Situated in the picturesque Sonoran desert, 275 executives representing more than 180 brands from across the bike industry came together from March 26-29 in Tucson, Arizona, for the 2024 Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) hosted by PeopleForBikes.
Trek President John Burke kicked off the conference by presenting Congressman Earl Blumenauer with the James L. Oberstar Award for excellence in bicycle advocacy. Congratulating the congressman on 28 years of service, Burke said that no one in America has done more for bicycling since Oberstar himself than Earl Blumenauer.
Over the next two days, 50 speakers across 22 sessions took the stage, addressing a wide range of topics, including the current and future state of bicycling and the bike business, industry engagement on Capitol Hill, shifts in manufacturing and policy that will significantly impact our industry, lessons from adjacent sectors, and more. Two common themes emerged: The current market troubles and economic headwinds are a wakeup call for improvement, not just survival, and the success of our industry relies on setting competition aside and collaborating to accomplish more together than any individual company can achieve alone.
"As the master of ceremonies, I had the honor and privilege of introducing each session and I was blown away every time. PeopleForBikes brought in speakers from other countries and other industries, speakers who were brutally honest, and people who really added value for everyone in the industry regardless of their position or type of company," said Megan Hottman, attorney/owner at Hottman Law Office PC. "PeopleForBikes showed us where we've come from and where we're headed and I personally think that's true leadership, to both inspire and celebrate while pushing for more going forward. Don't miss the 2025 BLC — it's a must attend event!"
Outside of the conference room, attendees took full advantage of numerous opportunities to network with fellow leaders and engage in meaningful, cross-industry conversations only found at the BLC.
Keynotes featured numerous experts from outside the bike industry, bringing fresh perspectives on capitalizing on this unique moment in time, adapting to rapid changes in work and life, and leveraging emerging technologies to gain competitive advantage in the marketplace.
"The passion and dedication that ran throughout the event reminded me why I love cycling and how grateful I am for all the hardworking people that make it happen," said Randy Komisar, author, executive, and investor of innovation at Kleiner Perkins. Komisar's engaging keynote pulled the curtain back on what not to learn from the last 20 years of Silicon Valley and dove into the key differences between ingenuity and innovation.
"I was truly captivated by the palpable mix of curiosity and concern among participants, from shop owners to industry leaders, about the potential of generative AI to both benefit and challenge the bicycle industry. The genuine enthusiasm to delve deeper into this new topic was both inspiring and a testament to the forward-thinking spirit of the industry," said Charlene Li, New York Times bestselling author and founder and CEO of Quantum Networks Group. Li's interactive keynote discussed the balance of embracing change while not losing sight of what makes a great leader.
Top industry CEOs also shared personal lessons on leadership and how to use setbacks as motivators to keep moving forward.
"Each year, I always look forward to attending the BLC. My highlight this year was the welcoming environment, especially when sharing my story," said Anne Hed, CEO of HED Cycling Products, whose deeply personal presentation on overcoming adversity received a standing ovation.
On the final evening of the conference, Ray Keener announced the recipients of the 2024 BPSA Awards. Randy Neufeld, long-time director of advocacy at SRAM, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his dedication to creating more great places to ride bikes. Ryan Atkinson, president and co-owner of Workstand, received the Outstanding Service Award for providing the industry with much-needed data insights during the pandemic and today's turbulent market. Jodi Gracey, director of global trade compliance at Trek, received the Rising Star Award for her ongoing work addressing trade issues on PeopleForBikes' Legal, Legislative, and Safety Subcommittee.
"I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us in Tucson. Having all of these great minds in the same room truly shows the power of our industry to create real, lasting change," said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. "If you did not attend this year's conference, mark your calendars for next year's BLC and join us in moving the bike industry forward."
The Bicycle Leadership Conference returns to the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson from March 18-20, 2025. Don't miss out on adding your organization's voice as we work together to grow the collective influence of the bike industry.
PeopleForBikes is the U.S. bicycle industry's trade association and a national advocacy nonprofit representing 325 bicycle industry supplier members and 1.4 million individuals. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike; advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation; and reduce barriers to access and welcome more people to the joys of bicycling. Our goal: Become the best place in the world to ride a bike. Join us at peopleforbikes.org.
