Ray Evans, former executive vice president with Titan International, Inc., an off-the-road and farm tire company, will serve as conference chairman, and Hank Inman, a retired corporate public relations executive with the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will serve as vice chairman for the aftermarket/distribution part of the newly expanded International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC).
ITEC will take place Sept. 21-23, 2010, at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
Evans and Inman will team with Harold Herzlich, manufacturing conference chairman, who has an extensive background in the technology side of the tire manufacturing business and has developed the technical curriculum since ITEC’s inception in 1994.
“The new program will include independent retail and commercial tire dealers and other businesses involved in the wholesale, commercial, off-the-road, farm, retreading and recycling segments of the industry,” says Bob Simmons, ITEC executive director and founder and a Crain vice president and group publisher.
“Now in 2010, ITEC will bring our collective industry of tire professionals, from technology and manufacturing to dealers and distribution channels, together in a serious, working tire show environment that will educate and motivate all participants with a content-rich conference program, world-class exhibit and networking opportunities,” Simmons adds.
Evans has more than 44 years experience in the tire industry, half of which was with BFGoodrich in key technical, marketing, and sales positions followed by 10 years with General Tire.
“Today’s tire dealer is facing challenges and turbulences in the marketplace not seen for decades,” says Evans. “It is more important than ever for the manufacturers, distributors, retailers and commercial dealers to work together to provide the professional service that the consumer and commercial fleets have grown to expect. The need for a focused forum such as ITEC 2010 to discuss these issues is paramount.”
Inman, in addition to his tenure at Goodyear, is a former newspaper reporter and recently authored the book “Rubber Mirror” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society.
“The real experts of the industry are the dealers and the network of sales people and technicians who are daily confronted by the issues that impact the business,” states Inman.
For more information, visit www.itec-tireshow.com.
