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    A new generation of leaders is influencing the livelihoods of today’s independent tire dealers, and Modern Tire Dealer is recognizing those who are On the Rise. Young men and women are at the forefront of the industry, and they’re helping to lead the way as our business continues to evolve at the lightning-speed pace typical of the 21st century. From product development and manufacturing all the way to the sales counter and service bays, young leaders are finding ways to propel our industry forward.

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    Honorees

    Heather-Barnes-web

    On the Rise: Heather Barnes

    Heather BarnesStrategic marketing manager for the automotive group | GreatAmerica Financial Services Corp. | Age: 27What was your first job in the industry?I entered the automotive...
    Linda-Bassitt-web

    On the Rise: Linda Bassitt

    Linda Bassitt President | Latin Expo Group LLC | Age: 30 What was your first job in the industry? My first job was the show director for the Latin American & Caribbean Tyre...
    Marisa-Blank-web

    On the Rise: Marisa Blank

    Marisa Blank Director of OE account management | Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC | Age: 38 What was your first job in the industry? I was a co-op for Dow Automotive in...
    Steve-Bourassa-web

    On the Rise: Steve Bourassa

    Steve Bourassa Director of products and pricing | Nokian Tyres Inc. | Age: 37 What was your first job in the industry? My first job was as a warehouse worker and delivery driver...
    Marshall-Bullard-web

    On the Rise: Marshall Bullard

    Marshall Bullard Wholesale and wheel specialist | BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, a division of Black’s Tire Service Inc. | Age: 36 What was your first job in the industry...
    Brandon-Burns-web

    On the Rise: Brandon Burns

    Brandon Burns Store manager | Firestone Complete Auto Care | Age: 28 What was your first job in the industry? I started as a part-time general service tech at NTB Tire & Service...
    Quick-Chadwick-web

    On the Rise: Quick Chadwick

    Quick Chadwick Director of marketing for Tire Pros | American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) | Age: 40 What was your first job in the industry? I was a regional marketing manager...
    Josh-Chalofsky-web

    On the Rise: Josh Chalofsky

    Josh Chalofsky Chief operating officer | Simple Tire LLC | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry was working in my uncle's retail store...
    Jeff-Cheek-web

    On the Rise: Jeff Cheek

    Jeff Cheek Owner and manager | Countryside Tire and Auto Service Inc. | Age: 37 What was your first job in the industry? My first and only job in the industry has been as a shop...
    Cameron-Chernikow-web

    On the Rise: Cameron Chernikow

    Cameron Chernikow National program manager for Tire Pros marketing and communications | American Tire Distributors Inc. | Age: 30 What was your first job in the industry? I started...
    Taryn-Chmielowicz-web

    On the Rise: Taryn Chmielowicz

    Taryn Chmielowicz Director of marketing | Myers Tire Supply Co. | Age: 38 What was your first job in the industry? This is it! What attracted you to the industry? The marketing...
    Carter-Clark-web

    On the Rise: Carter Clark

    Carter Clark Mobile tire tech | Clark Tire Center Inc. dba Clark Tire Pros | Age: 20 What was your first job in the industry? Working part-time for my grandfather and father installing...
    Joel-Clark-web

    On the Rise: Joel Clark

    Joel Clark Store manager | Clark Tire Co. Inc. | Age: 36 What was your first job in the industry? My first job was working at our warehouse when I was 7 years old. I would go ...
    Justin-Crosby-web

    On the Rise: Justin Crosby

    Justin Crosby Northwest product service manager | Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? My first title was national account sales specialist...
    Thomas-Eisenberg-web

    On the Rise: Tom Eisenberg

    Tom Eisenberg General Manager : West Coast Tire and Service | Age: 26 What was your first job in the industry? When I was really young I used to help my grandfather put stamps...
    Melissa-Fairman-web

    On the Rise: Melissa Fairman

    Melissa Fairman Senior manager human resources | Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels | Age: 35 What was your first job in the industry? I’ve worked in human resources...
    Brian-Finkelstein-web

    On the Rise: Brian Finkelstein

    Brian Finkelstein Vice president of sales | Max Finkelstein Inc. | Age: 28 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry was working in hot, sticky, distribution...
    Darryl-Fraley-web

    On the Rise: Darryl Fraley

    Darryl Fraley Service writer, technician, and sales and marketing representative | Golden Rule Auto Care and Autotext.Me | Age: 21 What was your first job in the industry? Service...
    Colin-Gallagher-web

    On the Rise: Colin Gallagher

    Colin Gallagher Regional sales director | American Tire Distributors Inc. | Age: 34 What was your first job in the industry? I joined ATD in 2007 as a strategic planning analyst...
    Christian-Garcia-web

    On the Rise: Christian Garcia

    Christian Garcia Manager | Freedom Tire Distributing Inc. | Age: 29 What was your first job in the industry? Unloading containers for my dad. What attracted you to the industry...
    Chris-Gaudioso-web

    On the Rise: Chris Gaudioso

    Chris Gaudioso Owner and technician | Driven Automotive Service | Age: 39 What was your first job in the industry? General service technician who changed tires and oil. What...
    Matt-Glauber-web

    On the Rise: Matt Glauber

    Matt Glauber President and chief operating officer | Meridian Rack & Pinion Inc., dba Buyautoparts.com | Age: 35 What was your first job in the industry? Product analyst for...
    Nick-Gutierrez-web

    On the Rise: Nick Gutierrez

    Nick Gutierrez Western region sales manager | Sentury Tire Americas | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? The summer after high school I went straight into the...
    Erin-Halicki-web

    On the Rise: Erin Halicki

    Erin Halicki Southeast regional account manager | GreatAmerica Financial Services Corp. | Age: 27 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in this industry is the...
    Brian-Harris-web

    On the Rise: Brian Harris

    Brian Harris Location manager | McCarthy Tire Service Inc. | Age: 37 What was your first job in the industry? My first cooperative education job in high school was at Transcontinental...
    Justin-Hayes-web

    On the Rise: Justin Hayes

    Justin Hayes Consumer tire product manager | Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? My first job at Bridgestone was doing ...
    Jacquie-Hower-web

    On the Rise: Jacquie Hower

    Jacquie Hower Director of operations | Zimmerman's Automotive Service Inc. | Age: 30 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry was as a quick ...
    Matthew-King-web

    On the Rise: Matthew King

    Matthew King Operations manager | RNR Tire Express and Custom Wheel | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? Wheel and tire technician. What attracted you to the industry...
    DareRick-Krufchinski-web

    On the Rise: DareRick Krufchinski

    DareRick Krufchinski New York regional sales manager | McCarthy Tire Service Inc. | Age: 31 What was your first job in the industry? I started in the tire industry as a retail...
    Nicholas-Larose-web

    On the Rise: Nicholas Larose

    Nicholas Larose Supply chain planning director | Nokian Tyres Inc. | Age: 37 What was your first job in the industry? I started in the industry with a warehouse position....
    Zeb-Lee-web

    On the Rise: Zeb Lee

    Zeb Lee Store manager | Purcell Tire and Rubber Co. dba Purcell Tire and Service Centers | Age: 37 What was your first job in the industry? Department manager for Wal-Mart Tire...
    Nick-Lenhart-web

    On the Rise: Nick Lenhart

    Nick Lenhart Owner and partner | Lenhart's Service Center Tire Pros LLC | Age: 32 What was your first job in the industry? My first job I was basically a janitor. I would...
    Christy-Lewis-web

    On the Rise: Christy Lewis

    Christy Lewis Outside account manager | American Tire Distributors Inc. | Age: 30 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the tire industry was as a retail merchandisin...
    Christine-Linder-web

    On the Rise: Christine Linder

    Christine Linder Manufacturing Services Manager for Tire Assembly | Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. | Age: 34 What was your first job in the industry? I started out as a cooperative...
    Roy-Littlefield-IV-web

    On the Rise: Roy Littlefield IV

    Roy Littlefield IV Director of government affairs | Tire Industry Association | Age: 25 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry was an intern for...
    Kyle-Melvin-web

    On the Rise: Kyle Melvin

    Kyle Melvin Store manager | Palumbo's Car Care Center Inc. | Age: 27 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry, I thought I was a professional...
    Luis-Navarro-web

    On the Rise: Luis Navarro

    Luis Navarro Vice president of operations and sales for Central Mexico | TERSA Corp. | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? I started in the retread plant. Since...
    Stephen-Panzera-web

    On the Rise: Stephen Panzera

    Stephen Panzera Commercial sales representative | Service Tire Truck Centers Inc. | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? I worked the final inspection post in our ...
    Carlos-Ramirez-web

    On the Rise: Carlos Ramirez

    Carlos Ramirez Manager | C & G Auto Center Inc. | Age: 29 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry was as an apprentice. I did it all from...
    JILL-RICHTER-web

    On the Rise: Jill Richter

    Jill Richter Auto dealer account manager | RHD Tire | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry is my current position at RHD Tire. I love ...
    Kyle-Roberts-web

    On the Rise: Kyle Roberts

    Kyle Roberts Director of marketing | Nexen Tire America Inc. | Age: 40 What was your first job in the industry? My current role as director of marketing for Nexen Tire America...
    Michael-Rose-web

    On the Rise: Michael Rose

    Michael Rose Product manager | Bartec USA LLC | Age: 36 What was your first job in the industry? I started at Bartec USA in 2007 as a shop associate. I was able to quickly learn...
    Jason-Roth-web

    On the Rise: Jason Roth

    Jason Roth Sales account specialist | Myers Tire Supply Co.| Age: 35 What was your first job in the industry? I began my career in a hybrid role of product-focused route sales...
    Aaron-Sweitz-web

    On the Rise: Aaron Sweitz

    Aaron Sweitz Auto technician | Autco Inc. dba Autco Tire Pros | Age: 29 What was your first job in the industry? Oil changer and tire tech. What attracted you to the industry?...
    William-Taulbee-web

    On the Rise: William Taulbee

    William Taulbee Owner and head technician |  Brogan & Folz dba Brogan & Folz Firestone | Age: 38 What was your first job in the industry? I started out changing tires...
    Aaron-Telle-web

    On the Rise: Aaron Telle

    Aaron Telle CEO and president | Telle Tire & Auto Service Inc. | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? I started in the business at 15 years old working on summer...
    Geoff-Tolley-web

    On the Rise: Geoffrey Tolley

    Geoffrey Tolley Senior category manager | Advance Auto Parts Inc. | Age: 39 What was your first job in the industry? Inventory analyst. What attracted you to the industry? Consistent...
    Dan-Trzeciak-web

    On the Rise: Dan Trzeciak

    Dan Trzeciak Marketing and information technology manager | Levin Tire Center Inc. dba Levin Tire & Service Center | Age: 30 What was your first job in the industry? My role...
    Ray-Turner-web

    On the Rise: Raymond Turner Jr.

    Raymond Turner Jr. Distribution Center Manager | Advantage One Tire Network | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? Technically I started at 13 pulling weeds, ...
    Brian-Wheeler-web

    On the Rise: Brian Wheeler

    Brian Wheeler Corporate marketing and communications manager | Dayco Products LLC | Age: 33 What was your first job in the industry? Marketing manager for the North American...
    Jennifer-Wiens-web

    On the Rise: Jennifer Wiens

    Jennifer Wiens Brand manager and safety coordinator | Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Service Centers | Age: 31 What was your first job in the industry? I came in to Ted Wiens Tier ...
    Matt-Wilson-web

    On the Rise: Matt Wilson

    Matt Wilson Sales manager and shop technician | Wilson’s Direct Inc. dba Wilson’s Direct Motors & Tires | Age: 31 What was your first job in the industry?...
    Josh-Wright-web

    On the Rise: Josh Wright

    Josh Wright Owner and operator | The Tire Shop | Age: 31 What was your first job in the industry? Sweeping floors and cleaning tire equipment at Hinson’s Tire Pros in Morro...
    Brian-Wright-web

    On the Rise: Brian Wright

    Brian Wright General Manager | Tire Network Group | Age: 27 What was your first job in the industry? My first job in the industry was with Kumho as marketing event coordinator...