DIVERSITY: 5 MINUTES WITH MARILYN STEMP

As co-founder of IronWorks Magazine in 1989 with her late husband Dennis Stemp, Marilyn has consistently promoted the positive image of motorcycling. After two decades as managing editor, she was the first woman named editor-in-chief of an internationally circulated newsstand magazine about motorcycling. When the print version ceased in 2014, Marilyn launched Iron Trader News online. She has edited the Sturgis Rider Daily for the Sturgis Buffalo Chip since 2014, pens freelance articles in major dealer and consumer motorcycle publications, and produces event programs. Marilyn authored “Harley-Davidson CVO” for Motorbooks International and edited “Gloria,” the life story of Gloria Tramontin Struck. She has been inducted into both the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame and the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

I absolutely want to make sure I’m totally attentive to thank the Dealernews staff for holding the Top 100 event in the first place, and the National Powersports Dealer Association for opting in there. I feel so honored just to be included in such an amazing group of women. And I have to say it was delightful to find a bunch of names on the list that I didn’t yet know because I think it’s really important in our industry to bring in new blood, fresh people who want to participate here with us. It is incumbent on all of us that have been in the business for a while to make them welcome, get to know them and give them the opportunities that we’ve had to be in a wonderful industry that has amazing individuals. So thank you so much for doing this. At the same time I’ll say that, it’s a difficult job that you all had to even pick the 100 women, because you knew it would be fraught with issues about who could have been, who should have been…