For Dana Wilke, the sport of motorcycling has been a catalyst for treasured friendships, exciting business challenges and life’s greatest adventures. Dana is passionate about building community and her guiding principles are rooted in empathy and servant leadership. Out on the open road or in the board room, she has been an advocate and a voice for the next generation of riders while maintaining a strong sense of appreciation for the generation of motorcyclists that came before her.
Dana grew up in northern Wisconsin riding motorcycles as a family sport, on and off-road. After graduating college, she moved to Europe to pursue her career with Harley-Davidson. Though she learned to ride at a young age, Dana’s years working and riding in Europe was where she realized a true passion for travel and adventure on 2-wheels.
During her 12-year tenure with Harley-Davidson before resigning in 2019, Dana held a variety of global marketing and sales roles primarily focused on key growth areas of the company including U.S. Market Development, product and partnership marketing and U.S. Retail Development where she was responsible for building the next generation of Harley-Davidson Dealers. For a number of years, Dana was based in Los Angeles which is how she came to know Jessi Combs. Dana and Jessi collaborated on business projects but more importantly formed the friendship of a lifetime. They logged thousands of motorcycle miles alongside each other; around Los Angeles, into the Baja peninsula and cross-country to Jessi’s home state of South Dakota to name a few favorites.
Dana believes the world needs more of Jessi’s ‘brand of female empowerment’. Her ability to inspire while bringing others along with her was and still is remarkable. When Jessi left this world in August of 2019, Dana alongside a handful of Jessi’s close friends & family became a founding board member for a foundation in her name. The mission of the Jessi Combs Foundation is to Educate, Inspire and Empower the next generation of female trailblazers and stereotype-breakers……like Jessi. Serving this mission is part of Dana’s next adventure.