Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Shane Schmidt
When the U.S. economy slid into recession in 2007, many businesses struggled to survive. As the unemployment rate grew to 9.5% by June 2009, California was among the hardest hit states in the country with a jobless rate more than 10%. It was during that time that Shane Schmidt, owner of Schmidty’s Garage in Huntington
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Jim Jones
Jim Jones may be owner of Toledo, Ohio-based JAM Best-One Fleet Service, but you won’t find that title on his business card. Jones is the head coach, or simply “Coach.” Although he has years of experience coaching wrestling, Coach got the idea for his title from former Tires Plus leader Tom Gegax’s book, “The Big
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Bill Simon
In 1966, an ad in the newspaper and a $1,500 loan helped a country boy from Oklahoma find work running an Esso service station in Baton Rouge, La. Fifty years later, 79-year-old Bill Simon, founder and president of Simple Simon Tires, has transformed that service station into two successful tire dealerships through hard work, trust
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Marc Yount
The year Marc Yount started Marc Yount’s Tire Pros in Evans, Ga., was a hectic one. Despite several hurdles that first year in business, becoming an independent tire dealer proved successful for Yount, 64, and something he is proud of today. “I’m proud to be an independent tire dealer because of our independence,” Yount says.
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: John Zisser
When protests turned to riots in Ferguson, Mo., in August 2014, John Zisser sat in his living room, local news on the television, and watched in dismay as looters shattered the windows of his tire dealership and carried out much of the inventory. “There wasn’t a darn thing I could do,” recalls Zisser, who founded
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Don Barnes III
Third-generation business leader Don Barnes III always knew he wanted to go into the family trade. Barnes, president of Allen Park, Mich.-based Belle Tire, saw his family’s passion for the business and was drawn in. “One thing that I really love was the passion and enthusiasm my grandfather had for the business and my dad
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: John Quirk
Third-generation tire dealer John Quirk has made several major changes to his family business since taking over as president and CEO. Under his care, Quirk Tire, a two-location full-service commercial dealer in Watertown, Mass., grew to become VIP Tires & Service, a retail dealership with 56 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 1975
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer : Dave Snyder
While waiting for truck tires, an eye-opening experience led Dave Snyder to build his own tire business in Wasilla, Alaska. “I followed my dream to move to Alaska to drive a truck, but saw close friends lose family from being on the road so much. I knew I wanted to open my own business, and
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Paul Sullivan
After 48 years in the tire business, there isn’t much that hasn’t been said about Paul Sullivan, vice president of Sullivan Tire & Auto Service. The strategies and methods behind his leadership of the company – which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year – have been chronicled in industry publications and local newspapers alike, making
Proud to Be a Tire Dealer: Mark Kauffman
Kauffman Tire’s CEO Mark Kauffman always knew he would continue his family’s legacy in the tire business. For generations the tire business has been in the Kauffman’s blood, and as a third-generation tire dealer, he continues his family’s legacy. The Kauffman family has built a tire empire since Harry and Eva Kauffman, Kauffman’s grandparents, opened