Purcell Tire adds Schwent, Blackburn to roster

Oct. 17, 2008

Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. has named John Schwent vice president of operations and Mike Blackburn vice president of consumer products.

Schwent will be responsible for "optimizing our internal administrative support infrastructure," according to Purcell Tire officials. He will oversee the dealership's corporate finance, human resources, information technology, purchasing, internal auditing and property departments.

He most recently finished a 23-year stint with the United States Marine Corps. He will be based at Purcell's headquarters in Potosi, Mo.

Blackburn -- who will work out of Purcell Tire's Phoenix, Ariz., office -- will develop long-term growth strategies "and create an implementation strategy to achieve sustained growth and profitability."

Blackburn comes to Purcell Tire from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., were he spent 28 years in a variety of positions, most recently general manager for the company's retail business.