This online adaptation of our traditional bicycle industry executive conference will include an interactive networking experience and two exciting keynote speakers – Birkenstock CEO David Kahan and StoryBrand’s Kristin Spiotto. The agenda will also feature talks on diversity, equity and inclusion in the bike industry, e-bike market adoption, sales and ridership data, and continuing the momentum of the current boom in bicycling.
DAY ONE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH
KEEPING THE BIKE BOOM GOING: INSPIRATION + E-BIKES
APRIL 13 - 15, 2021
The Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) is the world’s leading conference for bicycle industry professionals. Join us for the opportunity to network with fellow industry members and help shape the future of bicycling.
After a digital event in 2020, we are excited to bring you 2021’s Virtual BLC to discuss the most important topics in the bike industry and how to continue the momentum of bicycling well into the future.
This event is open to all members of the bike industry interested in making biking and bike business better for everyone.
PRESENTED BY
Using the Remo platform, log in to each day of the Virtual BLC using the same email address that you used in Eventbrite:
Day One: Tuesday, April 13
One Year Later: How the Pandemic Changed Bicycling
Daily Host: Gloria Hwang, Founder Chief Executive Officer, Thousand Helmets
8:30-9 a.m. PT: Optional Networking
9-9:05 a.m. PT: Welcome to Day 1 by Jenn Dice, Chief Executive Officer, PeopleForBikes
9:10 - 9:40 a.m. PT: Keynote: New Riders, New Audiences, New Opportunities
Mike Radenbaugh, Chief Executive Officer, Rad Power Bikes
In just five years, Rad Power Bikes has seen explosive growth in electric bicycle sales and isn’t slowing down. New Rad riders, audiences, marketing and ways of doing business. Mike Radenbaugh will outline their Rad vision for the future.
9:45 - 9:50 a.m. PT: Greeting from Congressman Blumenauer (D-OR)
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Trade in the U.S. House of Representatives and Co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, will discuss the political landscape for Section 301 tariffs affecting the bike industry as well as renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences and Miscellaneous Tariff Bill.
9:55-10:25 a.m. PT: Break/Networking/Lunch
10:30-11:45 a.m. PT: Supply Chain: Moving Forward with 2021's Challenges and Opportunities
Moderator: Ryan Atkinson, President and Co-owner, SmartEtailing
Panelists:
-
Ken Lousberg, Chief Executive Officer, SRAM
-
Anne Hed, Chief Executive Officer, HED Cycling Products
-
Steve Reeds, Executive Vice President, Global Sourcing, Cycling Sports Group
-
Pat McGinnis, President, Hawley Lambert Company
-
Mike Cachat, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jenson USA
This session will feature a panel of supply chain experts from across the industry discussing what the changing landscape means for their business and yours. Topics to be covered include the unprecedented consumer demand, 2021's top opportunities and challenges and what forecasting for tomorrow looks like.
11:50-12:30 p.m. PT: Optional Networking
Day Two: Wednesday, April 14
Embracing Technology: Access, Incentives + Insights Moving Forward
Daily Host: Andrew Kempe, Senior Manager, OEM Sales, Shimano
8:30-9 a.m. PT: Optional Networking
9-9:05 a.m. PT: Welcome to Day 2 by Jenn Dice, Chief Executive Officer, PeopleForBikes
9:10-10 a.m. PT: Charging Ahead: Electric Bicycle Incentives and Tax Credits + Insights from Europe
Panelists:
-
Therése Swanepoel, Senior Insights Strategist, REI Co-op
-
Jonathan Cook-Fisher, District Ranger, Tahoe National Forest, U.S. Forest Service
-
Eli Ilano, Forest Supervisor, Truckee Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest, U.S. Forest Service
-
Kevin Mayne, Chief Executive Officer, Cycling Industries Europe
-
Noa Banayan, Federal Affairs Manager, PeopleForBikes
This session will focus on the momentum of electric bicycles in the U.S., including learnings from the retail market and new electric mountain bike access in the U.S. Forest Service. Additionally, the discussion will review electric bicycle purchase incentives, tax credits, the E-BIKE Act (HR 1019) and the strategy behind PeopleForBikes’ electric bicycle work and our vision for the future. The session will also share insights from Cycling Industries Europe with best-in-class examples of several countries’ successful government bicycle incentives. Finally, the session will engage attendees in real time to support the E-BIKE Act and help champion it into law.
10:05-10:25 a.m. PT: Break/Networking/Lunch
10:30-11:45 a.m. PT: Insights for a Post-COVID Market: Learning from 2020 to Propel Us Forward
Panelists:
-
Andrew Kempe, Senior Manager, OEM Sales, Shimano
-
Joe Wheadon, Director of International Sales, Bell/Giro
-
Jennifer Boldry, Applied Innovation Leader, NAXION
This session will review 2020 ridership, retail and market research data to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected bicycling, as well as give an overview of new data products and tools available from PeopleForBikes. Throughout the presentation, a panel from the PeopleForBikes Research and Statistics Subcommittee will provide insights on how their corner of the industry has been affected, ways to efficiently use the new data resources and what the panel expects to see for the bike industry going forward.
12-12:30 p.m. PT: Optional networking
Day Three: Thursday, April 15
Fostering a Sustainable Future: Diverse Leaders and a Healthy Planet
Daily Host: Jessica Grenwis, Vice President of Marketing, Quality Bicycle Products
8:30-9 a.m. PT: Optional Networking
9-9:05 a.m. PT: Welcome to Day 3 by Jenn Dice, Chief Executive Officer, PeopleForBikes
9:10-10:25 a.m. PT: Operationalizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Your Organization
Presentor: Charles T. Brown, Founder and CEO, Equitable Cities
Panelists:
-
Zeena Koda, Senior Director, Digital Brand Management, The North Face
-
Eliot Jackson, Executive Chairman, Grow Cycling Foundation
-
Milay Galvez, Marketing Director, BikeCo
-
Lesford Duncan, Senior Director of Programs, Outdoor Outreach
This session will show how leading organizations are operationalizing DEI into their business practices and growing a talent pipeline through brand marketing, diverse ambassador programs, promoting diverse voices to positions of leadership and building a welcoming bike culture.
10:30-10:50 a.m. PT: Break/Networking/Lunch
11-11:50 a.m. PT: Climate Change Action: Demystifying Your Carbon Footprint and What You Can Do About It
Troy Jones, Social and Environmental Responsibility Manager, Specialized Bicycle Components
Jessie Curry, Sustainable Business Innovation Manager, Outdoor Industry Association
This session will provide the business case on why organizations need to measure and share their greenhouse gas reduction plan. The presenters will also explain the meaning of Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions and their importance to your organization, and walk attendees through the process of calculating your direct emissions and how to join the Climate Action Corps’ solution to reducing greenhouse gases.
11:55-12:30 p.m. PT: Optional Networking
PeopleForBikes is excited to use the Remo platform to host the Virtual BLC. Remo is a virtual conferencing tool that will enable BLC attendees to network and move about interactive "rooms" as if they were attending the BLC in person.
Remo uses video, audio and live chat to allow people within the space to interact from anywhere around the world. Each user has their own avatar, which they can move from room to room just by clicking on a space. As soon as you enter a room, you will be able to see, hear and interact with whoever is already in that space in real-time.
