AMA elects Maggie McNally as first female chair

Maggie McNally was unanimously elected chair of the American Motorcyclist Association Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting Feb. 16 in Indianapolis. McNally becomes the first female board chair in the AMA’s 89-year history.

McNally, of Albany, N.Y., has served as the AMA’s vice chair since December 2011. She has represented the Northeast Region on the board since 2009.

“I’m honored that my fellow AMA board members have chosen me as chair, and I’m humbled by the historical significance of a woman taking this office,” McNally said. “At the end of the day, however, the important thing is not the gender of the board’s chair, rather it is the united commitment by the board and the AMA staff to carry out our mission to better protect and promote motorcycling. Doing so enables us to nimbly and ably meet the needs of our existing and future members.”

Preceding McNally was South Central Region Board Member Stan Simpson, who did not seek reelection. Simpson, who has served on the board since 2005 and as president since 2007, will remain on the board.

AMA Business Member Russel Brenan of Kawasaki was elected vice chair, and Ken Ford of the Southeast Region will serve as assistant treasurer. Perry King of the Northwest Region and business member John Ulrich of Roadracing World were elected at-large to serve on the executive committee. At the AMA Business Member meeting, Scott Miller of Harley-Davidson and Brenan were reelected to the AMA board.

“The AMA Board of Directors represents a wide-ranging pool of experience, expertise and passion for motorcycling,” McNally said. “We draw from the motorcycling industry, AMA clubs, our membership and the entire motorcycling community. I’m confident that we are in an excellent position to build upon the momentum we’ve created to continue the AMA’s mission of promoting the motorcycle lifestyle and protecting the future of motorcycling.”