Welcome from Bob

Welcome back to Dealernews,

From 1965 to 2015 Dealernews played a critical role in the health of our $24 billion industry. The magazine is where dealers learned of best practices, explored important issues and competed in the Top 100 Awards. Dealernews has been our industry advocate and our repository for information for the past 50 years… and now it is back.

OF THE DEALER

In May 2016, I purchased Dealernews – including its print and online archives, its digital assets (DealerNEWS ALERT e-newsletters), and the Top 100 Dealer Competition. In selling Dealernews to me, its former publisher, UBM Advanstar, ensured that Dealernews’ future would now be in Dealers’ hands.  

BY THE DEALER

Dealernews works closely with Dealers across North America to examine the issues and challenges facing our business. Dealers collaborate on editorial projects — from requesting editorial investigations on issues of the day, to analyses of business tools, to surveys and research projects that will help the entire industry to succeed.

AND FOR THE DEALER

The new Dealernews is an information consultancy for the powersports retail network. Together, we can position the new Dealernews for the future and breathe life into our industry!

Ensuring that we are all on the same page, Dealernews is back as a monthly digital flipbook. The magazine is augmented by daily updates to social media, the dealernews.com website and weekly e-blasts.

Bob Althoff

The Dealernews Team

Bob Althoff Founder & CEO

Bob Althoff has two Dealerships in Ohio. He and his wife Valerie acquired the landmark A.D. Farrow Harley-Davidson in 2000 and expanded from its single, historic downtown store to two thriving dealerships in the greater Columbus area. His dealership took Top 100 honors for 17 years. In addition to riding motorcycles for more than 50 years, Bob is an avid industry historian, and acquired the Heroes of Harley-Davidson exhibit from the American Motorcyclist Association. He is also the 2013 recipient of the Don J. Brown Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his lifelong dedication to the business, lifestyle, community and sport. 

Contact Bob at  bob@bobalthoff.com

Eric Anderson

Brand ignitor par excellence. Sales trainer and e-learning mentor. B2B magazine columnist. Distribution channel savvy. If it’s been for sale in the last 2 decades, he knows its strengths and weaknesses. Anderson — who won the Rhodesian National Motocross title while serving in the Peace Corps —launched Scorpion Sports, served as VP of branding and business development for the MAG family of brands and most recently introduced ROXOR UTVs to U.S. Dealers. Eric has served on the Motorcycle Industry Council Board for three decades and first began his Confessions of a Customer column in Dealernews in 1991.

Contact Eric at eric@vroomnetwork.com

Robin Hartfiel Editor

Former Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Dealernews circa 1990-2003, Robin returns to the magazine. In addition to having been instrumental in creating the Dealernews Top 100 program (still the industry’s ultimate accolade for a motorcycle dealership), Hartfiel has worked for most of the B2B publications in the Powersports arena. Prior to the trade side, he worked as a beat reporter for a local newspaper was an editor of publications ranging from All About Beer to VW Trends.

Contact Robin at  robinhartfiel@gmail.com

John Murphy

John Murphy started his Powersports career selling booth space for the original Dealernews Dealer Expo back in 1987. He then went on to become Publisher of the magazine from 1990 to 2000 before retiring from Dealernews 18 years ago when he was diagnosed of progressive multiple sclerosis. He retired and raised his two children with wife, Patti (former production manager for Dealernews back in the day). But John has beaten the odds. The doctors were correct when they said he would never ride again, and that he would be in a wheelchair, but it ends right there. “Ironsides” Murphy is back in the saddle again and ready for the challenge of ushering Dealernews into the next 50 years. 

Contact John at  johnmurphydn@gmail.com

Don Musick Research

Don has more than 25 years experience with major manufacturers in the Powersports and Automotive industries, specializing in e-business solutions for retail distribution networks. His solution portfolio includes the development and implementation of manufacturer/dealer extranets, consumer-direct commerce portals, manufacturer/dealer e-channel integrations as well as development of web-based sales force automation tools. For most of his career, Don has been fascinated (his wife would say obsessed) with geographic market analytics, dealer location planning and sales territory optimization.  He founded Genesys Technology Solutions (GenesysTech) to develop new tools and market intelligence products to help manufacturers understand the competitive landscape of their industries, recognize opportunities and grow their businesses. 

Contact Don at dmusick@genesystech.com