National tire associations join forces The nation’s two largest tire industry
associations have merged, a move Michigan tire retailers say will benefit
all segments of the industry. The Tire Association of North America (TANA)
and the International Tire and Rubber Association (ITRA) officially joined
forces July 1, after the merger was approved by the boards of the associations
last October and passed by membership vote in December. The combined organization is called the Tire
Industry Association. “It’s one of those things that
has been long overdue,” said Jim Faught, owner of Northwest Tire
& Service in Flint. “I’m just sorry it took so long.”
Efforts to merge the two groups have been
underway for several years. As president of the National Tire Dealers
and Retreaders Association (which changed its name to TANA) in 1996-97,
Faught helped initiate dialogue between the two organizations. The idea
eventually won the strong support of both associations and their members. The new Tire Industry Association, which
has more than 4,000 members, represents all segments of the tire industry,
including retail dealers, retreaders, repairers, manufacturers, wholesalers,
distributors, equipment suppliers and recyclers. Ross Kogel, Jr. serves
as executive vice president. Offices are located in Reston, Virginia,
and Louisville, Kentucky. Kogel is the son of Ross Kogel, president of
Tire Wholesalers Inc., Troy. The unified organization will continue major
services such as the International Tire Expo and World Tire Expo, training
programs, industry publications and public advocacy efforts. Faught said the merger will benefit the associations
and members by creating economies of scale in providing services such
as conferences, education and insurance. Businesses involved in various
segments of the market will no longer need to belong to two separate groups. The new association will also present a united
lobbying front for the tire industry, strengthening its presence at the
federal and state levels, according to Larry Mullins, owner of Brandon
Tire & Battery in Ortonville. Mullins, a board member of the Tire Industry
Association and MRA, said he’s excited about the merger and believes
it will enable the association to better serve members. “It gives us a united organization - a much stronger association than we’ve had in the past,” he said. “Instead of two pulling in different directions, we’re pulling together.” |