AKRON, Ohio — Babcox Media is proud to announce that longtime motorcycle industry icon Eric Anderson will join the company’s Motorcycle & Powersports News (MPN) as a regular columnist.

Among his contributions to MPN will be his column, “Confessions of a Customer,” which will illustrate the relationship between motorcycle and powersports retailers as seen through the eyes of the customer.

“Eric Anderson has been a strident and passionate advocate for the powersports marketplace for many years,” said Sean Donohue, associate publisher of MPN. “The industry expertise he has accrued with his many involvements and contributions to motorcycling and to retailers serving the market will help ensure we bring even greater value to our readers. Eric’s commitment to the industry and his deep desire to make a real difference will lend itself well with MPN’s mission of helping powersports retailers run their businesses more profitably. We are delighted to have Eric as part of the team.”

A powersports industry professional for more than 30 years, Anderson, of Coto de Caza, Calif., will join MPN beginning with the January 2014 issue. Anderson’s wide-ranging experience includes: 18 years as vice president of Intersport Fashions West, development and sales for Hein Gericke, FIRSTGEAR and private label apparel collections for top OEMs, and more. In 2005, he co-founded a project to develop and market a new line of helmets and specialty riding gear under the name Scorpion (Sports, Inc.) located in Lake Forest, Calif. In 2009, he founded VROOM Network, a services and training company.

“The long-running ‘Confessions of a Customer’ dealer column is one of my commitments to the industry,” said Anderson. “Others include my perpetual retail sales training efforts and service to the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) Board of Directors. The column’s unique perspective allows retailers to look at their businesses through the eyes of today’s modern customer. It may ‘sting’ to read sometimes, but it’s always authentic material authored by the often-uncomfortable forces of change. I am excited about MPN’s future — Let’s ride!”

In addition to Anderson’s contributions to MPN as a contributing writer, he will be joining the magazine’s newly formed editorial advisory board, along with Editor-at-Large Robin Hartfiel, an industry consultant who previously served as editor and publisher of MPN through 2008, and Editor Brendan Baker. MPN plans to add other prominent advisory board members from within the industry in the coming months.