Business Connection

Durango Harley-Davidson - Trevor Bird
written by Sara Lynn (Kuntz) Valentine    
  “I was born and raised in New Braunfels, Texas,” Trevor Bird, the new owner (with wife Catie) of Durango Harley-Davidson says. “I started working for the family that owned the Harley franchise in San Antonio the summer of my freshman year of college. I owe the Gottsackers a lot – I wouldn’t be here today if not for them. Rugger, the Gottsackers’ oldest son, and I grew the business from around 30 employees to over 150 employees, and from one location to four, between 2002 to 2008. I became a partner in 2014 in two Harley franchises and am still an active partner and vice president.
    “Catie and I had always wanted to have our own Harley dealership. We found out Durango Harley-Davidson was ‘secretly’ for sale and visited Durango for the first time last December to check it out. It almost felt like the owner, Jeff Murray, was interviewing me even though I was the one wanting to buy the dealership! It was important to him that the right people take over. Catie and I felt an immediate connection with the Murrays and we fell in love with Durango. We had opportunities to buy franchises much bigger in terms of revenue. We chose Durango because of the people here and the quality of life - it seemed like such a great place to raise our kids. Our daughter Millie is seven and our son Reece is five.
    “We joined the Chamber right away. It’s important for a community of any size to grow the right way. It takes collaboration between city leadership, the Chamber, and local non profits.  We want to support our Chamber so the Chamber can fulfill its mission in serving the community.
    “It’s important to us to give back. I have served as secretary and treasurer for a nonprofit foundation, For the Love of Kids and Harleys, for over ten years. This organization has donated over 3 million dollars the last twenty years to children’s charities.  We look forward to developing ways that For the Love of Kids and Harleys can help meet needs here in Durango.
    “We’re excited to be here. Among many other things. We’re enthusiastic about rebuilding the Rally and making it a wholesome and family-friendly motorcycle destination for the Labor Day weekend.”
    You can call Trevor at 210.823.2359 or email him at [email protected]. Learn more at www.durangoharley.com and www.durangorally.com.

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