Brad Konar and Tom Marlow may have recently joined the Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso team in October, but their passion for motorcycles and the Harley brand itself rides almost two decades back. The duo previously worked at a shop in Griffith and are excited to start their next career endeavor at the Harley shop just across the county line.
“We owned a custom motorcycle shop called Barnyard in Griffith, Indiana,” Konar said. “We were in business for 14 years before coming here; it was pretty much a hobby turned into a job. We've been doing business here with Harley-Davidson for as many years as we've been open, and prior to that, we were customers here. At some point in time, we figured that it would be a good fit for us to be together doing the same thing.”
Now, the two wear many different hats around the Valparaiso dealership. Some days, Konar is hard at work in the paint shop, and others, in the parts department. Marlow is also a handy member of the service department. Wherever they are needed, the duo is more than happy to pitch in and lend a hand.
“Wherever they need me to be, that's where I'm going,” Konar laughed.
Harleys have been a constant in both Konar and Marlow’s lives over the years, allowing them to thoroughly learn the ins and outs of the brand. This made for an easy transition when it came time to join the Harley team – the work they’re doing now is similarly run to the previous gig. For the two, the biggest switch-up is location. At Barnyard, they often traveled around to work on bikes, but at Valpo, most or all of the workday is spent right at the shop.
Those differences are minute in the grand scheme of things, and both have noted the stationary workplace is a fun and stable change of pace.
“This is the same thing we're doing there; It's just on a different scale,” Marlow said. “We did mostly custom work, where this is mostly service and fixing people's bikes. Previously, we did a lot of custom builds and rallies. We did a lot of traveling. It's a little bit different from where we're at now.”
Konar and Marlow also enjoy the Harley people just as much as the bikes themselves. Whether it be the team they work beside or the customers they serve, the best part of it all is being right beside those who enjoy living the Harley lifestyle just as much as they do.
“We love the Harley people,” Marlow said. “The atmosphere is great here. It's a super work environment. It's a great opportunity for us to be able to work closely with everybody.”
“Harley is the American icon – this is what we know,” Konar said. “This is what we do, and this is the best dealership by far. It's an honor for us to be able to be there and work with them.”
While pretty green to the Harley team, the two are eager to dive in and fully immersive themselves further into the dealership. They absolutely love all things Harley and can’t wait to help the team further grow and succeed in the years to come.
“My goal is to work with everybody here and to help make sure everything runs smoothly – we’re all working for the same common goal as everybody else here,” Konar said. “It's a team, and we're working with the team to succeed. The whole point is to succeed as a dealership, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
Konar and Marlow are at the dealership every Tuesday-Saturday, so be sure to give them a wave hello when you stop by! Whether it be a new bike, service, merch, or anything in between, Konar, Marlow, and the rest of the Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso team are here to help with all your motorcycle-related needs. For more information, please visit hdvalpo.com.
