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Powersports Business • November 2023 • 7
NPDA expands Board of Directors and professional staff
The National Powersports Dealers Association ( NPDA ) has added two board members plus an industry expert with decades of experience to the growing organization , which has nearly reached the 400−member level , according to the association .
Since its founding in May 2021 , the NPDA has added new powersports dealer members , including Harley-Davidson and metric dealers and independent ( non-franchised ) shops . The Board of Directors is made up of 15 dealers . The two newest additions to this group are :
DONALD MEYERS JR . Meyers is the owner of Baltimore Powersports , Inc ., located in Maryland . He has been involved in dealer leadership for nearly two decades , and his company ’ s holdings include Harley-Davidson of Baltimore , Royal Enfield of Baltimore , and Livewire of Rosedale . As past president of the Maryland Motorcycle Dealer Association , he also has served as a member of the NPDA ’ s Harley-Davidson Dealer Council since 2022 .
TIGRA TSUJIKAWA The NPDA also announced Tigra Tsujikawa as its newest team member , taking over membership marketing manager duties .
Tsujikawa has enjoyed a 25−year career in powersports in such areas as development , merchandising , marketing and branding , with companies and organizations including Kawasaki , Fox , the American Motorcyclist Association and Advanstar . She ’ s also done extensive marketing consulting with MotoAmerica , Sturgis Motorcycle Museum , Why We Ride Films , Women ’ s Motorcycle Tours , Dealernews and Iron Lilly .
“ She not only has great knowledge and connections in this industry , but she is an enthusiastic leader who works hard to get things done ,” says Darris Blackford , organizational director , NPDA . “ She is a hard-core rider , so she understands why the NPDA ’ s work to make the powersports industry better is so important .”
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer T . C . Christenson passes
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame offers its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of 2005 Hall of Fame inductee T . C . Christenson , who passed away on Sept . 25 .
A native of Kenosha , Wisconsin , Christenson entered the world of motorcycling when he was 15 years old , purchasing a rundown Whizzer motorbike — which he had restored during the spring of 1959 . Not long after , he found his niche in drag racing .
Christenson ’ s love of drag racing began as a recreational pursuit , as he started out competing against friends on empty rural roads for bragging rights and cash . By 1963 , he delved into regulated racing at the local Union Grove Drag Strip , winning his very first sanctioned race .
From there , Christenson started racing aboard Nortons and began to work at Sunset Motors , a Norton dealership owned by John Gregory . He and Gregory formed a dynamic duo with the Nortons , and Christenson emerged as one of the best drag
See T . C . Christenson , Page 8
REAL-TIME BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Don Meyers joins the NPDA board along with Brett Tekavec , bringing the count to 15 members .
“ My expectation of this role on the board is to be on the forefront of issues that may affect dealerships ,” Meyers says . “ The varied backgrounds of board members is a valuable asset and can provide the membership a return on their dues investment . Thus , I believe the primary goal is to make the association a relevant force to all dealers .”
BRETT TEKAVEC Brett Tekavec is owner of Queen City Harley-Davidson , of West Chester , Ohio , and Harley-Davidson of Washington D . C .
Tekavec has spent more than three decades working with Harley-Davidson , including nearly a decade inside the Motor Company and 25 years in a dealership , including 13 as a dealer principal . He also serves as a member of the NPDA Harley-Davidson Dealer Council .
“ My understanding of the vision and mission of the NPDA is all about improving powersport dealers through services and programs that benefit all ,” Tekavec says . “ I want to be a part of the solution to help all powersports dealers operate a successful business and have a greater understanding of the items that impact us as dealer principals .”
“ Don and Brett both bring passion and deep knowledge as dealer principals to our board ,” says Bob Althoff , chairman of the NPDA . “ We are excited to move forward as an organization with these two new members and all of the great industry leaders already on the board .”
ZiiDMS has been a game changer because we ’ re not waiting several days to a week to see where we stand as a business . We are live , real-time , and know what ’ s happening in our dealership so we can better manage operations , plan , and execute .
Teena Heller , Owner - Midland Powersports
Midland Powersports Midland , Texas