LIVE AT SEMA: TIA Roundtable Event Draws a Crowd

The Tire Industry Association’s International Roundtable, held Wednesday during the SEMA Show, drew roughly 150 attendees and sparked discussion among many tire dealers.

The roundtable, which was the first event of its kind TIA has organized, included two segments: Best Practices in the Tire Industry, moderated by Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau managing director Harvey Brodsky; and International Review of Industry Regulations, featuring Ruud Spuijbroek, secretary of Bipaver, the European Retread Manufacturers Association, and Paul Fiore, director of government and business relations for TIA.

Brodsky shared some of his own experiences during the Best Practices portion before opening the floor up to tire dealers, many of whom explained the small things they do in their businesses that help make them a success.

Spuijbroek provided an overview of the upcoming European Commission regulations and several subjects that have recently come under review, including noise emission, wet grip, rolling resistance, general safety regulations and eco-labeling. Fiore closed the session with an overview of the latest U.S. state and federal regulations.

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.