as styling consultants and accessories suppliers for Victory. They have also created a series of limited-edition Ness Signature Series Victory models. The Nesses became Victory dealers in 1999, providing the new brand with invaluable credibility because of Arlen’s legendary stature in the motorcycle world. Today, three generations of Ness custom builders lead the business, as Cory’s son Zach is also a high-profile team member.
• M & M Lawn & Leisure operates Polaris snowmobile and off-road vehicle (ORV) dealerships in Rushford and Pine Island, Minnesota. The dealerships owned by Mike Burns and his wife Christie have enjoyed long-term success through a company-wide commitment to unsurpassed customer service, support of community activities and rider groups, and by utilizing the dealer resources Polaris provides to maximum effect. When torrential rains flooded the city of Rushford in 2007, M & M, with Polaris support, provided vehicles and dealership resources, including full use of the building itself, to emergency operations teams.
• Reno Cycles & Gear, a Polaris dealership owned and operated by Bill Hermant, his wife Donna, and their daughter Kimberly in Reno, Nevada. When Bill became a Victory Motorcycles dealer in 2000, the business was located in a rundown building in a rough part of town. Passionate about powersports and committed to providing premium customer service, he successfully grew the business. Reno Cycles & Gear features a factory trained service staff that delivers superior vehicle service and maintenance. In 2007, the dealership moved into a large, modern, high-profile facility, and it continues to grow as it sells and services all Polaris product lines.
• Roseau Community & Roseau Polaris Employees are receiving special recognition in this, the company’s 60th anniversary year. Polaris was incorporated in Roseau in the 1954, and six decades of Roseau employees – with the support of the city and entire community – have maintained the company’s commitment to product innovation and quality. The Polaris engineering and production facility in Roseau has grown rapidly over the years, as has the outstanding, dedicated workforce that creates world-class products in the company’s hometown.
Yamaha Announces MPI Turbo Kits Now Available for SRViper Trail Models
Yamaha Announces MPI Turbo Kits Now Available for SRViper Trail Models
Pleasant Prairie, WI – Yamaha trail and crossover enthusiasts looking for the ultimate in power and reliability can now have their cake and eat it too with the newly released Mountain Performance Incorporated (MPI) Trail Turbo Accessory Kit for Yamaha SRViper models. With the success of the factory authorized, dealer installed accessory kits exceeding expectations in mountain trim, the new MPI turbo kit was developed specifically for applications below 6,000-feet.
Mountain Performance has already developed a stellar track record for “boosted” Yamaha performance with its turbo and supercharger applications.
Polaris Industries Inc. Challenges Polaris Dealers to ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
MINNEAPOLIS (August 22, 2014) – Today, Polaris Industries Inc.’s (NYSE:PII) Chairman and CEO, Scott Wine, completed the Ice Bucket Challenge, joining in the viral campaign to raise awareness and funds for ALS. After accepting the challenge from Dan Ariens, President and CEO of Ariens, Wine in turn nominated Bahram Akradi, Founder and CEO of Lifetime Fitness, Michael Guyette, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield MN, and the entire Polaris dealer network.
Wine noted in his video that if 100 Polaris dealers accept the challenge, Polaris will donate an additional $10,000 towards ALS research.
“Polaris has a long history of giving back and is proud to support this effort,” said Wine. “We encourage our strong network of dealers to accept the nomination or donate to an ALS charity.”
Polaris has been involved with the Black Woods Blizzard Tour, a snowmobile ride to fight ALS, since its inception 15 years ago. Since then, Polaris employees have raised more than $900,000 for the cause and are hoping to hit the $1 million mark in 2015.
To watch Wine’s Ice Bucket Challenge visit: http://youtu.be/DpKIYso37kQ. Visit http://www.alsa.org to learn more about ALS and the Ice Bucket Challenge:
