Longtime industry veteran and Tire Industry Association lobbyist Roy Littlefield will replace Ross Kogel as executive vice president of TIA, effective Feb. 14.
Mr. Kogel announced in December that he accepted a position at Tire Wholesalers Inc. in Troy, Mich.-which is owned by his father, Ross Kogel Sr.-and would resign Feb. 1, when his contract expires.
Mr. Littlefield began his career in the tire industry in 1979 as director of government affairs at the former National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NTDRA). In 1984, he joined the American Retreaders Association, the predecessor of the International Tire & Rubber Association, holding the part-time position of director of government affairs. That year he also became executive director of the Washington/Maryland Service Station and Automotive Repair Association. In 1994, he became executive vice president of the Service Station Dealers of America and Allied Trades. He will resign from those posts Feb. 14.
Working as a lobbyist for TIA since its merger last summer, Mr. Littlefield said the new post is ``just the greatest opportunity of my lifetime. I'm really looking forward to it.''
The experience he gained at the other associations and during his tenure in Washington, D.C., will give him an edge in TIA's greatest challenges, including the TREAD Act and other federal legislation as well as association concerns such as growing membership and training, he said.
TIA President Tom Raben said Mr. Littlefield emerged as the best candidate from a field of more than 70 applicants, noting his experience in government and association work distinguished him. ``He's so grounded in what's going on, and he is a solid individual, a real classy guy.''