LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2014) — Michael Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman and Maryland lieutenant governor, will be the keynote speaker at the Tire Industry Honors Award Ceremony Nov. 3 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
He replaces former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who originally was scheduled to keynote the ceremony but withdrew, according to the Tire Industry Association (TIA), organizer of the event.
Mr. Steele will address attendees of the ceremony at 6 p.m., prior to the start of TIA's Tire Industry Honors award ceremony, one of the pre-conference events for the Global Tire Expo sponsored by TIA.
Mr. Steele was the first African-American elected to statewide office in Maryland, becoming the state's lieutenant governor in 2003, according to TIA. He also was the first African-American to chair the RNC, from 2009-11.