In a hotly contested race, the Motorcycle Industry Council has voted in two new Board members and re-elected a third. Ashmore Ellis, Co-Founder and CEO of Babes Ride Out & Babes in the Dirt, and Paul Langley, Chairman and CEO of LeMans Corporation, will be joining the MIC Board of Directors in 2025. Tim Calhoun, President of Powersports Pros Consulting and chair of the MIC Aftermarket Committee, retains his seat for another term, while Jeff Brown of EagleRider and Marc McAllister of Brooks Stevens, Inc., will be leaving the board when their terms expire in January.
“The industry will face a lot of changes in the next few years with technology, trends, and policy, especially as the U.S. ushers in a new administration,” states Derek Brooks, MIC Board Chairman and Motorcycle Product Line Manager at Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. “There will be much work facing the association, so I am looking forward to working with Ashmore and Paul, who will bring their expertise and fresh perspectives to the board, and to the continued contributions of Tim. I would also like to thank Jeff and Marc for their service to the board.”
“I am excited to get the opportunity to serve on the MIC board and I look forward to working with the other board members on some of the challenges our industry is facing,” says Langley. “Working for a cause is a great motivation and I trust my experience, commitment, and willingness to collaborate on important issues will benefit the MIC and its industry members during my tenure on the board.”
“What a privilege,” Ellis enthuses. “I am thrilled to begin my term on the board of directors and look forward to contributing to the success we will have by working together to ensure motorcycling becomes more inclusive and accessible for generations to come. While serving on this board, I hope to set things in motion that will benefit, protect and engage not only a new era of riders but the industry as a whole. Looking forward to what we can accomplish over the next two years that safeguards and uplifts the future of motorcycling.”
“It is always an honor to be elected or re-elected by a peer-based vote,” claims Calhoun. “I take the role on the MIC board seriously and will continue representing the aftermarket segment of the powersports industry to the best of my ability. These last six years, we have made good strides in improving the value proposition offered to MIC members and continue to face tough regulations and legislatures head-on. I look forward to working hand-in-hand with MIC Chairman Derek Brooks, MIC President and CEO Christy LaCurelle, and MIC staff to ensure the aftermarket voice is heard and represented. I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside exceptional individuals like Marc McAllister, Jeff Brown, Robin Hartfiel and Jim Woodruff, whose dedication to amplifying the aftermarket’s voice and interests has been genuinely inspiring. I look forward to building on our momentum and continuing our collective efforts to strengthen and support the industry.”
The MIC board includes representation from across powersports. The full board roster for 2025 will be:
Chairman Derek Brooks, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
Vice Chair John Hinz, KTM North America, Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer Jim Woodruff, National Powersport Auctions
David Baker, BRP
Tim Calhoun, Powersports Pros Consulting
Ashmore Ellis, Babes Ride Out & Babes in the Dirt
Kerry Graeber, Suzuki Motor USA, LLC
Robin Hartfiel, Dealernews
Paul Langley, LeMans Corporation
Erik Larson, Piaggio Group Americas
Joey Lindahl, Polaris Inc.
Rod Lopusnak, Triumph Motorcycles America
Shawn McLean, BMW Motorrad USA
Bill Savino, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Eric Sievers, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
