Meet LAURIE MONTOYA | President and Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with LAURIE MONTOYA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LAURIE, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
BikerDown Foundation was founded after watching a few motorcycle riders go down and what they went thru in their recovery. Our goal initially was to provide very nominal assistance, but quickly grew to provide medical equipment, financial resources, legal assistance, and online fundraising.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I always say that my life has been on the road of hard knocks. Everything that I have learned and experienced (good & bad) led me to this moment of service to this non-profit and motorcycle riders.

My previous positions had been working at an executive level for Presidents, Senior Partners at law firms and learning how to multi-task and problem solve.

My life experiences of losing a partner to a tragic accident, raising children on my own, and struggling almost on a daily basis, gave me the experience to have empathy for families struggling and to help them come up with plans for survival. The legal experience in the law and litigation taught me how to stand up for what was right and to understand the rights that all of us have in this country.

Motorcycle riders are very misunderstood, and drivers have a misconception of what a motorcycle rider truly is, not what you see on television or thru a google search. Bikers are the most giving individuals I have ever met, and each weekend they donate or pay to a charity event outside of our biker community to help people in need.

However, they are being hit and killed at epidemic numbers caused by distracted driving such as texting and driving, using the cell phone when you drive, or just not paying attention. BikerDown assistance to injured riders is vital to them because they quickly realize just how bad their accident was, and how long their recovery will be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spot in Denver is Red Rocks in Golden Colorado. I would probably take them for dinner at my favorite biker bar/restaurant Dirty Dogs Roadhouse, so they could see my community of riders who love BikerDown and support what we do. Then we would take a ride/drive up to Red Rocks, and see the majestic beauty of what God has created. You can’t help but wonder how large a seismic shift on the planet earth had to have been to move these rocks to perfect harmony.

At night Red Rocks holds concerts and I am told that musicians and bands consider it a joy to play at this venue because the acoustics are perfect. You can also on a clear night see the stars and the lights of downtown Denver and you will feel what I call perfect harmony.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank Scott O’Sullivan from RiderJustice.com whose shared commitment to the prevention of accidents caused by distracted driving to the motorcycle community and his 10 years of support to our small non-profit has enabled us to grow to help our community nationwide.

I would also like to thank my husband, Robert Montoya. For 10 years your support to our family and your sacrifices of my time and attention has been the backbone that has enabled me to help our riding community. I cannot adequately put into words my gratitude and love.

Website: www.bikerdown.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bikerdownfoundation/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-montoya-964768a6/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BkrDown

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikerdown

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCab3Jjpl41x1zI2C4uNV89Q