Bell hires former BMX pro Allan Cooke • Dirt Rag hires Boulanger, Hall • LAB awards new bike-friendly workplaces • Magura wins red dot award • Mt. Borah sponsors Minnesota high school league
SCOTTS VALLEY, CA (BRAIN) Wednesday April 18 2012 9:54 AM MT—Bell has hired former pro BMX rider Allan Cooke as its sports marketing and event manage. Cooke’s duties include the identification, management and activation of Bell’s roster of bicycle athletes, the management of Bell’s event presence, and providing market intelligence and product input.
“We’re placing a larger emphasis on the BMX and gravity segments and Allan takes us directly to the core of those markets,” said Bell marketing director Don Palermini. “He’s gets what Bell is about and will be a huge asset in helping us spread the word to a new generation.”
Cooke comes to Bell from Haro Bicycles, where he was BMX brand manager.
Dirt Rag hires Boulanger, HallPITTSBURGH, PA (BRAIN) Wednesday April 18 2012 9:33 AM MT—Rotating Mass Media, the parent company of Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times magazines, has bolstered its advertising sales staff with two bicycle industry veterans.
Ellen Hall, based in Boulder, Colorado, and Gary Boulanger, based in San Francisco, will balance out the sales staff alongside Frank Wuerthele, based in Pittsburgh. Current Sales Manager Eric McKeegan will be transitioning to an editorial position for the publications by the fall, handing the sales management reins to Trina Haynes.
Founder and publisher Maurice Tierney is now focusing his attention on overseeing the growing company, which publishes two print magazines, two websites, and two digital iPad/tablet versions. The company also hosts the annual Dirt Rag Dirt Fest and will be hosting its first Gran Fondo road event this fall.
LAB awards boost number of bike-friendly workplaces to nearly 400
WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN) Wednesday April 18 2012 9:35 AM MT—More than 500,000 American employees now work at a Bicycle Friendly Business, according to the League of American Bicyclists. On Wednesday the League announced 67 new BFBs, who joined the ranks of the 412 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in the program.
"These leaders are at the forefront of a movement to make American businesses more competitive, sustainable and attractive to the best and brightest employees," said League president Andy Clarke.
Award winners in this round include: Fortune 500 companies like AstraZeneca and Rockwell Collins; major cities, like Indianapolis, Ind. and Durham, N.C.; government agencies, like the Federal Communications Commission; nonprofits, like the Nature Conservancy and Outdoor Chattanooga; and major retailers like REI locations in Montana, California and Connecticut.
Visit bikeleague.org/businesses for a full list of Bicycle Friendly Businesses.
Magura's MT8 brake wins red dot award for product design
OLNEY, IL (BRAIN) Wednesday April 18 2012 9:39 AM MT—Magura's MT8 mountain bike disc brake has won a red dot award for product design. The company's top-of-the-line brake received the award based on criteria such as degree of innovation, functionality, ergonomy or ecological soundness.
"We have the highest standards in terms of functionality and ergonomy of our products. The red dot design award serves as confirmation in our constant endeavour to develop the perfect bicycle components," said Götz Braun, Magura's head of marketing.
The red dot design award is one of the world’s largest design competitions. Further information at en.red-dot.org/. Tern's Verge Duo bike also won a 2012 red dot award.
Mt. Borah Custom sponsors Minnesota high school mountain bike league
BLOOMINGTON, MN (BRAIN) Wednesday April 18 2012 9:44 AM MT—Custom clothes maker Mt. Borah is a Gold Level sponsor of the newly organized Minnesota High School Cycling League. The League, part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, will hold its first season of competition this fall.
“We’re really stoked about having Mt. Borah come on board. Mt. Borah's custom apparel is produced in Wisconsin, so we’re supporting 'Made in the USA,' and they’ve recognized the opportunity to help build our league, which is very cool,” said Gary Sjoquist, the state league's director. "They also have a great interactive web site, so the student athletes will enjoy designing their own team jerseys.”
Other MN League local sponsors include Penn Cycle and Erik's Bike and Board Shop. Additional support is provided by NICA's founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Jeep, Clif Bar and Co., SIDI, Primal Wear, GU Sports, Maxxis, QBP, Adidas, Kinetic, Yakima, Fox Racing Shox, CamelBak, Crank Brothers, Dirt Rag, SIDI, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Mountain Bike Action and WTB.
For more information on the MN League, visit www.minnesotamtb.org.
