The 2009 Bicycle Leadership Conference to be Held during
Sea Otter Classic Through 2011 

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa. - July 29, 2008 - In an effort to better leverage networking opportunities and industry leadership attendance, the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) today announced it signed a three-year agreement with the Sea Otter Classic to host its annual Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) in conjunction with the cycling festival through 2011.

The 2009 BLC will be held April 15-17, 2009 at the Sea Otter host hotel, the Embassy Suites in Seaside, Calif. The 2009 Sea Otter Classic will be held April 16-19 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey Calif., and is considered the world's largest cycling festival.

"Aligning ourselves with the Sea Otter Classic, a well-attended and highly relevant cycling-focused event, is one way we can further support our attending membership and improve the effectiveness of our conference," said John Nedeau, president of the BPSA and vice president of global sales for SRAM. "Because many of our members also attend the Sea Otter Classic, we are confident that by combining the two events we will boost attendance from manufacturers and suppliers alike."

This year's conference topics will further expand on last year's BPSA Research Project - "Opportunities and Challenges in the Bicycle Industry - Strategic Growth, Retail Execution, and Collaboration"- specifically focusing on opportunities to improve industry awareness, distribution and product portfolios.

Event discussions during BLC 2009 will also focus on improving communication about the growing number of industry organizations and advocacy groups, their individual missions and how manufacturers can better work with these groups to support the broader goals of the industry.

In addition to research results, panel discussions, breakout groups and networking opportunities, the conference will again offer improved bike rides and the industry's most prestigious golf tournament. The BLC will again host the BRAINy awards dinner presentation.

"The Bicycle Leadership Conference is important to the future of our industry," said Frank Yohannan, president and CEO of the Sea Otter Classic. "Only through strong leadership can we identify our challenges and plan a strategy of growth and expansion. All of us at the Sea Otter Classic welcome the opportunity to support this event and further grow the sport of cycling."

While the BPSA will continue to determine the conference topic and content, the Sea Otter Classic has retained the services of Lifeboat Solutions' Lance Camisasca as conference director for the event. Camisasca's experience in the cycling industry as Interbike show director for ten years and his industry contacts will be invaluable in managing the registration, logistics and marketing for the conference.

"The idea for Sea Otter to host the 2009 BLC is brilliant," Camisasca said. "I look forward to helping shape a memorable and purposeful BLC event by integrating the conference components with Sea Otter Classic's activities and events."

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, event agenda or registration for the 2009 Bicycle Leadership Conference, please contact Lance Camisasca at lance@lifeboatsolutions.com.

Lance Camisasca Receives Individual Advocacy BRAINy Award from Bicycle Retailer and Industry News

Interbike consultant and former show director honored for sustaining and creating new advocacy alliances and increasing Interbike's investment in advocacy fundraising

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. - Feb. 11, 2008 - Lifeboat Solutions founder and Interbike industry consultant, Lance Camisasca, was recently named Individual Advocate of the Year by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. The award was presented at a dinner and reception held in conjunction with the Bicycle Leadership Conference, January 18-20, 2008.

Now in its eighth year, the BRAINy Individual Advocacy Award recognizes individuals within the cycling industry who have been an effective agent of change and a positive mouthpiece for the industry.

"As a committed cyclist and bike commuter, Lance appreciates the important role bike advocacy groups play in making our streets safer for cyclists," said Megan Tompkins, editor of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. "Moreover, he understands just how critical advocacy efforts are to the growth of the bike business. In his role as Interbike show director, he has supported numerous national bike advocacy groups over the years, providing them visibility, promotional and fundraising opportunities at the show."

According to industry members, Camisasca has been a consistent supporter of all the national bike advocacy groups and has created a variety of successful fundraising projects in support of groups like Bikes Belong, the League of American Bicyclists and IMBA. He also recently helped broker a new 10-year alliance between Nielsen Business Media and Bikes Belong that will substantially increase Interbike's investment in important advocacy programs such as Safe Routes to School and Bike Friendly Communities.

Independent from the retailer BRAINy awards, the Individual Advocacy award is based on industry nominations with the final decision being made by BRAIN and Bikes Belong staff members. Past honorees include Ariadne Scott of Specialized, Bill Fry of Bell Sports and Gary Sjoquist of QBP.

"I am proud to have been a part of increasing Interbike's monetary and in-kind advocacy efforts over the years, even when budgeting was tough," said Camisasca. "Looking back, I am grateful to various show owners who listened to and respected my advocacy efforts and team members like Mike Greeham, who patiently taught me 'Advocacy 101'."

While Camisasca is no longer the show director for Interbike, he is still very involved in the high-level strategy and management of the expo as an industry consultant. With the creation of his new event management, sales and marketing firm, Lifeboat Solutions, Camisasca also helps individual manufacturers identify and develop cost effective tradeshow strategies, and provides logistical support such as identifying vendor partners, service form submission, on-site coordination and post show follow-up.

For more information about Lifeboat Solutions, please visit www.lifeboatsolutions.com or contact Lance Camisasca at lance@lifeboatsolutions.com.

“I’ll turn 50 in January, so I’ll realize the dream just in time. I’m kind of pinching myself that I’m actually getting to that next level of my life,” said Camisasca, who’s logged 30 years in theindustry, the past 10 as Interbike director. Although he’s leaving Nielsen Business Media, Interbike’s owner, and won’t be show director any more, Interbike is his first client and he will remain deeply involved with it. In fact, he will be in the Interbike office every Tuesday for rounds of staff meetings, followed by big-picture strategizing with Joe Flynn, vice president of Nielsen’s Sports Group.

“My marching orders are to better the show, to make it a better return on investment for exhibitors and attendees alike,” he said.

One rumor he wants squashed is that his leaving Nielsen was anything but amicable. “I want to make it clear: This has nothing to do with me being discreetly fired. This was all about me wanting to do my own thing,” Camisasca said.

With a successful businessman brother as a model, he has desired his own business for years. “I want to take all my experiences that I’ve had over 30 years and make that available to companies and individuals—to start-up companies for instance—so they can conduct better business,” Camisasca said.

Potential clients could be U.S. or foreign boutique companies that need help with marketing, public and press relations, launching into retail or exhibiting at Interbike.

“Any of those tasks that are before new companies. I’d just love to tackle that,” he said. “At the other extreme, there may be large very successful companies, doing great business, who would just want to pick my brain about my experiences,” Camisasca added.

Those include several years in bicycle retail store management, followed by roles as a regional sales manager for SunTour USA and vice president of sales and marketing with Fuji America. As national sales
manager for Mavic USA, he designed and implemented Mavic’s distribution change to dealer-direct sales in 1992. He also managed 31 cycling and fitness trade shows.

Although he can’t release details yet, he hopes to launch a show of his own—it wouldn’t compete with Interbike— within the next year or so. As for Interbike, Camisasca wants to entice more non-endemic news media to the show; get a city-approved bike ride on the Strip, featuring utilitarian bikes; and create a special evening showcasing utilitarian bikes outdoors near the Sands to highlight cycling’s possibilities beyond recreation. As of Jan. 1, Camisasca can be reached at lance@lifeboatsolutions.com.