ADVOCATES

ADVOCATES

Maggie McNally-Bradshaw started riding in 1981 in her home city of Albany, N.Y., when a friend said, “Girls can’t ride motorcycles.” She had her permit within a week.

In 1992, Maggie participated as a member of the local Women on Wheels chapter in a motorcycle training class. The class made a significant impact, and she was determined to become an MSF instructor, becoming a Rider Coach in 2007.

Due to her role in the InterMountain Area chapter of Women on Wheels, Maggie became highly active with AMA District 3, became the Road Division Chair, and later became an AMA Field Rep. In 2009, Maggie was accepted to fill an AMA Board of Directors vacancy for the Northeast Region, the third female ever seated on the AMA Board. In February 2013, she became the first woman to chair the AMA’s Board of Directors, continuing in this role until 2020.

Maggie continues to promote the AMA and motorcycling as the AMA New York State chapter coordinator, a member of the AMA’s Recreational Riding Commission, and a participant in the specialty subcommission on women riders.

“I believe that female riders should embrace being considered riders that just happen to be female,” Maggie said. “Quoting my ninth-grade social studies teacher, Mr. Dugan, ‘as long as a group of people prefer to be treated as special or unique, they will never be accepted as full members of that community.’”

Tiffany Cipoletti has been advocating for motorcycle rights long before she actually became a rider. After graduating college she began her 13-year-long career working for the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, eventually handling legislative affairs for federal motorcycle issues. While at the MRF Cipoletti took a motorcycle training course, and as soon as her feet hit the pegs she knew she needed a bike.

After becoming an endorsed motorcycle rider she became active with the Virginia Coalition of Motorcyclists, her local state motorcycle rights organization (SMRO). When the opportunity came to join AMA staff, she felt it would allow her to help impact motorcycle issues on both the state and local level.

Some of the emerging issues she works on include autonomous vehicle and intelligent transportation systems, lane splitting, rider training and distracteddriving legislation.

Over the years, Cipoletti has watched as the female riding community has exploded, and hopes even more women will find empowerment through motorcycling.

“Motorcycles gave me independence, confidence, freedom and a love affair for the open-road that I am going to chase for the rest of my days,” she said.

As a longtime lover of motorcycles, Erin Reda has fond memories of riding to soccer games on the back of her father’s HarleyDavidson Fat Boy. When she started her own motorcycle journey in her junior year of undergraduate studies, she saved every penny she earned from her barista job to purchase a yellow Buell Blast.

After learning how to do basic maintenance on her bike, Erin developed a deep appreciation for Buells and upgraded to the XB9S Lightning that she’s riding today.

Erin is also the co-founder of MotoXmission, a service-focused motorcycle organization born out of a desire to help her community after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Erin has organized and lead solidarity rides, get-out-the vote events, community events and donation drives. Erin also serves as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Representative for Engines for Change.

Through her position as Grassroots Coordinator, Erin is the main point of contact for members seeking help from the AMA’s Government Relations Department.

“Being able to strengthen my passion for serving the motorcycle community through my role as the Grassroots Coordinator has been an incredible experience,” Erin said. “It’s inspiring to work with such accomplished riders and advocates every day!”

Erin graduated from The George Washington University where she studied international affairs with a concentration in global environmental policy.

As Director of Member Activity, Heather Wilson and her team work with AMA-chartered organizers who host recreational riding events. They also coordinate the AMA’s volunteer programs, including recreational riding commissions and state chapters. Heather’s responsibilities additionally include overseeing the AMA National Adventure Riding Series, Beta AMA National Dual Sport Series, and AMA National Gypsy Tour.

Wilson grew up immersed in motorcycling, with her parents owning and operating a motorcycle dealership in central Ohio since 1977. Her childhood was spent with her family at enduros or camping and dirtbiking.

“Motorcycling is my passion,” she said, “I’m grateful that I get to spend my days working with AMA members, AMA-chartered organizers and other partners. I am committed to the continued progress of recreational riding, and enjoy helping AMA volunteers spread our mission.”

Heather currently rides a KTM Freeride 250R dirt bike and a KTM 690 Duke street bike. She is a chief trainer for Motorcycle Ohio, the state’s motorcycle safety program, as well as a Motorcycle Safety Foundationcertified instructor. She also volunteers with local motorcycle clubs.

Serena has been working for the AMA since 2000 and learned to ride shortly after that, despite wanting a motorcycle since the age of 16. In her position as Recreational Riding Coordinator she loves to engage with AMA members and clubs.

“It’s so wonderful to talk to such a diverse group of, literally, brothers and sisters who have a shared love and passion for motorcycles! No matter what our background is, where we came from, we can talk forever about motorcycles,” she said.

When working with clubs, Van Dyke especially likes helping to organize charity events that show the dedication motorcyclists have to their communities.

Serena admits that before she got into motorcycling, she held the typical stereotypes towards motorcyclists. Of course, they all wore leather and had tattoos.

“Once I started to research club history,” she said, “I found out that motorcycling was a family sport. Families were involved; mothers were involved. It was amazing to see the stereotypes in my head vanish.”

Serena has two children, Sarah and Adam. Her first bike was a Kawasaki Ninja and now she rides a Kawasaki KLR.

Alexandria Kovacs didn’t grow up with motorcycles but was introduced to them in her mid-twenties by her husband after he took her for a ride on his Honda CRF450. Despite that first ride being a bit unnerving, Kovacs already knew she needed a dirt bike of her own and purchased a little Honda XR100.

Not only had she discovered riding, but she was fascinated with the history of motorcycling after she visited the AMA Hall of Fame Museum — a place she didn’t know existed despite growing up some 15 miles away. After that experience she started working part-time on the weekends at the museum and jumped at the chance when the AMA had a position open in the racing department.

Racing was a perfect fit for her, as she naturally has a competitive streak and was determined to up her game and start competing.

“My first race was an AMA-sanctioned Full Gas Sprint Enduro,” she said, “which was super challenging, both physically and mentally. But it was a great first experience!” She has since participated in Grand Prix events and would one day like to complete in a Grand National Cross Country race.

“I am pressing forward, trying to go faster and faster and learn all I can,” she said. “It feels like such an accomplishment on every ride and race.”

When not competing she loves to trail ride through Ohio’s Wayne National Forest and Perry State Forest. She also loves to go antiquing with her husband — “treasure hunting” they call it — to decorate their 1873 Victorian home in nearby Marietta. Women continue to be an integral part of the AMA, not only as members but also on the administrative and operational sides. We greatly appreciate all that the ladies on our staff contribute to the AMA’s mission to protect the future of motorcycling and promote the motorcycle lifestyle. They bring expertise and professionalism to multiple areas of the organization. In addition to the women we’ve featured, we wanted to take the opportunity to recognize all of these wonderful ladies in this very special women-themed issue.

Marketing Manager

Data Entry Representative (working with the AMA since 1973)

Racing Coordinator

Director of Membership Marketing and Services

Accounting Manager

Supercross/FIM Coordinator (celebrating 41 years with the AMA this year)

Web Developer

Member Services Representative

Member Services Representative

Member Services Manager

Program Specialist

Human Resources Manager/Assistant to COO

Member Services Representative