Webster steps aside; new leadership team for industry’s largest trade show
Cinnamon Kernes will lead MIC Events as vice president and general manager, overseeing strategic planning and day-to-day management, and Andre Albert will serve as sales and marketing director, managing exhibit space, sponsorship sales as well as marketing and promotions activities. Both will begin their new positions on Jan. 1.
MIC Events will continue to produce AIMExpo presented by Nationwide and will work on other MIC initiatives, including events designed to build ridership and awareness. Albert will report to Kernes and she will report directly to MIC President and CEO Tim Buche.
“As the MIC works to promote the powersports industry, we look to create first-ride opportunities on two-, three- and four-wheelers,” Buche said. “And MIC Events will be an integral part of these projects. I’m excited for Cinnamon and Andre in their new roles and have complete confidence in their leadership.”
Larry Little, current vice president and general manager of MIC Events, will transition to a part-time position as vice president. Little will continue to be an integral leader, working with key accounts and on several other MIC initiatives while supporting Kernes and Albert.
Mike Webster, senior vice president of MIC Events, will be leaving the MIC and will serve as an advisor and consultant through his new company. Webster, who served the industry for more than 35 years, producing shows and events, was presented the MIC Chairman’s Award during the MIC Communications Symposium this month.
“I’m deeply honored with the recognition,” Webster said, “and look forward to working with the MIC, now as a vendor, on events and other projects. There is no better person than Cinnamon to serve as the new leader of AIMExpo and the numerous other events, education and ridership initiatives that are in the works.”
“I’m excited to be stepping up,” Kernes said, “and contributing in a greater way to the ridership strategic initiative and, of course, continuing to grow and develop AIMExpo, the largest and single most important event in North America for our industry. I also wish to congratulate Mike and Larry for their achievements and their new roles, and I want to thank them for their leadership and mentorship through the years.”
Albert joined AIMExpo as marketing manager in 2018.
“Working with AIMExpo gave me an introduction to the Motorcycle Industry Council, and I am more than thrilled to have the opportunity to work in an even broader capacity with the association,” he said.
The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues, and the American International Motorcycle Expo. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers, distributors, dealers and retailers of motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, ROVs, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts, accessories and related goods and services, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.
The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at mic.org.
The American International Motorcycle Expo’s (www.aimexpousa.com) purpose is to serve as the catalyst to bring together industry, press, dealers and consumers in a single arena that creates a grand stage for motorcycling and powersports in the U.S. and North America, and delivers an efficient and energetic market-timed expo platform for B2B and B2C in the greater powersports industry. AIMExpo is the single most important event of its type in the North American market and has international impact within the motorcycling and powersports community. AIMExpo is produced by the Motorcycle Industry Council (mic.org).