American Motorcyclist Association hires Jack Penton as Director of Operations

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to welcome Jack Penton to the position of AMA Director of Operations. Penton, an AMA Life Member who was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 in honor of his off-road racing success, will start on June 1.

As director of operations, Penton will report directly to AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, and will assist him in managing the day-to-day functions of the Association. Penton will also have direct responsibility for the Hall of Fame.

"Jack Penton's breadth of experience in the motorcycle industry gives him a fresh perspective that I'm excited to bring to the AMA," Dingman said. "His hands-on approach will help guide our staff as we continually seek better ways to serve our members and more effectively promote and protect the motorcycling lifestyle."

Penton has more than 40 years of experience in the motorcycle industry. Early in his career he worked for Penton Imports developing Penton motorcycles, a brand founded by his father, AMA Hall of Famer John Penton. Later, he worked for Kawasaki Motors, Malcolm Smith Racing and KTM America. Most recently, Penton served with Tucker Rocky Distributing, a world leader in the distribution of motorcycle merchandise.

An AMA member for 45 years, Penton is also chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF) Board of Directors, the fundraising body for the Hall of Fame, a position he will relinquish prior to June 1. Having served on the AMHF board for three years, Penton has watched the AMA make major improvements at a crucial time.

"I am eager to join the AMA staff, and I look forward to helping the Association become a more powerful voice for America's motorcyclists," Penton said. "The threats to motorcycling are greater today than ever before. Now is the time to secure the rights of motorcyclists in America, but to do so the AMA membership needs to grow many times over.

"The AMA has its priorities in order and has made the commitments needed to expand the organization," Penton said. "Now is the time for motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere to join us so that we can respond with strength to the forces that want to take away our rights as motorcyclists."

Effective June 1, those wishing to contact Penton can send him an e-mail at jpenton@ama-cycle.org, or call (614) 856-1900.