GTE: 12 Seminars Set, Exhibitor List Continues to Grow

With more than 150 companies already committed to exhibit at the upcoming Global Tire Expo, TIA has outlined a vastly expanded series of educational seminars for show attendees.

The GTE in Las Vegas, Nov. 2-5, is a tires-only section of the 2010 SEMA Show, and will occupy its own space in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

As of July 1, 156 companies have taken booth space within the GTE, including a number of tire companies eagerly looking to broaden their dealer footprint in North America: Alliance Tire, Atturo Tire, BKT, CMA/Double Coin, Cooper Tire, Continental Tire, Falken Tire, Greenball Corp., Hankook Tire, Hercules, Tire, Kenda USA, Maxxis, Mickey Thompson Tire, Nankang Rubber Tire, Nexen Corp., Nitto Tire, Pirelli Tire, Sentaida International, Shandong Ling Long, Sonny Tyres, Techking Tires, Triangle Tyre, Vee Rubber and Vredestein.

TIA officials said many other tiremakers have inquired about taking exhibit space at the event.

TIA set four educational session tracks – a total of 12 seminars – at this year’s GTE: TPMS at 10, Truck Tires at 10, Tires at 2, and Management at 4. While details on the Truck Tires at 10 track are still being worked out, TIA provided information on the other planned sessions:

TPMS at 10:
Tuesday, Nov. 2: TPMS Service and Maintenance – Tire dealers must adapt to numerous systems with unique service procedures. The lack of standardization is often the source of lost productivity and lower customer satisfaction. This session will cover key service principles for all types of TPMS and the importance of having quick access to part numbers and relearn procedures. As part of this presentation, there will also be a TPMS overview for every major domestic and import manufacturer.

Wednesday, Nov. 3: TPMS Scan Tool Panel – Without a properly formatted TPMS relearn or scan tool, a technician cannot determine why the TPMS indicator light remains illuminated after the relearn procedure has been completed. This panel will feature the top technical experts from each of the major TPMS relearn/scan tool manufacturers who will provide attendees with a quick glimpse of the functions that their respective tools can deliver and then participate in a question and answer session following the presentations.

Thursday, Nov. 3: Turning TPMS into a Profit Center – Discover how dealers can make TPMS a profit center instead of an expense. This discussion will cover the steps that companies can take from the sales counter all the way to the service bay to ensure that TPMS does not become a burden. By following the guidelines in this presentation, dealers are sure to increase their TPMS component sales and boost profits.

Tires at 2:
Tuesday, Nov. 2: Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets – With an all-new panel, this year’s presenters will focus on employee compensation, marketing, and customer retention, and will also provide some additional insight on a specific aspect of their business that is the key to their success.

Wednesday, Nov. 3: Strong Selling in a Weak Economy – Fixing the bottom line is often accomplished by focus on revenue at the top. Without any major economic turnarounds on the horizon, tire dealers need to improve their sales skills more than ever. The economic challenges currently facing the retail tire and auto service industry will be discussed, and essential success factors and proven sales and customer service strategies to succeed in today’s weak market will be given.

Thursday, Nov. 4: Establishing a Wheel Torque Program – There has been a lot more attention on wheel torque lately, with dealers recognizing the liability that is created when a tire/wheel assembly is incorrectly installed. In this session, attendees will receive a comprehensive look at each component of a wheel torque program. This session will also discuss the latest torque tool technology, in addition to the recalibration requirements for all types of torque control devices.

Management at 4:
Tuesday, Nov. 2: Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace – Are You at Risk? – Most small business owners don’t think they have an employee drug or alcohol problem. Studies show that 19% of on-the-job fatalities test positive for either drugs or alcohol, and that abusers are 3.6 times more likely to have on-the-job accidents and five times more likely to file workers compensation claims. This session will help attendees understand the steps needed to establish a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.

Wednesday, Nov. 3: Mastering Management – This session, led by ContactPoint, will help attendees understand how to communicate more effectively, engage in customer service, and put your business ahead of your competitors. Dealers will learn skills that will help them separate from the rest of the industry and increase their ability to close every sale.

Thursday, Nov. 4: Effective Marketing and Profitable Sales Growth in the Fleet/Commercial Tire Segment – For years, tire dealers have struggled to grow profitably in the fleet space. Thanks to new programs available through national partners, dealers now have the ability to grow fleet sales without issues of cash flow, bad debt and collection costs. Attendees will learn how they can tap into the lucrative fleet market at this informative session.

Interested Expo attendees can find out the latest session and speaker information, as well as hotel reservation and TIA special event information by visiting the "Events" section of www.tireindustry.org. The latest GTE information and updates are also available on the website.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has named Ryan Waldron as president of the company's Americas business unit, reporting to Chief Executive Officer and President Mark Stewart. He succeeds Steven R. McClellan, who retired on April 1.

"At Goodyear, our customers are at the center of everything we do, and in Ryan Waldron, we have a customer-centric, execution-focused business leader with a deep understanding of both the marketplace and all aspects of our business, as well as a proven track record of delivering results," Stewart said. "I am thrilled to announce him as president of Goodyear's Americas business and have enormous confidence that under his leadership, both the company and our customers will reach even greater levels of success."