www . PowersportsBusiness . com Powersports Business • October 2023 • 23

motorcycles , riding since he was 18 years old , and transitioned to the powersports industry .

Brinkhaus was excited to merge the fun of motorcycles with his daily job . “ It ’ s like you ’ re not going to work ,” he says . “ If you ’ re having a bad day in the motorcycle industry , you just hop on one on the show floor and go for a ride and your day gets better .”

After gaining experience at a couple of dealerships , he joined the Simply Ride team as a sales manager . After a year , he held the title of general sales manager , and has now been the general manager for two years .

He explains that the most gratifying part of his job is working with , and helping , people . “ You ’ re the spreadsheet guy and you ’ re doing payroll , but the biggest part of my job is the customers and the employees ,” he says . “ So , it ’ s almost like you ’ re the problem solver and you ’ re the dealership therapist . I love working with customers . I love when there ’ s a problem , the customer is upset , and then 20 minutes later they ’ re saying , ‘ I ’ ll never go anywhere else .’”

He also explains that the dealership has an open-door policy . Employees are encouraged to communicate to leaders about anything , including nonwork related topics . “ We ’ re all a family here . That ’ s one of our core values ,” he says . “ We lean into that more than I ’ ve seen at any other organization that I ’ ve worked for . It ’ s rewarding to be able to help people on a personal level too .”

Brinkhaus is interviewed by Courtney Godfrey from FOX9 after the dealership ’ s sales team is credited for saving a customer ' s life , insisting that he wear a helmet .

CREATING A TEAM AND FAMILY Brinkhaus describes his team as a diverse group of enthusiastic motorcyclists . The team is made of high school and college students , a retired attorney , retired Chief Master Sargent from the U . S . AirForce , retired police chief , and retired pilot .

He explains that he works with a unique melting pot of different perspectives from people with a common love of motorcycles and powersports . “ We hire based on our core values : family , passion , premier , growth and integrity . The big one – family . That ’ s where you get the dynamic where everyone has each other ’ s back .”

See Simply Ride , Page 24