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."