Latest news with #DaytonaBeachBikeWeek
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major investor in Harley-Davidson wants CEO, two others removed from the board
A major shareholder in Harley-Davidson is calling for significant changes to the company's board, arguing CEO Jochen Zeitz and two other longtime members should be removed. H Partners Management on Wednesday said it was asking other Harley-Davidson shareholders to cast "withhold" votes at the upcoming shareholder meeting in May when the re-election of Zeitz and two other board members, Thomas Linebarger and Sara Levinson, goes up for a vote. The firm's stake in the motorcycle company amounts to approximately 9.1%. One of its principals, Jared Doureville, was on Harley-Davidson's board from February 2022 until earlier this month, when he resigned. Shareholders voting to "withhold" would be "sending a strong message to the Board that they are dissatisfied with the status quo and that meaningful change is required," the investment firm said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a publicly-available letter, H Partners advocated for Harley-Davidson's board to "immediately remove" and replace Zeitz with an interim CEO "until an external, permanent CEO is selected." "We believe an absentee CEO who has already announced his intention to retire should not be making decisions that could affect the long-term prospects of the business," the investment firm said. "We also believe that the current Board, which is tightly controlled by a small number of entrenched Board members, cannot be trusted to oversee crucial decisions, including CEO succession." Read On The Fox Business App Earlier this month, Harley-Davidson revealed it was in the midst of the process of finding a new CEO to take over for Zeitz, who informed the board in the final quarter of last year that he wanted to retire. H Partners says the motorcycle company experienced "poor performance" because of an "inability to course-correct" that it partly blamed on Zeitz and Linebarger. It alleged the two "have not been fully transparent with the rest of the Board." Zeitz, Linebarger and Levinson are "entrenched" and are "unable to hold each other accountable for poor performance," it further claimed. H Partners said in its SEC filing that it was "deeply concerned that if the Board — as currently constituted — were to select the new permanent CEO, there will be a continuation of the Company's current strategic direction and further destruction of significant shareholder value." Daytona Beach Bike Week Thrives Despite Some Economic Uncertainty As of Wednesday, shares of Harley-Davidson have fallen over 24% since the start of the year. Over the past 12 months, they have posted a 42.7% decline. "We believe it is imperative to find a leader who will repair the relationship with dealers, engage with riders, respect and strengthen the brand, improve the corporate culture, restore the physical presence of the Company at its historic Milwaukee headquarters, and return Harley-Davidson to greatness," H Partners said in its letter to shareholders. A Harley-Davidson spokesperson said in a statement to FOX Business that it was "disappointed that H Partners has chosen to take this self-serving action targeting members of our board after that firm's preferred CEO candidate failed to receive majority support from the Board's Independent Directors." "H Partners has chosen to put its own interest ahead of the interests of other shareholders by attempting to disrupt the Board's rigorous and thoughtful CEO transition process, creating uncertainty for and putting Harley-Davidson's future and shareholder value at risk," the spokesperson continued. "The Board is committed to acting in the interests of all of Harley-Davidson's shareholders by continuing to strengthen the Company's foundation for the future and selecting the right CEO to lead Harley-Davidson into its next chapter." In early February, the company said it generated $4.12 billion in revenue in 2024, a 14.9% decline year-over-year. Its annual net income, meanwhile, fell to $455.36 million. Zeitz said at the time that Harley-Davidson "saw our performance being significantly impacted by the continued cyclical headwinds for discretionary products, including the high-interest rate environment affecting consumer confidence" in 2024. Click Here To Read More On Fox Business The company's forecast for 2025 said its revenue would be "flat, to down 5%."Original article source: Major investor in Harley-Davidson wants CEO, two others removed from the board Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
70-year-old Palm Coast man is fourth Bike Week fatality
A Palm Coast motorcyclist was killed Saturday night in Flagler County in a crash with a vehicle, Florida Highway Patrol investigators said. The 70-year-old man is the fourth known fatal accident in this year's Daytona Beach Bike Week which began Feb. 28 and ended Sunday, March 9. Three other riders died in wrecks in this year's event including one in Flagler Beach, one in Ormond Beach, and one in Barberville in northwest Volusia County. Saturday's crash occurred at Belle Terre Boulevard and Fin Way in Palm Coast at 10:55 p.m., troopers said. According to troopers, a pickup driven by a 21-year-old Center Hill man and occupied by three passengers was headed south on Belle Terre Boulevard and made a left turn into the path of the motorcyclist traveling north on Belle Terre Boulevard. The Palm Coast rider's motorcycle crashed into the side of the pickup, troopers said. The Center Hill man in the pickup and his passengers, a 39-year-old man from Waldo, a 29-year-old from DeLand, and a 53-year-old man from Jacksonville, were not injured, troopers said. The crash remains under investigation, according to FHP. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida biker dies in crash
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CEO of the Daytona Chamber, Bike Week's organizer, getting set to ride off into the sunset
DAYTONA BEACH − When Nancy Keefer got hired in October 2013, she said she saw the key to succeeding as president and CEO of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce would be "listening to those in the trenches." That philosophy helped Keefer guide Volusia County's largest chamber through numerous challenges over the years including hurricanes, a recession, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber in recent years also celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019 and completed a $3 million makeover of its building on City Island last year. It is currently serving as the official organizer of the 84th annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, the 10-day motorcycle rally that began Feb. 28 and runs through Sunday, March 9. Keefer in an email to chamber members this week announced her plans to retire at the end of the year. "The Chamber is in a strong position for continued success, and with the dedicated board leadership and an exceptional chamber staff, I have no doubt the future is bright for the Chamber and our community," she stated in the email. Keefer, who will be 62 when she retires, said she and her husband Chris intend to continue calling the Daytona Beach area home. They live in Port Orange. The chamber in 2013 was reeling from the abrupt departure of its previous president and CEO who resigned under a cloud of controversy. Keefer was hired after a national search that produced more than 100 applicants. A native of upstate New York, she had 25 experience as a chamber executive, including a stint as president of the Bonita Springs Area Chamber in southwest Florida and as president and CEO of the Chester County (Pennsylvania) Chamber of Business & Industry that included serving as chair of the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Executives in 2012. Keefer in an interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal in 2013 said, "I think the chamber plays a pivotal role in helping businesses succeed and I look forward to being a part of that." The chamber began 2013 with roughly 800 members. It currently has more than 900, Keefer confirmed on Wednesday. The Daytona Regional Chamber's accomplishments under Keefer's watch included earning its first-ever accreditation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2017, a feat it repeated in 2022. Currently, only 174 chamber organizations out of the 7,000 throughout the country hold that honor. Accreditation is the national organization's stamp of approval after a thorough examination of the chamber's business practices, the qualifications of its leaders, contributions to the community, and commitment to free enterprise and promoting pro-growth policies at the federal, state and local levels. Keefer currently serves on the U.S. Chamber's Committee of 100 as well as on the board of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. She served as chair of the National Association of Chamber Executives in 2018-2019. Keefer said one of the goals in making over the chamber building at 126 E. Orange Ave. in Daytona Beach was transforming it to help the organization become "more attuned to the needs of businesses in the 21st century." The new amenities include the addition of a media wall, a coffee station, a podcast studio, multiple "collaboration areas," training space, and a 1,000-square-foot board room that opens out to an outdoor deck overlooking the Halifax River. The standalone two-story chamber building now also houses two City of Daytona Beach departments: the office of economic and strategic opportunities and the business enterprise management office, as well as a separate office used by Kelli Cosentino, executive director of the Volusia County Association for Responsible Development (VCARD). The chamber employs eight full-time staffers as well as two part-time workers. "One of our goals (in making over the chamber building) was to turn it into a hub of activity for businesses," said Keefer. "We've hosted over 440-some meetings since the new building opened." The Daytona Regional Chamber puts on events throughout the year, including business networking gatherings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate store openings. It is also the official organizer of the annual 10-day Daytona Bike Week event in March that draws hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from throughout the country. Keefer said she made the decision to retire at the end of the year because she and her husband, who retired five years ago from his longtime job as an insurance claims adjustor, want to do some traveling and are ready to take on new challenges, while continuing to make Daytona Beach their home base. "The chamber's in great shape," she said. "My desire is to leave it better than I found it." Michael Sznapstajler, an environmental law attorney with Cobb Cole, was recently installed at the chamber's annual dinner meeting in February as its board chair for 2025. He said the chamber will form a task force soon to begin a national search for candidates to succeed Keefer as president and CEO. He added that the hope is to have the new hire in place before Keefer's last day on the job so she can assist that person in getting up to speed as well as to introduce him or her to people in the local business community. "While I'm sad that she's retiring, I'm happy for her as a person," said Sznapstajler. "I'm also excited that she'll still be involved in the community." Phil Maroney was the chamber's board chair who oversaw Keefer's hiring. By coincidence, he retired from his longtime job as president of The Root Company in Ormond Beach just two days before Keefer announced her retirement plans. "When we went through a nationwide search (for a new chamber CEO), Nancy from my standpoint immediately stood out," Maroney recalled. "She sent us a thick binder filled with sheet after sheet of things the Chester County Chamber had undertaken under her watch." Maroney added that Keefer hit the ground running when she started her new job here. "She came in at a really challenging time for us and just knocked it out of the park," he said. "She lived the chamber 24/7 and was on top of every detail. She still impresses me to this day. I can't sing her praises enough." Snzapstajler said This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Chamber CEO, organizer of Bike Week, getting set to retire
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Less Than 30 Days to the 84th Daytona Beach Bike Week on Feb. 28-March 9
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The motorcycle community will descend upon Daytona Beach area to kick off the new riding season with the 84th annual Bike Week on Feb. 28-March 9, one of the world's largest motorcycle events. Visitors will have an unforgettable experience at Daytona Beach Bike Week, organized by the Daytona Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce. Every year this thrilling event attracts hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from every corner of the globe. They come to enjoy the 70-degree Florida sunshine, revel in the world-famous beaches and immerse themselves in exhilarating biker events that take place all over Volusia County. Seasoned riders and those who love the biker culture will enjoy the fun and camaraderie of this iconic celebration. What to see and do? From the racing, live entertainment, scenic rides, bike shows, vendors and food, here's a snapshot of some of the top activities during Bike Week: Daytona International Speedway is a major hub during Bike Week. The 55th annual DAYTONA Supercross, the longest continuous Supercross event in America, will deliver high-flying action on March 1. The Progressive American Flat Track will kick off its season at the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway on back-to-back nights on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7 with the DAYTONA Short Track I & II. The historic DAYTONA 200 is the finale of their racing schedule on Saturday, March 8. The AMA Arenacross Championship will ride into the Ocean Center on Friday, Feb. 28. The arena will transform into a high-octane battleground where competitors will navigate a challenging track filled with jumps, berms, rhythm sections and whoops. Teddy Morse's Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach is a motorcycle paradise complete with his Daytona Harley-Davidson dealership, vendors, restaurants, retail, bars, and live entertainment. Enjoy the historic Main Street in Daytona Beach, the place to see and be seen. Downtown Daytona Beach is home to shopping and eateries as well as a beautiful new Riverfront Esplanade perfect for a Florida scenic experience. In Midtown, visitors can listen to live music and stimulate their taste buds with food vendors serving up an eclectic mix of southern and Caribbean food. Harley-Davidson Corporate will also be there with the newest bikes and a great ride-in bike show. Other popular stops for motorcycle enthusiasts during Bike Week include the Daytona Beach Boardwalk Bike Show, the Pier, the nearby Daytona 200 Monument, and popular fun spots such as the Broken Spoke, Ironhorse Saloon and the Boot Hill Outpost in Ormond Beach. "We are thrilled to welcome thousands of bikers to the Daytona Beach area for an unforgettable Bike Week," said Janet Kersey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Daytona Regional Chamber. "We encourage everyone to dive into the excitement and explore everything our beautiful region has to offer. Whether you're here for a day or the entire 10 days, Bike Week is an experience you simply can't miss. From the stunning beaches to the vibrant bike events, there's something for every generation. We hope visitors have a safe, enjoyable, and exhilarating visit to our part of the Sunshine State." For visitors looking to find accommodations in the Daytona Beach area for Bike Week should visit Where to Stay During Daytona Beach Bike Week | Daytona Beach, FL With everything from hotel rooms to oceanfront cottages and resorts, and from bed & breakfasts to condo hotels to campgrounds and RV parks — there's a place to stay for every visitor's taste. For more information on the upcoming Bike Week events, visit Visitors can also pick up the popular Official Bike Week Pocket Guide at the Bike Week Welcome Center located at 126 East Orange Avenue in Daytona Beach. About the Daytona Beach Area | #LoveDaytonaBeachOften called home of the world's most famous beaches, Daytona Beach, Florida, continues to delight and surprise visitors with its diverse and growing array of attractions. The Daytona Beach area includes several cities and towns including Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet, Holly Hill, and South Daytona. The destination has long been known for its iconic beaches and rich auto racing history but today a slate of exciting new attractions, upscale lodging, a vibrant arts scene and an amazing collection of parks, preserves and outdoor activities are all part of Daytona Beach's year-round appeal. Media Contact: Andrew Booth, Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureauabooth@ | (386) 255-0415, ext. 125 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
