GP CREW

Name: Paul D. Lima

Position: GM, Chief Mechanic

Experience: Paul has 25+ years of experience building, riding, and racing motorcycles both on and off-road; 22 years professionally.

Technical Certification:
Paul is a factory trained and certified technician for Ducati, MV Agusta, Husqvarna, Aprilia, KTM and Moto Guzzi.

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work: spend time with my family, ride motocross, road race, build/restore vintage bikes, and listen to and play music

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Favorite places to ride: Northern Italy — Lago di Como, Lago Magiore, gli Dolomiti, "Emilia Romagna" — Futa Pass...roads, food, scenery, culture

Favorite bike and why:  too many to choose from....they all have their own character, and are exciting in different ways. I guess that's why I have so many.

Other interesting tidbits:  Sang in a punk rock band at the age of 11

Name: Josh "JK Smooth" Springsted

Position: Sales Department Manager

Experience: Josh brings over six years of motorcycle sales experience, and due to proximity to the customer "toilet" (that's Italian for toilet) he maintains its spotless shine. He is also Dharma's adopted dad.

Technical Certification: MFA in Creative Writing, BA in English, StreetFighter Academy Suma Cum Laude

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work: read about people who aspire to greater things than myself

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Favorite places to ride: the Arctic Circle (aka Hwy 18)

Favorite European bike and why:  Ducati 916 a la Fogerty et al — this was the bike that made me know I had to get into motorcycling

Other interesting tidbits:  Don't judge a man by the size of his dog.

Name: Dharma "the Enforcer" Rain

Position: Customer Care 
and Finance Manager

Experience: 2 Fox News appearances, 3 years as a
PR Specialist

Technical Certification: 
"Good Citizen" Canine Certified

Hometown: Imperial Valley Library stairwell

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work:  run with the "big dogs" on Coronado Beach

Favorite places to ride:  in a backpack

Favorite bike(s):  Dad's Moto Guzzi

Other interesting tidbits: I am more than just a pretty face — I have a brain too!

Name: Rob Whitney

Position: Parts Manager

Experience: Rob brings with him over 20 years of experience in the industry, having filled the same role for 10 years at Spectrum Motorsports, and another 10 years prior to that at European Cycle Specialties. Needless to say, Rob's experience is vast and we are happy to have him around.

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work: pillage and plunder, and drink rum "YO HO!"

Name: Joe Salgado

Position: Parts Department

Experience: Currently studying at SDSU, 5 years working at GP!

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work: relax, hang-out with friends.

Years of riding experience: 8 years off-road

Favorite places to ride: Ocotillo Wells/ Superstition Mountain

Favorite bike and why: 09 Husqvarna TC 450, strong power from the bottom to top, excellent handling, and awesome looking.

Name: Jesse Fox

Position: Service Manager

Experience: Jesse has over 15 years of experience providing top-notch customer service in various and intriguing industries, including: plumbing, espresso machines, coffee roasters, etc...

Hometown: Quincy, Massachusetts

Favorite thing to do when not at work: Spend time with wife and 3 Italian Greyhounds, traveling, and all things motorcycle related: camping, group rides, repair and restoration.

Favorite place to ride: Lake Toba, Sumatra, Death Valley, Southern Utah.

Favorite Bike: “I have an appreciation for all motorcycles, but my heart belongs to Italy!” – one of his dogs is named “Guzzino”

Other Interesting Tid-Bits: Developer and operator of a social network for motorcycle enthusiasts, Spokesmenmoto.com

Name: Tommy Coleman VII

Position: Service Technician, Collision Manager

Experience: For the past 10 years, Tommy has been focused on insurance estimates, repairs and claims for motorcycles involved in minor and major collisions. He works directly with insurance companies to ensure maximum payout for covered claims, to get our customers back on the road as quickly as possible.

Hometown:  Cardiff by the Sea, CA

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work:  cycling, fashion design

Years of riding experience: 12 years

Favorite place(s) to ride:  Palomar Mountain, Highland Valley Road

Favorite bike: Ducati Superbikes

Other interesting tidbits:  repair leather jackets, gloves, etc.  www.tommytuckerjeans.com

Name: Gerald "G" Shevick

Position: Service Technician

Experience: MMI graduate with 4 years of practical experience in the field

Technical Certification:  Ducati certified, Triumph certified, Husqvarna certified

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work:  body boarding at the beach

Years of riding experience: 10 years

Favorite places to ride: Skaggs Road (Northern California)

Favorite bike and why: Aprilia RSV4 — awesome power, superp handling, and the sound is incredible

Name: Erin "EB" Lima
(EB = Easter Bunny....it's a long story)

Position: Office Manager, Marketing Manager, Webmaster, HR Manager, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, IT support....did I forget anything?!?!?!

Experience: Erin has over 20 years experience in Marketing with emphasis on Marketing Communications. Before coming to GP, she held the position of Creative Director for Blue Mine Group, a market strategy firm in Del Mar. Prior to that, and ran her own successful marketing communications firm for 10 years. Erin has worked with innovative giants like Hewlett-Packard, Sony Electronics and 3M. She offers an uncanny blending of technical skill and experience combined with a true passion for innovation and creative expression.

Favorite thing(s) to do when not at work: spend time with my kids (soccer mom), travel, make glass beads and jewelry, running (well, more like jogging, really), whitewater rafting

Years of riding experience: 24

Favorite places to ride: anywhere but the 805 North 

Favorite bike and why:  Ducati Monster — light-weight and low to the ground, good power and easy to maneuver...I am not a knee dragger, but I like a good twisty road as much as the next person

Other interesting tidbits: On the board of directors for a non-profit charitable organization called Helping Ugandans Grow Stronger (HUGS). We raise funds stateside to fund projects in Uganda. The only catch? The projects, once complete, must be self-sustaining. Our most recent project involved building a bakery for a women's group. This project is not only self-sustaining, there is a multiplier-effect, affecting wheat growers and egg farmers in the region, as well as providing locally produced breads for the the local village population. For more info please visit www.hugsforchildren.org.