With a quarter-century of experience in the tire and automotive industries and more than 30 years as a journalist, Jim's communications experience includes stints as a newspaper reporter and editor, a public relations manager and a variety of creative and management roles with an advertising agency. The Kent State University journalism major served as editor and associate editor for a number of community newspapers in Northeast Ohio before joining Modern Tire Dealer in 1984, where he served as senior editor. After four years in brand and corporate public relations roles with Bridgestone/Firestone, Jim joined Nashville's Stumpf Bartels Advertising in 1992. He became Tire Review's ninth editor in October 1999.
Abe Zhang and the Curse of the Forked Tongue
Thursday, September, 02, 2010
That zany Abraham Hengyucius! You just never know what he’s gonna do next…or who he really is, for that matter.
Got an e-mail from someone the other day suggesting I visit the website of the Washington court system. Coupl...
» Read More
Tracking Down Washington Tire
Monday, August, 30, 2010
The question was posed to me last week: If the Port of Ephrata was concerned about the legitimacy of Washington Tire Corp., why didn’t they just Google it? Certainly five minutes of due diligence online would answer their questions.
...
» Read More
What Should be Done With Washington Tire?
Wednesday, August, 25, 2010
WSMWD?
No, it’s not some new weapon of mass destruction. It’s the question everyone in Ephrata, Washington, should be asking right now.
What Should Mike Wren Do?
Wren is the manager of t...
» Read More
WTC and the Evolving Name Game
Thursday, August, 19, 2010
So the good people of Ephrata, Wash., want to know if all is as it appears to be.
Well good for them.
As we reported the other day, the Port of Ephrata is demanding proof that Washington Tire Corp. (nee American Tire Cor...
» Read More
And You Thought Resetting the TPMS was Hard
Thursday, August, 12, 2010
Geek media was all atwitter last week when it was revealed that the lowly TPMS sensors in a car could be used to track that vehicle. Or worse.
Seems that researchers from Rutgers University and University of South Carolina discovered t...
» Read More
Paper, Plastic or Lithium Ion Battery?
Tuesday, August, 10, 2010
Ever wonder if there was something useful – and more environmentally friendly – for all of those plastic grocery bags that accumulate in your house? Or in the landfill you send them to?
Well, there is. And it is a rather surp...
» Read More
Racing's Black Arts Secret
Wednesday, July, 28, 2010
Seems every tire company has its own approach to motorsports.
Some go all in, with big-time ventures into NASCAR, IRL, F1.
Others go middle-of-the-road with the GP/GT series or rallying.
In the handful of ...
» Read More
The Sharks Get a New Website
Friday, July, 23, 2010
You may have missed this (I know I did…cause it wasn’t sent to me) but our friends at Safety Research & Strategies launched a new website.
And Sean Kane and his team, I have to admit, did a pretty good job. Especially...
» Read More
When is a Tax Not a Tax or Nothing at All?
Thursday, July, 22, 2010
Answer: When it's a quasi-governmental effort that goes very, very badly!
Stewardship Ontario, which has been instrumental in developing numerous successful recycling programs in the province for all manner of products – including...
» Read More
Washington Tire Plant in FAA Hands
Tuesday, July, 20, 2010
When we last heard anything – literally anything – from our friend Abraham Hengyucius and his Washington Tire Corp., he was hosting a couple of Ephrata, Wash., officials on a little boondoggle visit to China. They were to be meeting with th...
» Read More
Lessons Learned on the Great Truck Hunt
Friday, July, 16, 2010
Know how you start searching for something, but end up disappointed?
A couple of years ago we downsized the Smith vehicle fleet and went all sedan. Gas prices forced us to re-evaluate owning a SUV, which was handy to have for family tr...
» Read More
Carney Retirement Leaves Hole in Terre Haute
Thursday, July, 08, 2010
Bernie and Joe Carney finally decided to retire. Finally.
The day-to-day of running a thriving tire business just got ahead of th...
» Read More
Sweet Onions Make for a Sweet Deal
Tuesday, June, 29, 2010
Never has a movie tie-in tasted so sweet.
No, I’m not talking about McDonalds cadmium-laced collectible Shrek drinking glasses that had to be recalled earlier this month. Same movie, different ingredient.
Like all...
» Read More
Tire Misinformation From the InterWebs
Wednesday, June, 16, 2010
Ever wonder why consumers seem so confused about tires? Well, besides the mangled messages they get from friends, family and even tire dealers themselves (real life statement: “You should try these Nexen tires. They’re made by Michelin,...
» Read More
The United States of Advertising
Tuesday, June, 15, 2010
Don’t get me wrong: I love advertising. Especially in our humble magazine.
But sometimes one has to ask when enough is eno...
» Read More
Language Lessons and Civic Turmoil
Friday, June, 04, 2010
Chalk this up as things you didn’t know. Well, at least I didn’t know.
In the midst of the nail-biting tensions between the two Koreas, it has been suggested that South Korea needs to distance itself from its confrontatio...
» Read More
Community Efforts to Build the Perfect Bill of Rights
Tuesday, May, 25, 2010
Birdsboro, Pa.-based CJ's Tires & Automotive recently launched an all-new website. Nothing unusual about that; like many tire dealers the 11-store dealership sees real value in leveraging an online presence to drive business and support customers...
» Read More
Stand on One Foot So I Can Check the Balance
Friday, May, 21, 2010
Never been much of a country music fan (even after having lived in Nashville for a decade), but that Wynonna is one funny lady.
For those who missed it, Ms. Judd pretended to work in a tire dealership for CBS’ new “I Get ...
» Read More
Catching Up With Gus, and ASA's Hijack Job
Wednesday, May, 12, 2010
My very first road assignment as a tire journalist was to visit Paul E. Hawkinson Co. up near Minneapolis. It was just before Columbus Day in 1984, and it snowed.
And it was there that I first met Gus Hawkinson, grandson of the founder...
» Read More
Karma and Tire Recalls: It WAS the Explorer, Stupid!
Monday, May, 10, 2010
Fridays are usually clogged with piles of last minute work and dreams of peaceful weekends. Not usually a hot “news” day; even bad news has the good taste to leave us be until Monday.
But every once in a while, the mighty...
» Read More
|
|
Learn More About the Top Shop Award Program
GRAND PRIZE:
Coats ProGuard Leverless Tire Changer
FINALISTS PRIZE (3):
Coats Model 1250
Wheel Balancer
|