22 • December 2024 • Powersports Business www . PowersportsBusiness . com

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we could fly in to train everybody ,” she explains . “ I ’ ve always run lean , and there ’ s pros and cons to that with staffing . With my staffing , there ’ s not a lot of redundancy , but the ones I have , they make money and they stay because they ’ re part of a family . That was a little bit of a challenge in Arizona , to rebuild the culture . Not being there all the time and not having anyone there full-time that knew me and knew my culture , that was my biggest learning curve to overcome .”

After she acquired the Arizona stores , the Covid−19 pandemic changed travel and business operations . “ I was the person flying every two weeks regardless of all the crazy that was going on in the world ,” she says . This was her routine until 2023 , when she received an offer and sold the Arizona businesses , keeping ownership of the properties .

Now , she is focused on the dealerships in Alaska . “ We ’ re always trying to do better , find improvements , find efficiencies ,” she says . When she interviews people , she often says , “ If you are someone that thinks that we ’ ve gotten to a place that ’ s ‘ good

In 2022 , Matteson was recognized on the list of The Top 100 Women In Powersports .

Matteson worked at her father ' s Harley-Davidson dealership through high school and college and bought his three dealerships in Alaska when she was 25 . enough ’ and we ’ re going to chill here , then you won ’ t like working for me .”

SPENARD BIKE WEEK AND CAMPING

Winters in Alaska are dark and cold , so the dealerships host events to keep the community engaged . Matteson started Spenard Bike Week , named after the famous road where House of Harley-Davidson is located .

“ It ’ s super fun ,” she says . “ It ’ s never going to be Sturgis , it ’ s going to stay small , but it is super fun . The whole point of it is to support our local community . We don ’ t get a lot of money from organizations to sponsor it , but we get partnerships . We ’ ll do a scavenger hunt or a punch card that sends people to the businesses that are partnering with us .”

Next year , House of Harley-Davidson will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the bike week in August . Matteson is already planning the logo for apparel and t-shirts .

The dealership property also offers a

It ’ s never going to be Sturgis ... but it is super fun . The whole point of it is to support our local community ... We ’ ll do a scavenger hunt or punch card that sends people to the businesses that are partnering with us .

campsite for motorcyclists . In 2002 , Matteson ’ s father rebuilt the Anchorage store and added a campsite and shower house . “ At that

How about rubbin ’ elbows and rubbin ’ fenders ? During PSB ’ s Accelerate business conference , attendees will get the chance to celebrate with peers at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte , North Carolina .

Glenn Hansen , PSB contributing editor and editor of our sister publication OPE + for outdoor power equipment professionals , recently visited the Hall of Fame museum during a business trip to Charlotte .

The NASCAR Hall of Fame venue is a unique experience for racing fans and those who are not yet racing fans . The experiential event space in downtown Charlotte , a short walk from the Accelerate event hotel , greets fans with easily recognizable race machines , both new and vintage . Attendees can also sit in cars , enjoy virtual racing games , and more .

Glenn writes that the racecars at the museum took him back to memorable races with world-famous racers . He got to experience the unique Glory Road banked track layout that places cars as they ’ d race on tracks like Talladega and Daytona Speedway .

He also learned some amazing history , like the story of Curtis Turner , one of the sport ’ s earliest racers , a former bootleg-moonshine driver , and eventual founder of the Charlotte Motor Speedway . His # 21 1962 Ford Galaxie Sunliner convertible racer is on display toward the front of Glory Road .

What was Glenn ’ s personal favorite ? The # 43 Dodge Charger of Richard Petty , of course .

Jimmie Johnson in the Hendrick Motorsports Lowe ’ s Chevy dominated the series in the early 2000s . Photos courtesy of Glenn Hansen “ The King ” Richard Petty ’ s 1972 Dodge Charger .