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Jack Lee, a
partner at Deloitte Touche in Milwaukee, rides his Ultra Glide
near the new Interstate exchange in Milwaukee. Business executives
from Milwaukee and elsewhere will be among the riders rolling
through the city's streets this weekend as Harley-Davidson Inc.
celebrates its 105th anniversary.
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MILWAUKEE - Call them bikers with
briefcases.
Business executives from Milwaukee and
elsewhere will be among the riders rolling through the city's streets this
weekend as Harley-Davidson Inc. celebrates its 105th anniversary.
Biker execs from the Brew City include Ed
Zore, president and CEO of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.; Jeff
Joerres, chairman, president and CEO of Manpower Inc.; and Dennis Kuester,
chairman of Marshall & Ilsley Corp.
Some belong to motorcycle clubs, such as
the one organized at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in 1999. The
invitation-only club now has about 100 members.
Frank Habib, MSOE vice president of
development, said the club was formed to connect top executives to the
engineering college and provide motorcyclists with a social outlet to talk
business and pleasure.
"This is a very mature, seasoned group
of corporate executives," Habib said.
Other white-collar bikers, such as James
McKenna, president and CEO of North Shore Bank, prefer to ride alone or
with occasional companions.
"Riding in groups and meeting
timetables is not relieving stress in my estimation," McKenna said.
"It's one more thing to put on my calendar."
But he rode from Washington, D.C., to
Milwaukee this week with a group of Harley riders that included
Harley-Davidson Inc. executives. He also has ridden across much of the
United States and once had his bike flown to New Zealand so he could ride
there.
"I don't play golf, and this is
something that my wife and I can do together," McKenna said.
In leather and biker sunglasses, the CEOs
can blend into the crowd.
"People don't know who you are, and
they couldn't care less," McKenna added.
A few white-collar workers use their
motorcycles to commute, such as John Lavelle, an attorney and motorcyclist
from Albany, N.Y. He has six motorcycles he rides to work and occasionally
takes on long-distance business trips.
"My bikes aren't the prettiest things
to look at, and they don't get washed that often, but they're all
serviceable and ready to go," Lavelle said.
But most business executives said their
bikes are after-hours only — largely because wearing or carrying dress
clothes isn't practical.
"My work obviously doesn't allow me to
wear jeans and boots," said Kim Schaffer, first vice president and
market manager at Park Bank.
She began riding about 10 years ago, after
watching the biker parade during Harley's 95th anniversary. Schaffer has a
100th-anniversary Softail Classic she takes on rides through the
countryside.
"Riding is good for the soul,"
she said.
Consultant Jack Lee bought his shiny red
2008 Harley touring bike because he wanted a better understanding of his
client's products. The partner at Deloitte Services in Milwaukee also
sought motorcyclists in his company's other offices and is helping host a
special event for them at Miller Brewing Co. during the Harley
celebration.
"It's the first time we have gotten
together" as riders, Lee said.
He hopes Harley might use the Deloitte
motorcyclists for test marketing purposes — after all, the white-collar
employees fit well with Harley's customer base and have the money to
support their passion.
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