FAIRFIELD, Calif.—Commercial tire dealer and distributor East Bay Tire Co. has hired industry veteran C. Howard Christman as its business development manager, tasked with leading the firm's growth and expansion initiatives.
Mr. Christman brings with him 47 years of senior leadership experience, most recently as west zone director, commercial business, for Michelin North America Inc.'s Tire Centers L.L.C. (TCi) subsidiary.
He began his career in the industry changing tires for Goodyear in 1968, after graduating high school. Upon his completing his college education, Goodyear extended him a full-time position at its Casper, Wyo., facility, where he later was promoted to a commercial sales position.
Mr. Christman moved several times for Goodyear, taking on new roles with the company in Denver, Portland, Ore., and Stockton, Calif., where he met George Pehanick, East Bay Tire CEO, for the first time.
After a period of time spent managing Goodyear's western region truck centers, Mr. Christman was promoted to national marketing strategy for commercial tire and service centers. He eventually returned to the Bay Area to manage Goodyear's western commercial tire sales, including all its western commercial dealer operations. In 1999, Goodyear, Brad Ragan Inc, and Treadco Inc. joined together to form Wingfoot L.L.C., and Mr. Christman joined the start-up as vice president of the eastern U.S. commercial division.
He transferred to California to again lead Goodyear's western commercial dealer operation and truck centers before retiring from the company in 2006. Later that year, he joined TCi and retired this year at age 66 as west zone director of commercial business for the company.
“I've known Howard personally for over 30 years, and I am pleased to have someone of his caliber joining our team,” Mr. Pehanick said. “He is well respected in the industry—known for his honesty and integrity—and will be a true asset for [East Bay's] future growth and expansion.”
East Bay also recently opened a commercial tire service location in Stockton, its seventh in California and 10th overall. The company sees Stockton as a “natural step” between its locations in Sacramento and Fresno—180 miles apart along Interstate 5—that will allow the dealership to improve service to customers in the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Capital City, according to Jay Ress, general manager, Commercial Division.
He said East Bay “has been a leader in the tire service industry in northern California for over 15 years by maintaining the highest standards for our products and our services. These values will continue to be upheld at this new location ensuring our customers receive the best service and selection of tires in the Stockton area.”
The location is on the east side of Stockton with access to state routes 4 and 99, which lead to Interstate 5. It is staffed by veteran commercial service and sales professionals, offering a range of services that includes fleet service, 24-hour road service, on-site press service and tire foam filling, East Bay Tire said.
The dealership did not disclose its investment to open the outlet.
Fairfield-based East Bay opened its first commercial location in 2000, branching out from its traditional wholesale business strategy. The company's California locations serve customers throughout northern and central California. Its other locations are in Hawaii.
It's been two years since East Bay opened its last new commercial outlet, in San Jose. The dealership offers Alliance, Bridgestone, Michelin, Mitas, Trelleborg, etc. new tire brands, alongside its own Dawg Pound proprietary line.