IRVINE, Calif. (BRAIN) — Jesse Porter, a former executive at Specialized, has joined Felt Bicycles as its director of sales for the Western region. Also joining the company is Mark Hodge as controller and chief financial officer.
Hodge had been a controller at a luxury goods retailer in Newport Beach, California. And recently Michael Forte, who had been director of operations, was named Felt’s general manager.
In addition to the new hires, Felt’s John Georger has been promoted to director of sales for the Eastern region. “Together, John and Jesse will set the sales direction for Felt and combined will create one of the strongest teams in the industry,” said Bill Duehring, Felt’s president.
Porter, a graduate of Colorado State University, had been the director of U.S. regional sales and business development at Specialized. With more than 28 years in the industry, Porter has extensive retail experience as well as sales management and product knowledge, Duehring added.
Hodge has a master’s degree in sports management and a degree in business administration. Besides his role at the House of Sillage, a luxury goods retailer, Hodge had been controller at Manhattan Equity Group and Ruby’s Diner, a popular Southern California restaurant chain.
“Mark’s experience, knowledge and forward thinking is exactly what Felt needs to continue our growth as a company,” said Forte.
With the announcement of Porter’s move to Felt, Specialized sent a letter to its retailers Thursday announcing that Jeff Kendall, Northern regional manager, will now oversee the company’s retail operations in Arizona, said Bill Schouman, Specialized’s director of sales. However Scott Paulsel will continue to serve as territory manager for the region, he added.
