President
Trek Bicycle Corp. | Waterloo
John Burke has led Trek Bicycle Corp., one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of high-end bicycles in the world, as president since 1997. Founded in a Waterloo barn in 1976 by his father, Dick Burke, Trek has since grown to become a global business, producing millions of bicycles annually and employing about 7,000 worldwide. Today, more than 60% of Trek’s revenue comes from outside the U.S.
In the fall of 2024, Trek sold its bike-share unit, BCycle, to Philadelphia-based Bicycle Transit Systems. Trek founded BCycle in Madison in 2011 with 35 stations and 350 bicycles and grew the operation to include some 30 other cities.
Trek was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2023, based on employee surveys and feedback. The company offers employee perks including private mountain bike trails, an on-site CrossFit gym, on-site and virtual mental health services and an Employee Stock Ownership Program. It was also named among TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies in 2022.
Trek has enjoyed a high profile in the industry for decades, thanks to the cyclists who ride Trek bikes, including Lance Armstrong in the late 1990s.
Burke has authored four books, “Presidential Playbook 2020,” “12 Simple Solutions to Save America,” “One Last Great Thing,” a memoir about Dick Burke, and, most recently, “A Bold Plan for America: 14 Nonpartisan Solutions Based on the Facts.” He served as chairman of President George W. Bush’s President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is also a founding board member of the Bikes Belong Coalition.
Education: Bachelor’s, Boston University
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Manufacturing
President
Trek Bicycle Corp. | Waterloo
In 1984, John Burke began working at Trek Bicycle Corp., the Waterloo-based bicycle manufacturer and distributor that his father, Dick, founded almost a decade earlier. He took the helm of the company in 1997 as its president.
During his tenure, Trek has become the largest bicycle company in the country, selling about 1 million bikes annually and employing about 3,500.
The brand’s profile has grown over the years thanks to the famous cyclists who ride its bikes. In 1999, Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France riding a Trek 5500.
TIME magazine named Trek among its 100 Most Influential Companies list in 2022 for its recently released sustainability report that quantified the environmental impact of producing and shipping its bikes. The company is now working to reduce its reliance on air freight.
Burke has authored three books, “Presidential Playbook,” “12 Simple Solutions to Save America,” and “One Last Great Thing,” a memoir about Dick Burke. He has said he has considered running for president as an independent candidate. His sister, Mary Burke, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2014 against Scott Walker.
Burke served as chairman of President George W. Bush’s President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is also a founding board member of the Bikes Belong Coalition.
Education: Bachelor’s, Boston University
Hobby/passion: Burke is an avid cyclist and runner. He’s finished the Ironman Wisconsin and Boston and New York’s marathons.
