Educational conferences highlight NATRE

AKRON (Jan. 27, 2017) — The organizers of the North American Tire & Retread Expo (NATRE) have doubled the number of educational presentations at its 2017 conference, with tracks for commercial tire dealers/retreaders and retail tire dealers/auto service professionals.

The third annual conference and trade show takes place April 19-21, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. 

It is targeted at independent retail and commercial tire dealers, retreaders, auto service professionals, suppliers and others allied to the industry.

New this year are several presentations tailored to auto service professionals. Tire Business is sponsoring the educational conferences, while Latin Expo Group L.L.C. is responsible for the trade show.

Speakers and topics for the Commercial/Retread track include:

• Clif Armstrong, CEO, TP Industrial NAFTA; president, TP Commercial Solutions L.L.C., a division of Pirelli Industrial Tire — "Competitive Factors in the North American Commercial Tire Industry;"

• Peggy Fisher, president, TireStamp Inc. — "Telematics in the Commercial Tire Industry;"

• Paul Dvorak, CEO, America Industrial Tire Corp. — "Profiting from Solid Industrial, Skid Steer and Telehandler Tires;" and

• Hugo Sandberg, senior sales manager, molded products and business development, Hexpol A.B. — "Envelope Management—Making Your Investment Last."

In addition, David Stevens, managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau will again moderate a panel of retreaders, a casings dealer and a tire repair specialist.

The Passenger/Light Truck Program includes:

• Bob Bittner, director of store operations, Tire Pros — "Measure Twice, Cut Once";

• Art Blumenthal, principal, Art Blumenthal L.L.C. — "What Can I Do Now to Ensure the Highest Value of My Business Whenever I Want to Sell It?"

• Jody DeVere, CEO, Ask Patty.com. — "Insights into Marketing and Advertising to Women;"

• Pam Oakes, principal, Car Care for the Clueless/DIY Motor City — "Tech vs. Service Writer: Making Money & Keeping Peace in the Bays";

• Mike Hudgins, director of sales Mighty Auto Parts — "12 Ways to Grow Service Profits in 2017."

Industry suppliers will offer workshops on the trade show floor.

The conference program is scheduled for 9 a.m.-11 a.m. each day of the three-day conference, followed by the expo, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 19-20 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 21.

More than 100 exhibitors are expected for this year's expo.

For more information and to register, go to www.usatireexpo.com.

For exhibitor and sponsorship information, contact Christine Zernick, sales director, Tire Business, at [email protected] or 330-865-6108.