David Hilgendorf

Editor-in-Chief: Classic BMW Motorräder

2022 – Present

Content and editorial direction for quarterly vintage motorcycle enthusiast club magazine. vintagebmw.org

Technical Writer

2022 – Present

Technical documentation and communications for premium powersports and industrial lubrication.

Communications Strategist

2003 – Present

Executive communications Content strategy Branding, marketing (in-house & agency) Corporate culture Team development Process improvement

Editor

2022 – 2024

Writing and editing global internal and external executive communications for premium German automotive, luxury and technology brands including Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, AMG, ZF, BD, etc.

Editor

2022 – 2024

Technical writer and editor of global internal and external content and communications for international PR agency.

Editor-in-Chief: Motorcycle Consumer News

2016 – 2020

Content Strategist: rebranding, editorial voice, target marketing, and digital distribution. Writer, reviewer, journalist, storyteller, professional rider and cover model.

Visual redesign, content planning and target marketing. Transition from print to digital using WordPress. Convert 50 years of evergreen content to SEO friendly digital. Develop voice of industry expertise, emphasizing educational content. Renegotiate print-only contracts to include online publication. Ideate, create, edit and publish up to 30,000 words of monthly content. Human interest features, including combatting PTSD in combat veterans. Brand reputation as “Consumer Reports” for motorcycles and “best motorcycle magazine." Hire, mentor and lead team of 20 distributed (remote) staff and contributors. Improve visual appeal with high-quality design and imagery. Always in budget and on deadline. Brand ambassador at events, including MotoGP, Superbike, IMS, Overland Expo and Americade.

Instructor/Coach

2003 – 2014

Trained 6,000 students using activity-based, student-centered adult learning principles. Develop knowledge, visual acuity, and motor skills to improve proficiency and save lives.

Business Development

2011 – 2013

Product development and marketing for international motorsports apparel brand. Educate executives, sales team and consumers on product features and value. Identify products targeting specific consumer demand for 1,000 dealerships nationwide.

QA Analyst - Playstation Network

2003 – 2004

Process and product improvement and quality assurance for online networked multiplayer games on the PlayStation Network (PSN).

Director Business Development

2001 – 2003

Technology Solutions Architect for Microsoft Server platform integration.

Systems Engineer & Architect | UNIX Server Operations

1999 – 2001

Cross-functional operational, process and technology integration. Built 8-person team supporting 1,500 heterogeneous UNIX servers, servicing 3 million global broadband internet customers for 10 largest international cable conglomerates in 7 countries. Subject Matter Expert (SME) on high-visibility, mission critical, site reliability projects. Integrated inter-team product lifecycle management (PLM) workflow analysis, operational readiness, change management and process improvement best practices. Verified inventory, implemented change controls, reclaimed and redeployed $20M in assets.

Senior UNIX Server Engineer

1997 – 1999

Solve technology problems for people who solve complex problems with technology. Clients included scientists and computer programmers at: NASA; Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories; Stanford, Berkeley and most major research Universities; Sony, Disney, Cartoon Network and other major film and game studios.

System Administrator

1995 – 1997

Launched Microsoft Windows 95 and Fidelity Investments financial software.

B.S.

1989 – 1994

Skills: Business Process · Organizational Leadership · Public Speaking