American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation director resigns

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that Mark Mederski has resigned as executive director of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF), which operates the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.

"I would like to personally thank Mark for his years of service at the helm of the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Mark has a great passion for the heritage of motorcycling, and his in-depth understanding of the history of the sport was a valued asset."

Mederski oversaw a number of major exhibits at the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, including "A Century of Indian," "Heroes of Harley-Davidson," "Motocross America" and "Motostars: Celebrities + Motorcycles." Smaller exhibits showcased a host of personalities from the world of motorcycling, including Craig Vetter, Dick Mann, Malcolm Smith and Arlen Ness, along with milestone bits of history, such as "BSA's Greatest Daytona," "Dawn of the Superbike" and "BMW, Mastery of Speed."

Dingman noted that Mederski's departure will not slow a number of initiatives under way to expand the Museum's presence and further cement the institution as the country's leading steward of motorcycling history.

"This is a vibrant and exciting time at the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum," Dingman said. "This year, we are refocusing our spotlight on the members of the AMA's Motorcycle Hall of Fame. This will not only involve moving the Hall of Fame to the facility's top floor, it also includes a 2009 Hall of Fame induction ceremony like none other in the Museum's history, where recipients will be honored before their peers and industry stalwarts."

Mederski was named executive director of the AMHF in December 1999, following 17 years as the Association's vice president of marketing. During Mederski's time in marketing, membership increased from 130,000 to 240,000.