Aftermarket Moto Design 296 March 2023 AMD296 March 2023 | Page 16

MIC President / CEO Erik Pritchard to Leave Associations in March

Erik Pritchard , President and CEO of the powersports industry ' s leading trade and education associations - Motorcycle Industry Council , Motorcycle Safety Foundation , Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association - announced that he is pursuing new opportunities and will step down from his position on March 22 . " It has been a privilege to work with the boards , the member companies , the broader industry , and the talented staff at the associations ," Pritchard said . " We were able to help the powersports industry not only survive but grow during a global pandemic , and we launched numerous strategic programs to support future success . I ' m confident that powersports will continue to be an important part of transportation and recreation in America , and that the associations will be there to help ." The MIV has said that under Pritchard ' s guidance , the organization has grown as the voice for powersports . " He led the way in establishing and enhancing key stakeholder relationships for the entire powersports industry , including with local and federal government officials , parallel industry associations , and additional powersports associations . During the COVID-19 pandemic , Pritchard helped navigate the industry through global shutdowns , led the team in working with the U . S . government to ensure powersports businesses could stay open ." He oversaw the launch of campaigns to position powersports as the " perfect way to social distance ," and provided tools to give businesses real-time information on guidelines and available support . " Under Erik ' s leadership over the past ten years , the MIC has been strengthened as an association that ' s keenly focused on ensuring the livelihood of our industry ," said MIC Chair Derek Brooks , Motorcycle Product Line Manager , Yamaha Motor Corporation , U . S . A . " The work Erik led , with the MIC government relations team , was directly responsible for keeping motorsports dealers ' doors open during COVID . He ' s also led the charge to expand awareness of motorcycling and increase ridership . The powersports industry is in a stronger
position because of Erik ' s significant contributions ." During Pritchard ' s tenure , more than one million students enrolled in skills development courses with the MSF , SVIA and ROHVA . He also identified the need and ensured the development of expansion initiatives at both the MIC and MSF that continue to inspire , engage and integrate new and returning riders . This work led to the transformation of the MSF curriculum into 360 Rider , a comprehensive approach to rider education to meet the needs of students at every point in their rider journey . " The entire training community and the millions of MSF students around the world have benefited greatly from Erik ' s visionary leadership ," said Croft Long , MSF Chair and Manager , Market Analytics & Product Education Group at Kawasaki Motors Corp ., U . S . A . " He brought a high level of synergy across the associations , and he has navigated us through very challenging times , delivering the associations in a much stronger position to meet future demands ." Pritchard began his work with the industry as outside legal counsel . He was hired as general counsel for the associations in 2014 . In 2017 , he became president of the SVIA and ROHVA , and in 2019 , he was appointed president and CEO of all four associations .
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