Next month will mark the 10th anniversary of the merger that created the Tire Industry Association (TIA). To say the world has changed a lot in the past decade is a huge understatement, so why should the association be any different?
Like many organizations in many sectors, we’ve been forced to consolidate locations and eliminate some staff positions. At the same time, TIA has expanded in other areas by providing additional resources for benefits that matter most to our members and to the industry itself. Despite all of the economic challenges in the past few years, TIA is still positioned for major growth.
Past presidents, and especially current TIA President Mike Berra, rightfully deserve a lot of credit for our current positive position. Like his predecessors, Mike worked closely with our Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield and his senior staff during our restructuring to make sure we could continue to provide the level of service and value that our members expect.
I also want to recognize the current and past TIA board members for their input and support each time we’ve redirected efforts and resources. The goal has always been to create a more financially sound organization without sacrificing TIA’s position in the industry. With confidence, I can state that the changes we’ve made in the past will make us stronger on every front in the future as we refocus on the strengths of the association.
When I assume the role of president next month, my first goal will be to continue to develop the relationships between TIA, the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the tire manufacturers themselves. For the past few years, we’ve held annual meetings with the major tire companies to explore ways that we can work together. These meetings have been instrumental in forging better lines of communication, and we’ve discovered that on most issues there is collective agreement – so the industry can speak with one voice.
That being said, on behalf of the entire board of directors, I can say that TIA will never become a mouthpiece for the manufacturers. The majority of our members are still independent tire dealers, which the tire companies fully recognize. If the day ever comes that we are forced to take a different position than RMA or the tire manufacturers, it won’t be a surprise because we’ve discussed that possibility at every meeting for years. We’ll just agree to disagree and then move on to the areas where there is mutual understanding and acceptance. I’ve only been attending the meetings for the past couple of years, but I can personally attest to the genuine respect that the industry has for TIA.
Global Tire Expo
Another strong point for the association is definitely our annual convention in Las Vegas. When SEMA first proposed the new Global Tire Expo (GTE) – Powered by TIA, I would probably have counted myself as a skeptic. I’ve seen a few different names since I began my tenure on the board, but it always looked the same on the trade show floor.
Like most tire industry professionals at last year’s event, I was extremely happy with the new layout and found it much easier to find the companies I was looking for. Mike and Roy have worked closely with SEMA to ensure our section of the show maintains a professional environment for conducting business and the TIA brand is properly represented. I intend to continue those efforts so the Global Tire Expo will definitely be powered by TIA.
However, we didn’t stop at the trade show floor. TIA has added more educational content with the introduction of the new Green@Noon track of environmental sessions. Seminars such as these will feature best practices for the proper handling and recycling of all types of hazardous materials. Leading industry experts from the top tire manufacturers and retailers will discuss the steps that the industry can take to embrace the green movement and reduce its carbon footprint.
When combined with the TPMS@10, Truck Tires@10, Tires@2 and Management@4 seminars, the opportunities for education at SEMA and GTE have never been better.
OTR Conference
One of the best parts about becoming TIA president is the chance to learn a new aspect of the business. I’ve been in the retail industry for my entire 33-year career, so I didn’t have much experience with giant earthmover tires prior to my involvement as a TIA board member. After attending TIA’s OTR Conference last year, I was amazed at the level of commitment that the industry has for this first-class event. All of the major companies were well represented and I was impressed to see the open exchange of ideas and information in such an extraordinary setting. People put their competitive differences aside for the betterment of the entire industry. According to the latest figures, 2012 conference registrations and hotel reservations are considerably ahead of pace. I’m not surprised: If I were in the OTR business, I would be there every year.
Government Relations
In the area of government relations, Roy Littlefield has been the leading advocate for the tire industry in Washington since 1979. He brings decades of contacts and experience that will be more important than ever as we face more and more proposed legislative changes.
At the federal level, issues like the consumer education program, an increase in the motor fuel tax or the elimination of federal excise tax on truck tires will have a direct impact on the tire industry.
We also are constantly fighting different state legislatures that introduce laws requiring automotive service providers to check and inflate tires or place expiration dates on new tires.
Strong voices in Washington or the state capitols have never been more important to the future of our industry. TIA is incredibly fortunate to have the knowledge and experience that Roy brings so we can protect our members and the industry from unnecessary laws and regulations.
Member Education
Training has long been a major strength of TIA, and we’ll have more resources to develop and deliver the best technician training and certification programs in the industry.
Leading the charge is TIA Senior Vice President of Training Kevin Rohlwing, who has assembled a dedicated team of instructors and support staff. Kevin has 29 years of experience in the tire industry and a passion for TIA training that is contagious, major reasons why our training programs are so successful.
Over the past four years, the TIA Foundation has approved $450,000 in funding to produce training programs for all tire technicians. As a result, the Automotive Tire Service (ATS), Commercial Tire Service (CTS) and Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) Programs have become the gold standards for technician training.
But if the industry really wants to understand our commitment to technician training, consider the fact that the foundation approved another $300,000 to develop new programs for Farm Tire Service (FTS) and Industrial Tire Service (ITS).
Once those programs are completed, the foundation will have invested over $1 million in training programs.
As exciting as this is, the association has committed another $150,000 to create an online university (to be launched in 2012) where everyone can have immediate access to TIA’s basic training programs on the Internet. If that isn’t commitment to being the leader in technician education, then I don’t know what is.
Like those who have served as TIA president before me, my primary motivation is to give something back to an industry that has given me so much in the past. Without organizations like TIA, independent tire dealers could not survive. With growing competition from car dealers and chains and the rest creating a saturated market and shrinking margins, service providers need an edge.
That’s why TIA membership has become more important than ever. Supporting the association guarantees that the industry will have a strong independent voice – in Washington, in state capitols, and with manufacturers. It also ensures we can provide our employees with cutting-edge training that improves productivity and safety while reducing liability.
If you are currently a TIA member, I’d like to personally say thank you. Your support is critical, and we’re glad you see the value in TIA membership. If you are not a TIA member, I hope you will give us a chance to show you how membership can help your bottom line.
If you’ve let your membership lapse, I ask you to reconsider. Call us at 800-876-8372 or e-mail [email protected], and let us show you why your membership will pay for itself many times over.
TIA gives the industry an opportunity to speak with one voice on a number of different fronts. Whether it’s potentially damaging legislation or new technology that changes the way our members sell and service tires, TIA is fully prepared to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
My job will be to ensure that all of the great momentum we’ve built up over the past decade keeps us moving forward as we approach the next 10 years. I’m excited about our potential for growth as an association and honored to serve as your president in the coming year.
CAP: Incoming TIA President Larry Brandt
