IPMBA News

Exhibit A:  Over 20 Vendors Support IPMBA and You

Exhibit A:  Over 20 Vendors Support IPMBA and You

By Monte May, PCI #262T/EMSCI#009 
Kansas City PD (MO)
IPMBA Industry Liaison

The 13th Annual IPMBA Conference once again attracted participants from around the U.S., and the world.  These folks all gathered in Charleston to acquire knowledge and skills to make them better bike officers, medics, and security personnel.  Joining them were over 20 fine companies dedicated to providing products and services to public safety cyclists.  Some companies were there to take orders; others were introducing new products; and yet others were conducting a bit of market research. 

Despite the different reasons each of us had for being there, we all shared a common goal:  to continue to enhance and expand public safety cycling as a respected profession. 

The vendors who attended the Expo – and a few who were not able to join us – donated over 100 prizes, all of which were awarded to the officers and medics who attended the post-competition cookout on Friday night.  These prizes included locks, helmets, flashlights, saddles, gear bags, cycling clothing, uniforms, training seminars, lights, racks, panniers, shoes, gloves, tools, hats, and even a suspension fork and a bike frame.  These last two, contributed by Answer Products and Patrol Cycles respectively, were awarded to our fine hosts at the Charleston Police Department.  After all their hard work, they sure deserved them.   

Many thanks to all of our prize contributors.  Prize winners – I hope you are reading this and will take a moment to send a personal “thank you” to the person who donated your prize. 

The support of our corporate partners was also evident in other ways.  CycleSource Group, the new distributor of Smith & Wesson bicycles came in strong, providing funding for the canvas bags and the opening reception.  All that, plus a 20 x 20 booth, and they sponsored Introduction to Off-Road Riding, too.  Generous support for Thursday’s lunch was supplied by TIDALFORCE, a new contender in the electric bike market.  Mocean once again outfitted all conference instructors with high-quality polo-style uniform shirts – khaki this year.  Tri-State Regional Community Policing Institute supplied all the audio-visual equipment, and a staff person to run it, for the third year in a row. 

The West Virginia Division of Tourism provided the funds for the post-competition cook-out at the FOP Lodge.  They also supplied the goodie bags, which were chock full of stuff from Bell, Law Enforcement Product News, Muscle Products/VooDew, Police magazine, Rubel BikeMaps, EMS magazine, and Trek Bicycle Corporation.  

Finally, the t-shirts were brought to you courtesy of Bell, Bratwear, Chiba, Cop Pedalers, Cycle Source Group, EVT, Golden West Communications, Muscle Products/Voodew, Olympic Uniforms, Tri-State Regional Community Policing Institute, and United Uniform

IPMBA is still hard at work developing the Corporate Membership category, and we thank our charter members once again for their support.  Nice job, Alerte Systems, Patrol Cycles LLC, TIDALFORCE, and Trek Bicycle Corporation

IPMBA appreciates the participation of industry members at every level – Product Purchase Program participant, advertiser, conference vendor, or sponsor.  They are an important part of the IPMBA community.  When you have the opportunity to buy something for personal or duty use, consider the companies who support IPMBA first.  They’re working everyday to serve you.

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