 TIA special events all take place Monday, October 29, at the TIA host hotel—the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. |
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The room rate is $175 per night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and rooms are going fast, so reserve your stay immediately online or by calling 800-221-3531.
TIA special events all take place Monday, October 29, at the TIA host hotel—the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas—and include TIA’s annual meeting, from 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m., which is open to all TIA members. Later that afternoon, the Wine & Cheese Social starts at 5:00 p.m. and is immediately followed by the Tire Industry Honors at 6:00 p.m. And, you can end the evening directly after the awards ceremony by taking in the Las Vegas skyline at TIA’s Welcome Reception, which takes place at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ Bamboo Pool. This final event of the evening is from 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 and includes a buffet, full open bar and band. Sign up online or download the paper registration for the TIA pre-GTE events, which take place Monday, October 29.
TIA also has announced the addition of a new seminar. Led by Kevin Rohlwing, TIA’s senior vice president of training, this new session will be the Commercial Tire Forum and takes place Tuesday, October 30, from 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. in the South Hall of Las Vegas Convention Center. All commercial tire attendees are invited to attend and encouraged to provide feedback regarding areas where TIA can better serve the truck tire and wheel servicing industry. The forum will consist of a brief presentation on future training plans for commercial tire dealers, followed by an open Q&A session with association officials. Participating on behalf of TIA are Senior Vice President of Training Kevin Rohlwing and Commercial Tire Service Committee Chairman Tom Formanek, regional sales manager, Stellar Industries.
The SEMA Show and Global Tire Expo begin Tuesday, October 30, and go through Friday, November 2, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information on the SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. For the latest Expo information and updates, visit the “Events” section of www.tireindustry.org.
Below are updated SEMA Show Educational Sessions for the 2012 Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA:
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
TPMS at 10
TPMS Best Practices: A Town Hall Meeting
Moderator: Sean MacKinnon, director of automotive training development
, TIA
Speakers: 31 Inc., ATEQ, Bartec, Continental, Dill, Pacific, Schrader, Tiremetrix and TRW
With more and more vehicles entering service locations requiring tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) service, the need has never been greater for the industry to speak in one voice as to how to handle these types of services. The panel includes industry experts from all aspects of TPMS service, including representatives from 31 Inc., ATEQ, Bartec, Continental, Dill, Pacific, Schrader, Tiremetrix and TRW. In this seminar, attendees will learn the entire service process and the industry-recommended best practices to help standardize how these vehicles are approached. By implementing a standard operating procedure for TPMS, a service center can ensure all technicians and service writers are all on the same page, and this can help turn TPMS service into the profit center it should be. Attendees will also hear from some of the manufacturers about where this technology is heading and what to expect in the next few years for the future of TPMS.
Truck Tires at 10
CSA Report Card
: Making Customer Service Part of Your Brand
Moderator: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA
Now that the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Program is entering its second full year, TIA has a much better idea of how it is affecting the trucking industry. This seminar will briefly explain how CSA works and then focus on how it is changing the way that the tires and wheels on trucks, tractors and trailers are serviced and maintained.
Commercial Tire Forum (newly added program)
Moderator: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA
Speaker: Tom Formanek, Commercial Tire Service Committee chairman, TIA, and regional sales manager, Stellar Industries
TIA adds the Commercial Tire Forum to the GTE schedule providing truck tire dealers, retreaders and suppliers the opportunity to meet with association officials. TIA will make a brief presentation on the current and future training programs for commercial tire dealers. Following the presentation, TIA officials will participate in a Q&A session with the audience.
Tires at 2
Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets
Moderator: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA
Each year, the trade press recognizes the nation’s top tire dealers with awards that reflect their contributions to the industry. Tire Business recognizes the generous humanitarians in the tire dealer community while Tire Review gives out a “Top Shop” award to the retailer that best exemplifies the “above and beyond” approach. The winners of these awards will each make a brief presentation about why humanitarian causes have led to their success and how meeting the criteria for the “Top Shop” helps make their company successful. Following the presentations, they will participate in an open Q&A period with the audience to share their thoughts on everything from employee retention to the use of social media.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
TPMS at 10
TPMS Troubleshooting
Moderator: Sean MacKinnon, director of automotive training development, TIA
Speaker: Matt White, director of tire service, TIA
Like any form of technology, there are always issues to overcome and prepare for. TIA's Matt White and Sean MacKinnon will help prepare attendees for some of those issues that make techs scratch their heads across the country. Attendees will learn some common issues and basic troubleshooting tips that turn a problem into a profit.
Truck Tires at 10
The Facts on Wide Singles
Moderator: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA
Speakers: Dennis Hodges of Michelin North America and Dave Walters of Alcoa Wheels
The new generation of wide single tires that replaces traditional duals will not be a passing fad like bias-ply tubeless tires. Besides the reduced weight, fleets are also seeing fuel economy gains that are almost impossible to ignore. This seminar will outline the advantages of wide single tires and then demonstrate how the shift to this new technology will have a significant impact on the tire service and retreading industries.
Tires at 2
Profits Seminar—How to Keep Your Tire Business From Going Flat in the Next 10 Years
Moderator: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA
Speaker: John Bishop, Automotive Training Institute
John Bishop, ATI’s tire specialist, shares Chubby’s proven secrets to increase profits on tires and related services, even in this highly competitive market.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Tires at 2
Making Customer Service Part of Your Brand
Speaker: Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, TIA
Branding is one of the most popular buzzwords in the marketing community and has become so important that companies are now paying to have their products used in movies and television productions. In fact, branding plays a role in every business, so the image that a brand reflects often determines long-term success or short-term failure. The feelings that a brand creates in the minds of customers also have a direct connection to whether or not they will return or recommend a company to a friend. In competitive industries, such as tire retailing, where the main product is practically a commodity, success often depends on the level of customer service. This workshop will explain how a brand lives and breathes so retailers can make exemplary customer service part of their culture.