AMA: Sponsorship grows for Women & Motorcycling National Conference
3 June 2000
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Karen Davidson, the creative director for Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes®, will deliver the keynote address at the AMA's second Women & Motorcycling National Conference. Karen has a strong natural instinct for the mystique of Harley-Davidson from a lifetime of living the Harley-Davidson experience. She is the great-granddaughter of the company's co-founder, William A. Davidson, and she began riding at the age of nine. As creative director for Harley-Davidson's General Merchandise Department, she's constantly challenged with maintaining Harley-Davidson's distinctive reputation and rich history as she manages apparel and accessory product designs. Her transition from fine arts to fashion design in college was Karen's lead into the garment industry. She worked her way up at a large fabric, apparel and accessory company in New York to become director of marketing and design for apparel. Never straying far from her love of motorcycling, she began freelance leather design as a side business in 1985. Karen officially joined Harley-Davidson in 1989 when the company decided to expand its core offerings with a branded line of apparel and accessories -- Harley-Davidson MotorClothes®. Each year Karen directs the trend direction for five apparel and accessory collections. Karen enjoys working with functional riding apparel and has designed all of the leather collections since the launch of H-D MotorClothes. Today, after a decade of record growth, the company's general merchandise sales have increased ten-fold since 1989. In 1991, the Council of Fashion Designers of America in New York bestowed the prestigious industry award to Karen and Harley-Davidson for fashion influence. "The most important thing for me is to never lose sight of our core customer," she says. "In keeping with our motorcycles' perfect blend of artistry in iron, MotorClothes combines authenticity with rugged versatility." At the Women & Motorcycling National Conference, Karen will also be a panelist in the "Careers in Motorcycling for Women" seminar. "We're proud to have Karen Davidson as our keynote speaker at this year's Women & Motorcycling National Conference," said Kim Barlag, member of the conference's planning committee. "Her insider's perspective on the industry that is seeing an influx of new women riders will give those at the conference a truly unique insight into motorcycling today." The Women & Motorcycling National Conference is a four-day meeting of motorcycling enthusiasts, industry leaders, and experts in the wide-ranging issues related to women and motorcycling. Held at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, the conference will see presentations on topics ranging from motorcycle mechanics, to travel tips and women's gear, along with insight from women racers and riders, plus women working in the motorcycle industry. Progressive Insurance joins sponsors for Women & Motorcycling National Conference PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The AMA Women & Motorcycling National Conference has gained a new corporate sponsor, Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, for the July 13-16 conference in Athens, Ohio. Signing on as a Platinum Sponsor, Progressive has pledged at the highest level of support. "We're delighted to once again be part of the Women & Motorcycling conference," said Karen Palmer, the product manager for Progressive Motorcycle Insurance. "Being part of the conference gives us a chance to say 'thank you' to women motorcyclists for their passion for the sport, for making us the largest insurer of women motorcyclists in the country, and for their trust and their business." The Women & Motorcycling National Conference is a four-day meeting of motorcycling enthusiasts, industry leaders, and experts in the wide-ranging issues related to women and motorcycling. Held at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, the conference will see presentations on topics ranging from motorcycle mechanics, to travel tips and women's gear, along with insight from women racers and riders, plus women working in the motorcycle industry. Yamaha joins sponsors for Women & Motorcycling National Conference PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The AMA Women & Motorcycling National Conference has gained a new corporate sponsor, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA, for the July 13-16 conference in Athens, Ohio. Signing on as a Platinum Sponsor, Yamaha has pledged at the highest level of support. In addition, Yamaha is bringing a fleet of motorcycles that will be available for demo rides. "Women are becoming a very large segment of the motorcycle market, and that segment continues to grow rapidly," says Kim Jerman, sales promotion manager at Yamaha. "The conference is a great opportunity for Yamaha to get acquainted with the participants and for the participants to ride our motorcycles. It's yet another way for us to support the industry." The Women & Motorcycling National Conference is a four-day meeting of motorcycling enthusiasts, industry leaders, and experts in the wide-ranging issues related to women and motorcycling. Held at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, the conference will see presentations on topics ranging from motorcycle mechanics, to travel tips and women's gear, along with insight from women racers and riders, plus women working in the motorcycle industry. Sponsorship grows for Women & Motorcycling National Conference PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The AMA Women & Motorcycling National Conference has gained significant corporate sponsorship for the July 13-16 conference in Athens, Ohio. In addition to numerous Platinum and Gold Sponsors, four companies have recently signed on as Silver Sponsors. Protech Performance Leather (www.protech-apparel.com), Dunlop Tire (www.dunloptire.com), Cycleshark.Com (www.cycleshark.com), and Open Road Radio (//miso.wwa.com/~cgobiker/) have lent their support to the conference. "Because of the generous support of our sponsors, we have been able to expand the conference activities and make this year's event truly spectacular," said Tom Barlow, conference chairperson. "Complete with workshops and seminars, demo rides, vendors, a street party and bike show, a parade, self-guided tours, a cookout and the opening of a new museum exhibit on women motorcyclists, the conference is a full-fledged motorcycle rally. Best of all, thanks to our many sponsors, we are able to keep registration fees low and provide our participants with a jam-packed weekend of motorcycling activities well worth the price of admission." The Women & Motorcycling National Conference is a four-day meeting of motorcycling enthusiasts, industry leaders, and experts in the wide-ranging issues related to women and motorcycling. Held at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, the conference will see presentations on topics ranging from motorcycle mechanics, to travel tips and women's gear, along with insight from women racers and riders, plus women working in the motorcycle industry.