Dealernews readers will recognize the latest member of the Motorcycle Industry Council's Government Relations team: Don Amador has officially signed on with the associations affiliated with MIC. As the new Western States Representative, OHV icon Amador will liaise with land managers, clubs and officials in a newly created position with MIC, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA).
Additionally, Amador will develop and enhance working relationships with key decision makers and program leads across a variety of agencies in the West, including: USDA Forest Service – Region 5, Bureau of Land Management, federally recognized Tribes, state OHV commissions, state highway patrols and the California Air Resources Board. "Protecting our land access and promoting safe and responsible use of public lands is my life’s passion," says Amador. "I can’t wait to put that to use for the industry and OHV users in the Western states."
"Don’s long-held leadership position in the Western state OHV community will enable him to immediately make a positive difference for riders, drivers, the training community and the broader powersports industry," states Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of government relations for the associations. "Happy to have him aboard."
Amador has worked in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for more than 30 years. Most recently, he served as the government affairs lead for AMA District 36 in Northern California. Amador is a Core-Team member of FireScape Mendocino and serves on the board of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance. From 1994-2000 he served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, in 2018 Amador received the Friend of the AMA Award, and was a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame.