BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — QBP founder and chairman Steve Flagg will be honored with the BPSA Lifetime Achievement Award at the Interbike Awards Night on Thursday, Sept. 22, in Las Vegas.
The award is given to one person "whose career has greatly contributed to the advancement or promotion of the bicycle industry."
Factors considered in the award selection process include: span and scope of career, lives touched through the individual's work, awards and honors received, and more. The BPSA proposed honoring Flagg this year. "In light of all that he has done for this industry and the legacy he is leaving at QBP, we couldn't think of a more deserving person than Steve," said Adam Micklin, BPSA president.
A respected cycling businessman and advocate, Flagg started out in the industry more than 40 years ago. After founding Minneapolis' first bicycle co-op, he and wife Mary Henrickson created QBP to help independent bike dealers acquire hard-to-find parts, resolve technical problems, and learn how to set themselves up for success. In 1981, QBP had just seven customers. Under Flagg's stewardship, the company is now the largest distributor of bicycle parts and accessories in the industry.
Over the next three-plus decades, Flagg established a reputation for integrity, innovation, and his defense of the bicycle as a powerful, transformative tool for change. Through the early adoption of e-commerce technology, investing in product development however odd it seemed at the time (think fat bikes), to hiring the bike industry's first full-time advocacy employee, Flagg put his ideas and those of his loyal employees into action, and the results were more often than not complete game-changers.
"I was an independent bike dealer for years," Flagg said. "I believe in bike dealers. I have great respect for them. They are pillars of their communities, and I know the challenges they face. I've built my career on providing dealers with the support, education and advocacy they deserve. I continue to work every day to further that mission."
This is the first time the BPSA has presented a Lifetime Achievement Award at Interbike. Matt Moore, a 20-year QBP veteran and chair of the BPSA Legal/Legislative committee, will present the award.
The third annual Awards Night is expected to draw more than 700 attendees in its third year. Awards will be presented in 33 categories, including athletes, product, retailers, suppliers and advocacy.
For Interbike attendees, tickets for the gala can be purchased during the Interbike registration process. Special advanced ticket pricing for the event is $95 per person, and includes the evening reception, beer and wine, a sit-down dinner along with the awards show entertainment. Ten dollars from every ticket sold will be donated to World Bicycle Relief. The 2015 IB Awards sold out in advance of the event — but should tickets still be available on-site, prices will be $125 at the door. Those interested in attending are encouraged to secure their tickets today.
For Interbike exhibitors, single tickets and number of private tables are available and can be purchased directly through Interbike. Contact Sean O'Brien, marketing director, at 949-226-5799 or sean.obrien@interbike.com for more information.
