David Martin calls Tire Industry Association tenure 'successful'

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — It's been a full year at the Tire Industry Association, and also a successful one, according to outgoing TIA President David Martin.

"We've had a very successful year in all areas — membership, training and government affairs," Mr. Martin, vendor relations director at Huntersville-based American Tire Distributors Holdings Inc. (ATD), said.

In membership alone, TIA has attracted more than 4,000 new members, bringing the association's membership to a record total of more than 13,000, he said.

"It's really exciting to see this growth," Mr. Martin said. The burgeoning membership numbers tie in to TIA's success in training and government affairs.

"TIA's training program is the gold standard for this industry, and it shows the ability of TIA to connect with its members — a true grassroots effort," he said. "We're out in the field with the guys changing tires, and making their jobs safer for them."

In training, TIA was able to complete a five-year plan during Mr. Martin's tenure as chairman of the Training and Education Committee.

Mr. Martin said he also is pleased with the actions of Dan Nothdurft, the new chairman of the Training and Education Committee. Mr. Nothdurft, president of South Dakota-based Tires, Tires, Tires, recently was elected TIA secretary, which puts him in line for the TIA presidency in 2020-21.

"It's fortunate to have someone with knowledge and real-world experience to head the committee," Mr. Martin said. "He has the same passion for this that I do.

"Dan took the reins at the mid-year board meeting, and it was exciting to see the passion in that room."

Thanks to Mr. Nothdurft, TIA already has the foundation for another five-year training plan, he said.

Member services are another reason why TIA is attracting new members, according to Mr. Martin. The association is proud of the health- and liability-insurance programs it offers, he said.

"Insurance is a huge challenge, and we've worked very hard at it," he said. "Very soon we'll make an announcement on a new approach to health care insurance. That issue is very important to our dealers."

In government affairs, Mr. Martin was particularly happy with TIA and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association coming together on the issue of tire registration, which Mr. Martin and incoming TIA President John Evankovich announced at the Clemson University Tire Industry Conference earlier this year.

Jay Spears, director of standards and regulation for Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., joined Messrs. Martin and Evankovich on stage at that conference to make the announcement.

"It took a couple of years to get to the point for us to step on stage together at Clemson," Mr. Martin said. "Tire registration has been in the public eye for about 50 years now, and it turns out we're more aligned with the USTMA on this issue than we realized."

Mr. Martin praised Mr. Evankovich, with whom he has worked on TIA projects for years, and also TIA Past President Tom Formanek, who he said went out of his way to help him during his tenure as president.

"I understand how I need to support John, and I thank Tom for his support," he said. "I want to keep supporting John in the way that Tom has supported me. I'll be there for John as past president, and I'll be there for TIA even after I'm off being past president."

Mr. Martin declined to discuss ATD's recent filing for Chapter 11 reorganization.

"The situation is so fluid that I really can't address that," he said. "We will be around, doing business as usual, but beyond that, I'm not prepared to discuss it."

Mr. Martin said he was grateful for the opportunity as TIA president to travel around the country and visit the different state associations.

"It was an incredible honor," he said. "I was happy to try to give back to an industry that has been so good to me."

Now that his tenure is ending, Mr. Martin said he was looking forward to playing more golf and spending more time with his family.

"I enjoy my family's company," he said. "And sometimes they enjoy mine."