Industry Ticker: Kleppinger in at Cyclone, Powell leaves Portland Design Works

Uma Kleppinger.(Photo: Cyclone Bicycle)
Uma Kleppinger.
(Photo: Cyclone Bicycle)

One hire and one big change at the top are the latest stories from our local bike industry.

Cyclone Bicycle, a Portland based bike parts and accessory distributor, has hired Üma Kleppinger as its marketing content manager. And Dan Powell, co-founder of Portland Design Works is leaving the company.

Check out the press release below for more details on the Cyclone Bicycle news:

Kleppinger comes to Cyclone with 15 years of content creation and creative services experience, working in numerous markets. She has 6 years of experience in the cycling industry working as a copywriter, branding specialist and marketing consultant. She is a freelance editorial writer for national cycling publications, and has served as Editor-in-Chief on Specialized’s digital magazine, Your Ride, Your Rules.

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get on board with a growing bike brand where the diversity of my branding and content experience will directly contribute to that growth,“ said Kleppinger. “Working with big brands is exciting, but I especially enjoy helping to elevate emerging brands.”

Cyclone has enjoyed a growth spurt lately, with the recent acquisition of Action Bicycle USA and signing several new brands.The company has also restructured and expanded its Portland headquarters, underscoring the need to expand the marketing department.

“We’re pumped to have a veteran content creator like Üma onboard. As well as her vibrant personality, Üma brings the skills and a high level of professionalism that Cyclone needs to propel our marketing efforts to the next level” said Tyler Robertson, Marketing Director at Cyclone.

A bike commuter and dedicated mountain biker, Üma started her affair with bikes as a messenger in New York City during college. When not writing about bikes, she can be found either out on the trail or at the Lumberyard, casing jumps.

The addition of Kleppinger comes just a few weeks after Cycling hired their first-ever national sales director.

Visit to Portland Design Works-8

Powell at Portland Design Works’ former headquarters on NE Hancock in 2012.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

And Dan Powell, the co-founder of Portland Design Works, has decided to move on. Powell opened PDW in 2009 with his friend and partner Erik Olson after they worked together in Wisconsin at Planet Bike. PDW has grown by leaps-and-bounds since then and the company is currently settling into a new warehouse space in southeast Portland after moving from their space on NE Hancock a few months ago. An avid outdoorsman, Powell is going to take some time off and explore other adventures. Good luck Dan!

Want more local bike business news? Check out the Industry Ticker archives.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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shannon
shannon
7 years ago

Congrats Uma!

Brad Parker
Brad Parker
7 years ago

Dan Powell,
You are awesome, good luck. Also love the pic.

EPO Rider
EPO Rider
7 years ago

Hooray!!!

ElPana
ElPana
7 years ago

cONGRATS Uma!!!!!