Live at SEMA: TIA Sees Membership and GTE Growth - Tire Review Magazine

Live at SEMA: TIA Sees Membership and GTE Growth

TIA reported increases in membership, a strengthened financial base, and significant rises in GTE show attendance and exhibitors.

In the face of a struggling economy, it appears TIA and its Global Tire Expo are on a strong upswing as the association reported increases in membership, a strengthened financial base, and significant rises in show attendance and exhibitors.Incoming TIA president Larry Brandt

During yesterday’s annual general membership meeting, TIA officials reported that association membership rose 620 over the last 12 months, pushing membership above 6,000, a group that sports more than 15,000 individual points of sale in the U.S.

According to TIA sources, 2011 SEMA Show pre-registration reached 134,900 up considerably from 2010’s year-over-year mark of 117,500. Of the 2011 pre-registrants, 51,470 indicated they were interested in tires and tire-related products.

At show’s opening, there were 2,163 registered SEMA exhibitors, up more than 200 from 2010’s mark of 1,946, according to sources.

TIA treasurer Tom Formanek reported to members that the association ended its most recent fiscal year “in the black,” and that current cash reserves remained level with last year “despite the ups and downs of the stock market.” He said TIA’s financial condition is solid.

Much of TIA’s revenue continues to come from its already extensive training programs. Both outgoing president Mike Berra and incoming president Larry Brandt stressed the importance of TIA’s training efforts in their respective speeches yesterday during the general meeting and later at the Tire Industry Honors event.

Brandt spotlighted new initiatives for 2012, starting with the creation of TIA’s Learning Management System, which will take online its current Automotive Training Service, Commercial Training Service, Earthmover Training Service and TPMS training. That addition will occur in the first quarter of 2012, he said.

Spanish-language versions of the ATS and ETS training programs will also be launched next year, Brandt said, and by 2013 an all new farm tire training program will be launched.

Also in 2012, Brandt said, TIA will take its ATS training effort on the road, with a 28-city blitz.

On another front, Brandt said one of his goals in 2012 is to improve TIA’s relationship with the RMA, and to continue strengthening the bond between the tire group and SEMA.

During the annual meeting, held at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, outgoing president Berra passed the ceremonial gavel to Brandt, and welcomed seven new and returning board members, all elected to three-year terms.

Returning to the board are Gary Albright of Becker Tire & Treading Inc., Great Bend, Kan.; Robert Hendry of 31 Inc., Newcomerstown, Ohio; Brett Matschke of Richlonn’s Tire & Service Centers, Muskego, Wis.; and Steve Zimmerman of Tuffy Mfg. Industries Inc., Akron, Ohio.

Brand new three-year-term board members include John Derringer of Driven Products, Kent, Wash., and Robert Frick of Schrader International, Columbia, S.C.; and Lyssa da Costa of Hercules Tire International, Mississauga, Ont., will fill the two-year board vacancy left by the election of Randy Groh, USAutoForce, to treasurer.

Michelin North America honored three high school seniors with scholarships as part of the Michelin/TIA Scholarship program.

Winning a $2,500 renewable four-year scholarship was Vivian McBride of Gurnee, Ill., who plans to attend Vanderbilt University in the fall.

Winning a $1,250 renewable four-year scholarship were Taylor Allen of Granite City, Ill., and plans to attend the University of Missouri; Aaron Baldwin from Amarillo, Texas, who plans to attend Austin College.

Also during the general meeting, TIA members passed three resolutions, one in support of the U.S. government maintaining the long-standing use of “last in, first out” as the accepted means for inventory accounting; a second calling on Congress to tackle lawsuit abuse; and a third supporting HR2082, the “Returning Heroes Tax Credit.”

You May Also Like

Yokohama Rubber reveals 2024 motorsports activity plan

Yokohama said participation in motorsports activities is crucial to its efforts to strengthen the Advan and GeoLandar brands.

Yokohama-Nitrocross

Yokohama Rubber revealed its motorsports activity plan for 2024. The company said participation in motorsports activities is crucial to its efforts to strengthen the Advan and GeoLandar brands and is again participating in a wide variety of motorsports events around the globe, from top-category to grassroots events.

Yokohama Rubber will again supply its Advan tires to many teams participating in motorsports events, such as Japan’s Super GT, the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Yokohama Rubber’s GeoLandar tires will be supplied to teams participating in off-road races in North America and Asia, including the Baja 1000, King of the Hammers, the Mint 400 and the Asia Cross Country Rally.

TIA’s Advanced Farm Tire Service training to take place in June

The training class for technicians in the agricultural and farm tire industries is set to take place June 11-14.

TIA_training-
Maxxis-sponsored athletes make podium, overall top 10 at Mint 400

Maxxis athletes Michael McFayden, Ethan Ebert and Trey Gibbs had podium finishes at the Mint 400 on Maxxis RAZR XT tires.

2024-mint400-maxxis
Sun Auto Tire reveals winner of Ford Bronco Sport giveaway

Lowell Anderson entered the giveaway at his local Sun Auto Tire & Service store while receiving a routine oil change.

Sun-Auto-Bronco-giveaway
Nokian Tyres holds bracket challenge on worst roads in North America

In 2023, the tiremaker’s audience voted Quebec as the province or state with the worst road conditions on the continent.

Pothole-Protection-from-Nokian-Tyres

Other Posts

Gallery: 2024 Big O Tires conference and convention

Highlights from this year’s Big O Tires conference and convention, featuring a general session, trade show and breakout sessions.

Gary-Skidmore
Bridgestone’s Firestone Liberia rubber farm receives ISCC Plus recognition

According to Bridgestone, its Liberia facility earned the ISCC Plus certification for its efforts in reducing environmental impacts.

Firestone_Liberia
Ascenso Tires adds new OEM sales manager

Douglas Duesing has more than ten years of experience working in agriculture, construction and mining OEMs.

Ascenso-Douglas-Duesing-1400
Nexen Tire Motorsports drivers earn top placements at King of the Hammers

Nexen Tire Motorsports partnered with drivers across a variety of racing series both on- and off-road, including King of the Hammers.

Nexen-KOH