NORTHBROOK, Ill. – Allstate Insurance Company, a longtime advocate of the motorcycle community, announced today that it is teaming up with country music star and avid rider, Frankie Ballard, for its first-ever Guardians of the Ride initiative. Coinciding with May’s Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month, Guardians of the Ride will recognize safety advocates who have dedicated their lives to improving motorcycle safety through the education of riders and drivers alike.
From educating future generations on the importance of safe riding to working with lawmakers to implement motorcycle safety legislation, the 2016 Guardians of the Ride recipients have demonstrated an unwavering pledge to protect riders and promote safety in the motorcycle community. To help recognize their efforts, Allstate is shining a national spotlight on their inspiring stories and contributions in hopes of encouraging other riders to be Guardians in their own communities and make safety a priority.
“Allstate has been an active force in the motorcycle community for many years, always with the same goal in mind, to keep riders riding,” said Jennifer Egeland, director of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company. “We are dedicated to helping make riders feel more secure on the road and are thrilled to honor riders who share similar passions to Allstate.”
Five riders from across the country are being recognized as the 2016 Guardians of the Ride. They will be honored during a recognition ceremony in their hometown markets, where they will be presented with the special award by a local Allstate agency owner. In August, the Guardians will join Ballard at the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota where they will be acknowledged for their efforts.
Ballard, an accomplished country music singer-songwriter and guitarist, enjoys hitting the open road on his Triumph Bonneville when he isn’t in the studio or performing shows across the country. His breakthrough album Sunshine & Whiskey contained three consecutive No. 1 hits – “Young & Crazy,” the platinum-certified “Sunshine & Whiskey” and the gold-certified “Helluva Life” – and helped take the singer-songwriter to a new level of popularity. His latest project, El Rio, is due out June 10 and features the Top 20 single “It All Started With A Beer.”
“I’ve been a rider for 15 years, and motorcycle safety has always been something I take very seriously. When Allstate approached me with the opportunity to help spread the word about the ‘Guardians of the Ride’ program, I couldn’t wait to get started,” said Ballard. “Each of these riders is more than deserving of this honor, and I hope their passion for safety and improving conditions for riders inspires others to get involved like it has me.”
The 2016 Allstate Guardians of the Ride are as follows:
Catherine Bochat-Duross – San Antonio, Tex.Bochat-Duross is the founder of The Motorcycle School in San Antonio that teaches more than 1,500 motorcycle trainees each year. She is the Texas legislative liaison for the Texas Motorcycle Roadriders Association and Safety and Awareness Committee Chair for the Texas Motorcycle Safety Coalition. She has also been a member of, and worked in conjunction with the American Motorcycle Association for the last 10 years.
Ken Higginbotham – Anderson, S.C.Higginbotham is the Head Road Captain & Safety Officer of the Electric City H.O.G. and regularly works to educate the chapter members and public about motorcycle safety and the proper operation of a motorcycle. He is also the coordinator for the 2016 South Carolina H.O.G. rally.
Lisa Cook-Gordon – Melvin, Mich.Cook Gordon originally suggested the Nathan Bower Act, which is in honor of her son’s friend Nathan Bower who died on his motorcycle after being struck by a vehicle, to the state of Michigan. The law requires that driver education courses include lessons on bicycle and motorcycle awareness and safety. She and the Bower family helped to get the law passed Michigan, and have since traveled to other states to work with government officials in an attempt to pass similar laws throughout the country.
Mark Howie Sr. – Omaha, Neb.After serving with the Omaha Police Department as a motorcycle officer for more than 20 years, Howie retired to continue his work in rider education. He currently manages and teaches the Learn-to-Ride program and is seen as an expert in his community on motorcycle safety information, frequently assisting local media with the sharing of important safety tips.
Tom Wright – Roebling, N.J.As president of the Central Jersey Rider Training, Wright oversees the operation of state-approved motorcycle riding safety courses and advocates for legislation in support of rider safety. In his previous employment role, he dedicated a lengthy career to vehicle safety, motorcycle safety advocacy and program implementation for the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission.
For 50 years, Allstate has been providing motorcycle insurance to riders and instituting safety and awareness initiatives as part of the Allstate Rider Protection Project, including the installation of 175 “Watch for Motorcycles” warning signs at dangerous intersections across the country as part of its Once is Never Enough program. Guardians of the Ride serves as the next chapter in Allstate’s mission to keep riders on the road and in good hands.
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