MIC's PowerLily 'Gas Tank' Looking for Mentors - Motorcycle & Powersports News

The MIC is looking for a few good mentors. Odds are, you may have had a helping hand or two on your way to the top. Perhaps the PowerLily Gas Tank program can be an opportunity for you to return that favor.

The PowerLily “Gas Tank” is similar to “Shark Tank,” where aspiring entrepreneur-contestants make business presentations to a panel of “shark” mentors. “Gas Tank” is specific to the powersports industry and available only to PowerLily members. It provides a platform for PowerLily members to submit business plans for a new innovation, product or service idea. The finalists then have an opportunity to pitch their idea live to influential industry business leaders at AIMExpo and gain insight, visibility, valuable feedback and industry connections.

Key Activity

2017 Program announced at AIMExpo 2016.
PowerLily participants apply for participation by 2/28/2017.
Once applications are received, MIC matches applicant with an MIC mentor.
Business plans due 6/15/17.
On or before 7/14/17, judges narrow submissions to a maximum of five finalists.
Finalists have an opportunity to exhibit their business/product and give a 6-minute pitch at AIMExpo 2017. Q&A with the judges will follow the pitch.
Business presentations will be evaluated based on set of agreed metrics including monetary growth-potential and overall strategic plan.

Please let MIC know if you would like to participate. The initial mentors will be announced as soon as possible to help create buzz, excitement and participation in the program.

The initial group of mentors and judges who helped make the inaugural year a big success were:

Arnie Ackerman, chairman emeritus and founder Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG)
Eric Anderson, founder and partner, Vroom Network
Deb Drinan, director of business development for Nelson-Rigg USA
Frank Esposito, vice president of Scorpion Sports
Mary Green, past content/editorial director for Dealernews/Advanstar
Scot Harden, chief marketing officer at Torrot/GasGas Motos North America
Kim Harrison, general manager at Coleman Powersports and MIC Dealer Advisory Council Member
Steve Johnson, past president and chief operating officer of Tucker Rocky Distributing
Jessica Prokup, PowerLily founder and marketing director at Twisted Throttle

If you have any questions about the program or its time commitment, please contact [email protected] or any one of the inaugural mentors or judges.

PowerLily is a network of professional women in the powersports industry. PowerLily is committed to expanding opportunities for women in the powersports industry by providing programs for professional growth, education and leadership opportunities. PowerLily is an MIC Aftermarket subcommittee chaired by MIC member Sarah Schilke, National Marketing Manager, BMW Motorrad.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.