“I’m excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead,” said Dan Nothdurft, the Tire Industry Association’s new president, after receiving the virtual gavel from outgoing President Brian Rigney during TIA’s annual membership meeting, held on Oct. 27.
During the Zoom-enabled meeting, TIA welcomed the following members to its board of directors: Scott Weeden, vice president of sales at Barnwell House of Tires in Central Islip, N.Y.; Brad Feeney, director of commercial programs for Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based TBC Corp.; Brandy Sielaff, director of human resources and safety at Commercial Tire Inc. in Meridian, Idaho; Tim BeVier, national account business development manager at Technical Rubber Co. in Johnstown, Ohio; and Travis Glidden, regional sales manager at Garner, Iowa-based Stellar Industries Inc. They join 13 other directors who serve on the board.
TIA Treasurer Mike Wolfe also provided an update on the association’s financials, noting that “the 2020 fiscal year has been challenging, but our account balance remains strong and we are well-positioned to weather the pandemic.”
And TIA members also voted to adopt the following resolution:
“Whereas, 100 years ago, 500 dealers representing 14 new city associations went to Chicago with a dream to start a national association, to give tire retailers a vehicle to have a united voice to communicate to manufacturers, lawmakers, and the driving public, and;
"Whereas, they came from varied backgrounds, including blacksmiths, general store operators, livery stables, carriage shops, and dozens of less likely occupations, and;
"Whereas, great work was done by early association volunteers who were not afraid to give their time and expertise to take on leadership roles to build a national association tradition, and;
"Whereas, for 100 years dealers have recognized the needs and benefits of coming together; and;
"Whereas, through 100 years of history and numerous name changes, the Tire Industry Association continues the values established early that made and makes the association meaningful, relevant, and successful, and;
"Whereas, the Tire Industry Association’s training offerings are the best in the industry, and;
"Whereas, the Tire Industry Association’s education programs have trained and/or certified more than 180,000 industry technicians since 1997, and;
"Whereas, association members have embraced their programs to create a safer workplace for the technicians who services tires and wheels, and;
"Whereas, the Tire Industry Association has a rich history of political achievement, based on volunteer leadership and involvement, and;
"Whereas, the Association celebrates 100 years of representing its members, its suppliers, and the tire industry on the local, state, and federal public policy arena, and;
"Whereas, the Tire Industry Association is recognized and respected in the halls of government, and;
"Whereas, the association’s history and accomplishments are important for the small business community, for independent tire repairers, retreaders, and tire retailers, and for the global tire industry, and;
"Whereas, the many achievements, advances and successes of TIA are the result of the combined efforts of every individual who paid dues, who attended an association meeting, conference, or convention; who either developed or supported an association program; who wrote a letter, testified, made a telephone call or met with city, county, state or federal lawmakers to express member concerns or association support on proposals that would affect the industry; or who met with manufactures to protect independent tire dealers and retreaders; and to always articulate a common theme that we are an important partner in this great global industry that must be profit-driven on all levels, and;
"Whereas, a 100th anniversary is a major milestone for any national trade association,
"Now therefore be it resolved, by the Tire Industry Association assembled the 27th day of October 2020, in general assembly that the association build on the 100th-year history and continually strive to become a recognized, consistent, meaningful and trusted international retail voice and leader in the global tire industry."