September 18, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Bill Yetman as its Executive Director. Yetman succeeds Janet O’Connell-Bauer, who moved on to pursue other interests after 12 years with the association.

As Executive Director, Mr. Yetman will be responsible for overall management and operations of the association, including ExpoCycle – the association’s yearly trade show. He will also work with the BTAC Board of Directors and the membership to formulate and execute a new long-range strategic plan, which will be developed after extensive consultations with the membership and industry this fall.

Prior to joining BTAC, Yetman spent 12-years at Retail Council of Canada (RCC) most recently as Chief Operating Officer. In that capacity, Mr. Yetman was responsible for all aspects of the association’s business including events, membership development and RCC’ extensive network of partnerships. He also acted as a conduit for suppliers and retailers to work collaboratively on creating new opportunities and partnerships for growth.

Before joining RCC, Mr. Yetman held senior political positions working with cabinet ministers and other politicians at all levels across the country. “Not only is this position a natural fit for me, one of the easy parts of making the decision to join BTAC is the opportunity to help further build upon the association and take it to new levels,” Yetman said of his selection as Executive Director. “I am looking forward to getting started.”

Kevin Senior, BTAC President and owner of Bow Cycle in Alberta, added, “we are thrilled to have Bill Yetman as our new executive director. Bill brings a wealth of experience, ideas and enthusiasm to his new role at BTAC. I’m excited about the future and look forward to working with Bill and the board as we spend the necessary time to review and build upon what is a great foundation.”

First order of business for Mr. Yetman will be to connect with BTAC members and Canadian bicycle trade stakeholders for input on how the association’s role will be shaped. “My First step is to engage with the BTAC membership and those who are not yet members to explore and determine what the BTAC value proposition should be in the future,” commented Yetman.

“I am excited at the possibilities that are ahead of us at BTAC and look forward to hearing all points of view. There are many opportunities currently facing the bike trade in Canada, so it’s a good time for BTAC to plot its future. There is a strong movement toward health and wellness and what better organization than BTAC to play a significant role in this movement. I’m really excited about the future.”