Viper Powersports - Board of Directors
John R. Silseth
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Managing Director of Viper Motorcycle Company and Viper Performance Inc.
Director since 2009
John R. Silseth II is the Chief Executive and a co-founder of the Company Viper Performance Inc.
He provided consulting and financing services to the Company from its inception in 2002 until becoming CEO of the Company in 2007. Through Racing Partners Management Inc., he also has provided essential consulting services to various early stage or start-up public and private corporations for the past ten years.
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Robert O. Knutson
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Director since 2005
Knutson has been a Director of Viper Powersports since 2005. He has also been the Secretary of the corporation since the company was incorporated as Viper Motorcycle Company in 2002.
Knutson has practiced law in the Minneapolis metropolitan area as a sole practitioner since 1971 and before this he was an associate attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Dorsey & Whitney.
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Robert VanDenBerg
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Director since 2007
VanDenBerg has been the Chief Executive Officer of Comstrand Inc., a Minnesota based manufacturer?s representative company, since he founded it in 1969. VanDenBerg recently sold Comstrand which attained profitable and steady growth over the years to attain an annual sales level of $50 million.
VanDenBerg also has designed and developed various high technology products, including LCD display signs manufactured for and sold to hotels and convention centers. Since May 2003 Mr. VanDenBerg also has been the CEO of Advanced Accessories Corporation, a private Minnesota Corporation developing and manufacturing a line of LCD and LED displays for the motorcycle and RV industries. VanDenBerg is also co-founder, principal owner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cycle Works of Elk River, a motorcycle products sales and full service retail outlet in suburban Minneapolis. From 1962 to 1966 VanDenBerg was an electrical engineer with the Aeronautical Division of Honeywell Inc.
VanDenBerg was a Director of Viper Motorcycle Company from 2004 to March 2005 before it became a subsidiary of Viper Powersports Inc. in March of 2005.
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Grant Lynch
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Director since 2011
Grant Lynch is the Chairman of Talladega Superspeedway and Vice President of Special Projects with International Speedway Corporation. Grant came to Talladega in 1993 after 11 years with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., where in his last post as senior manager of operations and public relations, he managed the Company's involvement in NASCAR Winston Cup racing.
Lynch stated,"Having been a Racing Enthusiast and involved with Motorsports Racing for 28 years, I see Viper attempting to set a new standard for a High Performance Motorcycle”.
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Tim Wellborn
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Director since 2011
Tim Wellborn is the past CEO and owner of Wellborn Forest Products, and is the owner of the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum that houses the world's largest Mopar classic car collection. He has served on the Talladega International Motorsports Hall of Fame Board of Directors since 1985. In 2008 Tim was presented with the prestigious Lee Iacocca Award.
According to Wellborn, "I have been a big fan of high performance vehicles since I was a young man. After riding the new Diamondback, I see the same kind of high performance standards that comprise my Mopar Muscle Car collection. The bike is lightweight, easy to handle and has an acceleration curve that will sure put a smile on your face”.
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James Shields
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Director since 2011
James Shields is a senior partner in the prestigious Texas Law Firm Shields, Britton & Fraser. The firm’s area of expertise is Litigation, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Bankruptcy, Employment Matters, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Jim is a racing and motorcycle enthusiast. Jim races SCCA on his off weekends and loves competition.
“After visiting the new Auburn facility and seeing what they have accomplished over the last year it has me very excited about being part of this project. The Diamondback is definitely an attention getter wherever it goes”.
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Jed Latkin
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Director since 2012
Jed Latkin has been a Portfolio Manager, Asset Based Lending for Platinum Partners Value since 2010. Jed is responsible for a large diversified portfolio of asset based investments in varying industries including product manufacturing, agriculture, energy, healthcare and consumer discretionary. Prior to his position at Platinum Partners Value, he was a Senior Research Analyst, Global Markets for ING Investment Management. Mr. Latkin has an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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