Burton Avery Named Civia General Manager
Burton Avery, the designer behind some of our favorite bikes including the Civia Bryant and the Civia Loring, has been promoted to the position of General Manager of Civia. From the press release:
Bloomington, MN — Dec. 6, 2010 — Burton Burton Avery has been promoted to the role of general manager for Civia Cycles. Avery, who joined Civia as an industrial designer in 2007, has been instrumental in creating many of the brand’s flagship models, including the Bryant belt-drive commuter bike, Loring city bike, and the new Halsted cycle truck. Avery succeeds Scott Thayer who has been promoted to proprietary supply chain manager for QBP.
“Burton brings a deep knowledge and passion for bicycle design to this position. More than that, he is a motivated leader with a clear vision to guide the next phase of Civia’s evolution,” said Rich Tauer, QBP director of product development.
“We believe bicycles are part of a smarter way of living,” Avery said. “Regular riding improves health, saves money and reduces your impact on the environment.” Smarter living is reflected in a design philosophy that closely matches each bike with complimentary components and accessories, observes Avery.
“Purposeful design for everyday living and riding has been part of our philosophy since the beginning. The Halsted cycle truck is a good example. We took a traditional work bike and updated it for contemporary lifestyles. Going forward, we’ll expand our line of products offering superior utility and aesthetic, making a Civia riding experience available to almost any cyclist,” Avery said.
On the non-product side, he is ramping up Civia’s commitment to dealers with numerous initiatives, including bike-transportation clinics for shops and their customers; and strategies for helping dealers utilize social media. Additionally, Civia is rolling out a new product and accessory program that provides generous margins on initial stocking orders. This includes free sample product and free shipping.
As a dedicated year-round rider, Avery believes the benefits of cycling go far beyond fitness. “Biking is not about the miles or time. It’s about everyday actions defining who you are–giving you the opportunity to live your values. That’s why I feel good about working for Civia. I get to do that every day.”
Congratulations, Burton! We’re looking forward to seeing what you have in store for transportational bicyclists in the coming years.
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2 Responses to “Burton Avery Named Civia General Manager”
I wonder where he’ll take them.
I got pretty excited about the “Pizzeria” front rack when it was written up early this year, and immediately ordered one when they started being sold.
What I got was not the pictured rack at all. The Pizzeria (no longer pictured) was made with slats that were flat black, and nifty downward facing nail like pegs to act as a net or strap hook. But the rack that actually shipped was much different, basically the Market rack, shiny black and pretty heavily constructed, but without the side rails. Big disappointment.
Civia, to their credit, was very responsive and accommodating when I complained, but I think this was still a big mess up. Don’t show people stuff you can’t get to production, pretty basic.
I wish them well, and look forward to seeing further accessory products from Civia.
Congrats, Burton! I’ve enjoyed seeing your lineup and vision for transportation bicycles grow. Let us know when you’ve got an Alfine 11 based Bryant ready to go – it’s possibly the only thing that will get me off my geared cyclocross commuter.
I love the idea of a fully enclosed, belt driven bike with generator lights and drop bars – even if it ends up costing $2500 it would be worth it to me. My estimated yearly savings from bike commuting exceeds that total by a factor of 3, so if I could get 4 or 5 years out of that setup with only incidental costs (brake pads, tires, etc.) I would do it in a heartbeat.