ORLANDO, Fla. — The Tire Industry Association (TIA) board elected Bridgestone Americas Inc. executive Debra Hamlin secretary during its summer board meeting June 24 in Orlando.
Her election places her in line to become the association's president for the 2024-25 term. Hamlin will begin her year as secretary in November and will move through the various officer positions until she becomes TIA president.
She is director of environment, health, safety and sustainability – commercial tire division at Bridgestone and has served as a TIA board member for the past four years. She chairs TIA's Environmental Advisory Council and serves on the Training & Education and Strategic Planning committees and the newly formed Electric Vehicle Advisory Council.
A 25-year employee of Bridgestone, Hamlin began her career with the company in 1997 as an environmental project manager in the retail division. She was named environmental compliance manager for the division in 2005 and became the division's environmental manager in 2015. She was appointed to her current position in 2018.
Hamlin said she is most proud of working with a cross functional team to develop Bridgestone's Tires4Ward program, which was launched in 2012 and founded on the vision of achieving a waste-free tire industry. The program's goal is to ensure that for every tire Bridgestone sold in the U.S., one spent tire – or any tire that has been taken out of use – goes on to another purpose.
"TIA is thrilled with the election of Debra Hamlin as secretary of the association," TIA CEO Richard "Dick" Gust said. "She is a talented executive who has a keen understanding of TIA's training programs, benefit offerings and opportunities from her experience as a board member.
"She brings a wealth of knowledge to the leadership team, especially in the environmental, sustainability and safety areas. I look forward to working with her as we strive to meet the needs of our current and prospective members."
