ITE panel discussion participants named

Aug. 16, 2002

Twelve of North America's most successful independent tire dealers will participate in open-forum panel discussions at this year's International Tire Expo in Las Vegas, Nev.

Dealers speaking on Tues., Nov. 5, include Bob Dabrowski, Tire Warehouse Central Inc., Keene N.H.; Jerry White, White Tire Supply, Beaumont, Texas; Ron Lautzenheiser, College Tire Inc., Fort Collins, Colo.; Bob Purcell, Purcell Tire & Rubber Co., Potosi, Mo.; Paul Swentzel, S&S Firestone Inc., Lexington, Ky.; and Dave Komaromi, Tires To Go Inc., West Sacramento, Calif.

Dealers speaking the following day include John Kauffman, Kauffman Tire Service, College Park, Ga.; Paul Hyatt, Superior Tire, Toronto, Ontario; Terry Westhafer, Central Tire Corp., Verona, Va.; Chris Wyborny, Ramona Tire & Service Centers, Hemet, Calif.; Charles Creighton, Colony Tire Corp., Edenton, N.C.; and Phil Raben, Raben Tire Co. Inc., Evansville, Ind.

Participants will discuss boosting gross profit, increasing tire and service sales, reducing employee turnover, expansion strategies and other topics, according to Don Olson, who assembled the panels.

They also will field questions from audience members.

Panel discussions will take place each day at 2 p.m.