MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES PAUL VITRANO’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO POWERSPORTS INDUSTRY

MIC Extends Best of Wishes to Vitrano in New Industry Position IRVINE, Calif., March 11, 2014 – The Motorcycle Industry Council wishes MIC General Counsel Paul Vitrano the best as he prepares to join Polaris Industries as vice president of global government relations, effective March 17. In addition to serving as MIC and Motorcycle Safety Foundation general counsel, Vitrano also served as executive vice president and general counsel for both the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association.

Vitrano first began working with the MIC in 1999 as outside counsel alongside MIC consultant Stu Ross, founder of Ross, Dixon and Bell. Nine years later, Vitrano joined the MIC full-time as general counsel, where he provided legal, policy and strategy advice to the MIC, its related associations and members. “Paul has been vital to the powersports industry association Boards,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “He is a tireless advocate of the industry and was instrumental in helping lead the industry in stopping the lead ban. He also has been a stalwart supporter of off-highway vehicle safety programs and land access, and has assisted MSF with risk management and protection of intellectual property. Fortunately, Paul will remain in our industry in his position at Polaris and we look forward to working with him in this new capacity.” Vitrano also managed ROHVA and helped develop their three-tiered training program, which includes an interactive E-Course, a hands-on ROV Basic DriverCourse and an Open Trail Experience. Finally, Vitrano has been an industry representative in conjunction with matters before or involving the United States Congress, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and state government bodies. “Paul has been a leader at ROHVA in every sense of the word,” continued Buche. “He has been a guiding force within the industry and he has been an ambassador for the ROV community with the CPSC. Overall, Paul has been instrumental in developing a successful association that addresses the unique needs of the ROV community.” Although Vitrano’s departure is imminent, he will continue to support the MIC and the other powersports associations as they transition to a new general counsel in the very near future. “It has been an honor to serve the MIC and its members over the past six years as staff, and for nine years as outside counsel before that,” said Vitrano. “And while making the decision to leave the associations was a difficult one, I am excited about joining Polaris and the opportunities and challenges that my new position will bring. I value the many relationships that I have been fortunate enough to develop over the years and I feel lucky to be staying in the industry that I love.” 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, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. 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.