Meet Amanda Hazzah | Owner, Clutch Motorcycle Training Inc. and Co-founder, The Women’s Moto Project, Inc.

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

Hi Amanda, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I define success as a level of happiness. It’s that old saying: Do what you love for work, and it will never feel like work. I love teaching others a passion for learning and the freedom that riding a motorcycle provides.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The name of my complany is Clutch Motorcycle Training. I’m a sub-contractor under the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, which is overseen by the California Highway Patrol and my job is to conduct their motorcycle training courses. I have a team of Instructors who teach both the basic and intermediate level license waiver courses. I’ve been involved in rider education since originally certified as an Instructor by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in 2001. I’ve been teaching motorcycle safety ever since. In 2003, I rode my motorcycle cross-country from Boston to Los Angeles and began teaching for different schools accross Southern California, until I started Westside Motorcycle Academy (WMA) in 2005 with a friend. However, in 2018, I left WMA to start Clutch Motorcycle Training, here in Long Beach, California. In 2020, my sister, and collegue and I founded The Women’s Moto Project, which is the only for-women, by-women donation-based motorcyce skills training in the country. Working with women motorcyclists to improve their skills and confidence has been a privilege and we look forward to growing this non-profit by expanding our training to cities across Los Angeles and beyond.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite coffee shops is Coffee Parlor on Clark and Spring. The Attic and Panxa Cocina on Broadway are two of my favorite restaurants in Long Beach, along with Ubuntu by the Colorado Lagoon. I love living in Long Beach as well as being a business owner here because it’s such a vibrant and diverse community with so much to do and see for all ages and walks of life. I have a 5 year old son who loves to bicycle near the Duck Pond as just one of many amazing parks in the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Success is community-driven. The success of any business or project is based largely on the support one has from their community. My Uncle Bob introduced my sisters and I to motorcycling so I have him to thank for creating the spark. My mother, however, insisted we take a Motorcycle Safety Course, as she knew my Uncle Bob was the fun uncle, but not necessarily the safety expert. All of my mentors from MSF, my family, friends, and even strangers have supported my goal to be immersed in rider education, so I’m grateful for all of the above.

Website: www.thewomensmotoproject.com; www.clutchmotorcycletraining.com

Instagram: thewomensmotoproject, clutchmotorcycle