The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) welcomes two more powersports dealers to the new MIC Dealer Advisory Council, recently implemented with the MIC’s decision to include dealers in its membership for the first time since 1974. The MIC extends a warm welcome to the two newest council members, Kim Harrison, general manager of Coleman Powersports in Woodbridge, Va., and Jim Foster, owner of Killeen Powersports in Killeen, Texas. To date, 241 dealers in 40 states and representing 140 out of 436 congressional districts have joined the MIC.
“We are so very encouraged by the membership and enthusiasm of our dealer members and by the interest in the Dealer Advisory Council,” said MIC president Tim Buche. “We look forward to working together with the council to help accelerate the powersports industry’s ongoing economic recovery, as well as to discover and implement ways to best serve current and prospective riders.”
Harrison and Foster join Bob Althoff, owner of A.D. Farrow Co. in Columbus, Ohio, and Sandy Stroope, owner of Boat World Honda Polaris in Harrison, Ark., on what will eventually be an eight-member council.
Intended to represent the needs and interests of new dealer members, the council will advise the Board and Aftermarket Committee, while the Board will direct Dealer/Retailer dues revenue to market expansion, training and education, public policy and government relations activities. As the MIC continues to add council members, more announcements will be forthcoming.
“I am pleased that the MIC has asked me to be a member of the new Dealer Advisory Council,” said Harrison. “I believe this newly formed council is a positive step toward opening the lines of communication between dealers and the MIC. I look forward to working with the other council members to bring the voice of the powersports dealers to the MIC and improve the constantly changing powersports industry.”
Harrison has been general manager of Coleman Powersports for 20 years. Her father founded the dealership in 1963, and today, Coleman’s has two stores in northern Virginia.
Foster owns Killeen Power Sports with his wife Linda, both of whom have been in the motorcycle industry in Killeen for more than 30 years.
“My main reason for joining the MIC and participating in the dealer council is to help improve relations between the OEMs and the dealers,” said Foster. “My goal is to help create dialogue between the dealers and the OEMs and to get a better understanding between all of us so we can work together to improve the overall environment and atmosphere of our industry.”
