Dr. Dan Petterson received the State Motorcycle Safety Association's (SMSA) Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2026 SMSA Annual Summit in Bloomington, Minnesota, on September 17, 2026.
During the ceremony, Dan's spouse watched as the association highlighted his more than 50 years of professional experience in education, including the last 40 years directly involved in Rider Education as an Instructor/RiderCoach. He also had over 30 years as a Chief Instructor/RiderCoach Trainer and almost 20 years working on curriculum development and research within the motorcyclist community as a Founder/Owner President and Board Member of several non-profits and companies.
His eclectic career included student counseling; serving as Director of Student Services; serving as a principal at the elementary and secondary school levels; serving as an Athletic Director; serving as Manager of a Motorcycle Rider Education Program; serving as State Coordinator of a Motorcycle Safety Program; serving as an Adjunct Professor at a University; serving as an International Workshop Presenter for the Professional Development of Educators; involvement with educational testing services; and just plain being a very helpful and knowledgeable guy.
With the encouragement and support of another giant in safety, Dr. Don Smith, Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University, Dan was a driving force behind the formation and development of the well-known 501(c)(3) nonprofit “Skilled Motorcyclist Association – Responsible Trained and Educated Riders” (SMARTER) Inc., where he served as the association's President and CEO from 2007 through January 2025. He then served as a board director in 2025 and was appointed a non-voting Ex-Officio board member in January 2026, a role in which he remains highly active and involved.
Dr. Petterson's individual work and his efforts as CEO of SMARTER have earned him national recognition, and the association is widely known as the go-to, one-stop shop for motorcyclist research and information at all levels – Local, State, National, and International. His work with the State Motorcycle Safety Association is equally substantial, primarily through the Policy and Research Committee, and he also provides key input to the Motorcycle Safety Program Committee. As an individual member, he has influenced everyone in SMSA at some point. His research expertise and ability to mediate ideas have shaped many of SMSA's policies and the minds of SMSA members.
We congratulate Dan on his achievements and his shepherding of both the SMSA and SMARTER.
Dan is also the recipient of the following awards:
* 2003 RiderCoach Trainer of the Year - Motorcycle Safety Foundation * 2011 one of five individuals nationally to receive recognition by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation for “Extraordinary Contributions to Motorcyclist Safety.” * 2014 recipient of the Silvernale Award, the purpose of which is to recognize persons nationally who have made outstanding contributions to traffic safety education by the Michigan Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (MDTSEA). * 2021 Richard H. Austin Traffic Safety Award for long-term contributions and commitment to traffic safety for the Skilled Motorcyclist Association - Responsible Trained and Educated Riders, Inc., by the Michigan