Hail to the chief! Mike Collins is now president and CEO of LeMans Corporation.Collins will now call the shots for house brands, including Moose, Icon, Thor, Arctiva, Slippery and ZlR as well as the distribution business through its five U.S. warehouses, two locations in Canada, and its European distribution center located in Germany. Most recently serving as VP of purchasing, Collins has been with Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties 24 years. “Mike has successfully directed our purchasing department for several years, guaranteeing dealers the best fill-rate in the industry,” says LeMans Chairman Fred Fox. “He has also developed strong and well-respected relationships with all of our major vendors. We are excited to have Mike at the helm to lead the company as we plan for continued growth and expansion.” In a related move, Bruce Schumacher steps up as director of director of purchasing. “Bruce has been a valued member of the LeMans team for many years,” adds Fox. “Most recently he has been very instrumental in our successful expansion into the European market. He will continue to direct the purchasing team at Parts Europe in his new role.”
Motorcycle guy makes good: industry veteran Justin Maley has signed on with the crew of the Institute of Marine Technology (IMT) to partner with Warner University to start a Marine Technology program on campus in Lake Wales, Florida. “The marine industry in dire need of well qualified technicians so this new program was put together by industry experts with guidance from OEM and aftermarket companies,” explains Maley. “With direct access to a 4,274-acre lake for testing purposes and the might of Warner University behind it, the new program is on track to change the way technicians enter the work force.” The U.S. Department of Labor reports there will be more than 1.2 million jobs in the diesel, automotive, motorcycle and marine industries in the U.S. by the year 2024. To reach that, these industries will have to fill more than 37,000 technician job openings every year.
Another industry insider, Zach Parham, is now president of the Motorcycle Aftermarket Group (MAG) Retail Group. Parham replaces Kevin Strawbridge who is stepping down from J&P Cycles and Motorcycle Super Store to pursue new opportunities. “Kevin led us through some difficult but important changes, which have set us up to take the business to the next level,” says Parham. “I’m driven by our relationship with our customers and am committed to make our customer experience even better by being the innovator in motorcycle industry retail.” Parham has been with MAG for 10 years, most recently as VP of merchandising and general manager for J&P Cycles. “It’s an honor to represent these legendary brands and I am eager to lead our talented team towards a successful future.” Zach’s father, John Parham founded J&P Cycles in 1979 and led the company until its sale to MAG. “We appreciate the work that Kevin and Zach have done to transform our retail business,” said MAG President Andy Graves. “Consolidation of operations, improvement in fulfillment and expansion of our customer support are improvements that our customers feel.” Parham’s appointment is effective immediately and Strawbridge will remain with the MAG Retail Group through July 31 to support the transition.
Suzuki Motor of America has promoted product specialist Avery Innis to press relations manager, effective immediately. A lifelong motorcyclist who started his career in the service arena, Innis is well known amongst industry professionals, the powersports media and the Suzuki dealer body. “We’re excited to have Avery help drive awareness of Suzuki’s new and existing products,” said Suzuki Communications Manager Paul LaBella. “His passion is genuine, and he’s always eager to help people learn more about our product and riding in general. He’s a great ambassador for Suzuki and for our sport.” As PR manager, Innis will work closely with the media, as well as plan new product introductions across Suzuki’s motorcycle, scooter and ATV categories. He will also head up Suzuki’s new product feature training program for dealers and contribute to other keystone marketing and communication efforts. “At times I feel I’m a living cliché, with the opportunity to enjoy motorcycling both personally and professionally,” says Innis.
