PHOENIX, Ariz. (BRAIN) — Brandee Lepak will leave her role at the National Bicycle Dealers Association at the end of the year to spend more time with her children and at the five bicycle stores she co-owns with Alan Lepak in the Phoenix metro area.
Lepak has been president of the NBDA for two years, a paid position. Prior to being named president, Lepak had served on the board for six years.
"I'm off to continue working in my family's business and nurturing the growth of cycling in Arizona," Lepak said.
In the meantime, the board will begin a national search for a replacement. Candidates can send their resumes to: apply@nbda.com.
Kent Cranford, the association's board chairman, said Lepak's "enthusiasm and determination to make this association relevant again has left us in a great place to continue to help bicycle retailers improve their businesses."
Cranford, who owns Motion Makers Bicycle Shop in Asheville, North Carolina, said Lepak saved the association, founded in 1946, from shutting its doors. "Brandee was the driving force in saving the NBDA from a financial disaster three years ago," he said.
During Lepak's tenure, she is credited by the board with stabilizing the association's revenue; launching the NBDA's podcast—Bicycle Retail Radio; creating the association's SuperWebinar series; and upgrading the NBDA's website.
In early 2019 Lepak also found new owners for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, which the NBDA had been operating under license since 2003. That year she also sold Barnett Bicycle Institute, which the association had purchased in 2016, to Quality Bicycle Products.
The NBDA's sharp decline in revenue three years ago would have forced it to close BRAIN and BBI, Cranford said. "Without her leadership and tenacity, we wouldn't have a bicycle retailer trade association," Cranford said.
Peter Henry, First Vice Chair of the NBDA, said, "Brandee has built a lot of bridges; even as the association staved off financial disaster, her leadership has led to increased retailer engagement, improved relations with other industry organizations, and involvement from numerous industry leaders in the NBDA's programs."
Amelia Kegel, the board's secretary, said Lepak has set the organization on a sustainable path for the future. "When people look back at the history of the NBDA in 50 years, they will see an intentional shift in the organization that set a sustainable structure, strategic goals, and culture for continuous improvement that will be credited to Brandee Lepak," said Kegel, who also continues her role at Wheel & Sprocket in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
"Her fingerprints are all over every successful program and smart decision made in the last three years. We were so lucky to have her step up and step in to help make the NBDA relevant and alive during a time where retailers have never needed the community of our colleagues more," Kegel said.
