Keynote Speakers
John Hinz
CEO of KTM North America, Inc.
After graduating from University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in Business Administration, John Hinz took the opportunity to follow his passion for motorsports by launching his career in 2000 as a District Sales Manager in the motorcycle business. He joined the KTM North America team in 2007, responsible for Product Management, and later took on roles in Dealer Network, Homologation, U.S. Research & Development, Road Racing and Marketing. In 2015, Hinz was named Managing Director of KTM North America, Inc. and in 2017, he became the President of KTM North America, Inc.
Since 2019, Hinz has served as CEO of KTM North America, Inc., as well as the group’s related companies within North America.
Florian Kecht
Member of the Executive Board of KTM AG
Global Sales, Customer Service Commercial Business Development, Promotions
After completing his IBWL studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Florian Kecht started his career in sales at KTM Sportmotorcycle AG. After several years of experience in international sales, he took over the management of customer service in 2011 and the responsibility for trade marketing in 2013. Florian Kecht has been an authorized officer of KTM AG since 2012 and, since 2014, managing director of KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH. managing director of KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH.
Leah Goldstein
Speaker, author, athlete, motivator
Leah Goldstein is an internationally sought-after speaker, a world champion kickboxer, Israeli undercover police officer, national cycling champion and a no limits accountability expert.
What happens when a young girl doesn’t believe in limitations? What is possible when her dreams resonate at such a frequency, that they force themselves into reality? Practically anything, as proven by Leah Goldstein’s stunning example of an unbounded life.
By age 17, Leah Goldstein was the World Kickboxing Champion. Shortly thereafter, she enlisted in the Israeli Military and became one of the few female instructors of the elite Commando division, specializing in Krav Maga. Leah then transitioned into a Special Forces unit, combating terrorism and violent crime. The extreme lifestyle of the secret police eventually took its toll, and she found her salvation on a bicycle.
She convinced Israel to release her, as she pursued a brilliant 10-year career as a professional cyclist in Europe and North America – and eventually to the longest single stage race in the world, Race Across America. From crashes to podiums, and fear to triumph – Leah’s story gives us a glimpse of what’s truly possible from a life without limits.
Manfred Edlinger
Head of Motocross Platform / Research and Development
After completing his training at HTL in Steyr, specializing in vehicle and engine engineering, Edlinger began his professional career in 2002 as Mechanical Designer in KTM R&D’s offroad department. Taking over the project management for full size motocross bikes in 2008, Edlinger’s first project was KTM’s full size motocross generation for MY2011. After finishing further projects such as the 2016 and 2019 KTM motocross generations, he became Head of the Motocross department.
Since 2016, Edlinger is in charge of all motocross projects from 50 cc up to the full size bikes for KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS, as well as the technical accessories.
Florian Bretterebner
Head of Powerpack Offroad ICE / Research and Development
After completing his education at the HTL Graz, specializing in mechanical engineering, Bretterebner began his professional career in 2008 as a Structural Analysis Engineer at the Fiedler GmbH Engineering office in Leoben, while simultaneously attending courses at the Technical University of Leoben. After joining the KTM Group in 2012, he worked as Structural Analysis Engineer and Multibody Simulation Engineer in the R&D Department until 2018, when he assumed the role of Chief Engineer for the MY23 450 cc and 500 cc powerpack platform.
In June 2022, Bretterebner became Head of Powerpack Offroad ICE and is now responsible for all offroad powerpacks with displacement from 50- to 500 cc.
Sam Dantzler
President of Garage Composites & Wheelhouse College
After a lifetime in retail sales, Sam Dantzler got his start as a sales trainer in the late 90’s. He found Ed Lemco in 2000, where he put his love for training into the powersports industry, running management training academies and moderating industry 20-Clubs. After buying out the founder with partners in 2005, Sam reached out to foster relationships with OEMs such as Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Triumph, Polaris, etc. The mindset was that dealers must win, in CONJUCTION with OEMS… not in spite of them. In 2012, he began consulting in the marine industry, and picked up clients such as Cobalt Boats, Mercury Marine, Singleton Marine Group, and MarineMax. He continues to moderate 20-Clubs and industry training with OEMs and dealers alike. Sam is a 2-time Ironman Triathlon finisher and die-hard cycling fan as well. He believes in a philosophy called Enter-Train-ment, which he defines as 51% content and 49% entertainment. Because if you’re not having a good time while learning, what’s the point?
Florian Burguet
CSO New Mobility of KTM AG
After graduating from ESC Business School in Montpellier, France, Florian Burguet joined the KTM North America team in 2003, responsible for marketing in Canada. As of 2010, he took over the position of Managing Director of KTM Canada, Inc. and later the role of Managing Director of KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH in 2017, relocating to Austria. There, his first focus was on international sales until 2019, before leading the global marketing team until 2022. Since June 22, 2022, Florian Burguet serves as CSO New Mobility of KTM AG.
Jeff Konicke
Vice President of Marketing KTM North America, Inc. / Vice President of E-Bikes North America
After five years of working in motorcycle retail, Jeff Konicke brought his passion for motorcycling to KTM North America in 2004, working as a Dealer Support Representative in the Midwest before shifting to the Southwest region, where he now calls home. After holding various positions within the bicycle, automotive and motorcycle business, Konicke re-joined the KTM group in 2018 to manage the Dealer Network, and has served as the driving force behind starting the E-Bicycle business in North America.
Since 2021, Konicke has taken on two new roles within the company, serving as both Vice President of Marketing for North America, and Vice President of E-Bikes North America.
Gerald Kiska
Founder & Chairman of KISKA
Gerald Kiska founded KISKA in 1990 and has been KTM’s strategic brand design partner since 1992. Driven by the core belief that products are the most important carriers of brand values, today KISKA delivers KTM’s entire brand experience. Every offline and online component – from strategy to product to communication – lives up to KTM’s READY TO RACE promise. To do this, KISKA unites the skills of its diverse international team, who work across studios in Salzburg, Munich, Shanghai and Murrieta.
Gerald founded the Industrial Design program at FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Graz. A graduate of the University of Art and Design Linz, he worked for various design studios in Germany and Austria before starting KISKA.