Mike Martinez, vice president – recreation vehicle operations at Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., was elected as the new chair of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America board of trustees at the most recent board meeting in Irvine, Calif. Ken Bush, regulations manager at Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., will serve as vice chair, and Russ Brenan, senior advisor, government relations and public affairs at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., will serve as secretary/treasurer.
“It’s an honor to be elected as chair of the SVIA and have the opportunity to lead an esteemed organization that supports the ATV industry,” Martinez said. “Top initiatives include maintaining standards for ATV equipment, configuration and performance, preserving land access rights, addressing government legislation and guiding public policy, all of which are paramount if our industry is to flourish and grow.”
Martinez thanked the outgoing chair of the SVIA board of trustees, Gary Higgins, senior manager product planning, motorcycle division, at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., who served in the role during 2013.
“SVIA is the parent company of the ATV Safety Institute, an association that helps ensure that riders can enjoy their ATVs safely and responsibly,” Bush said. “ASI’s ATV E-Course and hands-on ATV RiderCourse are great resources for people of all experience levels who seek to gain a better understanding of ATV riding strategies and handling characteristics, and I am proud of the results that ASI has achieved in promoting safety since its establishment in 1988.”
The 2014 SVIA board of trustees is composed of representatives from the eight major ATV manufacturers and distributors.
Continuing to serve on the board for 2014 are Gary Higgins, Isabelle Bouchard, senior advisor, public affairs and government relations at BRP; Ron Solberg, product manager at Arctic Cat ATV and ROV / Arctic Cat Inc.; and Joe Wofford, vice president, product support at Kymco USA. A newly added trustee is Paul Vitrano, vice president of global government relations, Polaris Industries Inc. The SVIA Board of Trustees is responsible for the review and approval of SVIA policies, positions, programs and fiscal operations.
The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America promotes the safe and responsible use of all-terrain vehicles through rider training, public awareness campaigns and state legislation. Additionally, the SVIA works to preserve access to off-road lands and expand riding opportunities. The SVIA is a resource for ATV research, statistics and vehicle standards. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute, the SVIA develops standards for the equipment, configuration and performance requirements of ATVs.
