Polaris announces 2016 Hall of Fame inductees
Polaris Industries Inc. recently inducted a retired company executive and two outstanding dealers into the Polaris Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Polaris National Sales Meeting held in Nashville.
The Polaris Hall of Fame was established in 2004 during the company’s 50th anniversary. Retired employees and Polaris dealers are among those recognized for their roles in the company’s growth and success.
“We are honored to pay tribute to special individuals like Mike [Malone] and the outstanding dealers that were inducted this year into the Polaris Hall of Fame,” said Polaris CEO Scott Wine. “Their dedication and commitment have been instrumental in the company’s continued growth and long-term success.”
The 2016 Polaris Hall of Fame inductees are:
Mike Malone
From left to right: Tim Larson, SVP, Global Customer Excellence, Colleen Malone, Mike Malone, Retired VP, CFO, Scott Wine, Chairman and CEO, Katie Malone and Dan Malone.
Malone joined Polaris in 1984 as Accounting Manager, and in 1993 he was named Vice President and Treasurer. Four years later he became Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), titles he held until his retirement in 2015. For most of his 30-plus years with Polaris, he led the talented team that oversaw the company’s finances, and he served as the fiscal conscience as Polaris grew to become a global leader in the powersports industry.
Malone helped Polaris evolve from being primarily a snowmobile manufacturer with limited seasonal cash flow into a diversified manufacturer of on- and off-road vehicles with brands that are popular with riders worldwide. With Mike overseeing financial concerns, Polaris successfully converted to dealer-direct distribution in North America, and the company greatly expanded its manufacturing and distribution facilities and capabilities in North America and internationally.
Valley ATV
In 1994, dairy farmer and part-time ATV repairman Paul Staats became a Polaris dealer, setting up shop on his farm property outside of Danville. From this rural setting, Paul sold 75 Polaris units in his first year, and Valley ATV has grown and thrived in the two-plus decades since. Valley ATV is known for offering Polaris off-road vehicles at fair prices and then providing outstanding vehicle service and incomparable customer service to its loyal customer base. The dealership carries large inventories of parts and accessories to help customers maximize their riding time.
One of Paul’s earliest employees, his mother-in-law Jean Lahmon, continues to process vehicle titles, while his wife Mary Lou is the office manager. Their oldest son, Doug, a former professional ATV racer, is the sales manager, while daughter Ashley’s husband Kevin is a shop mechanic, as is the owner’s youngest son, Nathan.
Teixeira’s Polaris of Hyde Park, N.Y.
In 1995, Paul Teixeira converted the family’s two-bay Sunoco service station in Hyde Park into a full-line Polaris dealership. That small original building had room for just one ATV in the office/showroom, yet the business thrived as the Teixeiras delivering outstanding customer service. In 2001, they built a new dealership facility, and just three years later they doubled its size to keep up with the business’s growth.
Teixeira’s developed its large and loyal customer base by providing riders with great selection and tremendous service. The dealership stocks a large inventory of accessories and service parts so customers can customize their vehicles exactly as desired, and so service work can be done with minimal downtime. Paul Teixeira and his wife Pam, the dealership office manager, have a loyal staff that includes long-time employees Russell McRoberts and Aaron “Fuzzy” Cicilioni.
