Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • BEST PLACES TO WORK
  • News
    • HUMANITARIAN
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
    • MID YEAR REPORT
    • SERVICE ZONE
  • ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Resources
    • Events
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
March 30, 2020 12:49 PM

Industry veteran Steve Hutchinson founds marketing, sales agency

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Steve Hutchinson

    HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Tire industry veteran Steve Hutchinson has founded Tire Brands America (TBA), a sales and marketing agency for foreign-sourced brands that don't have a U.S.-based sales team and/or who may be underserved in terms of sales and marketing.

    Mr. Hutchinson most recently was an adviser to Federal Corp. Chairman Jamie Ma., and prior to that worked for Pro Comp Tire (Transamerican Auto Parts), Toyo TIre USA and Bridgestone Corp., as well as Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants Inc. and Motul USA Inc.

    Mr. Hutchinson, president and CEO of the new company, said he sees "a gaping hole" in the industry that needs to be filled.

    "Somewhere, a lot is lost between foreign-based tire factories and the sales and marketing function," Mr. Hutchinson said. "We are here to fill that gap with a U.S.-based sales team of tire industry veterans."

    He said some foreign brands "have been trying and struggling to ring the sales bell with a sales team in which English is a second language and from a time zone that has exactly opposite days and nights as we do in the U.S. In that sense, Tire Brands America serves those factories and their brands with our U.S. team."

    Pictured are (from left) Joe Anzelmo; Dave Howe and Art Michalik

    The company did not disclose which, if any, brands it represents.

    Mr. Hutchinson has hired four sales directors:

    • Joe Anzelmo, who has experience with Toyo Tire USA and Giti Tire (USA) Ltd.;
    • Jack Bidding, who has experience with Bridgestone/Firestone and Tri-Ace Co. Ltd.;
    • Dave Howe, who has experience with Pro Comp; and
    • Art Michalik, who has experience with Bridgestone and Yokohama Tire Corp.

    Mr. Hutchinson called the current economic climate, with the COVID-19 pandemic, "a heckuva time to start." But, he said, "production is currently strong and actively ongoing from our main factory source in Thailand," he said.

    Mr. Hutchinson said the company is home-based and is not traveling. Instead the team is using email, phone and videoconferencing to communicate with tire industry partners/customers.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Tire Discounters grows again, adds Skip Cottrell's
    2
    Icahn-owned Auto Plus files for Chapter 11 protection
    3
    Truck sector leads U.S. tire market; consumer down
    4
    K&M welcomes dealers to annual conference in Vegas
    5
    Black's Tire Service holds leadership conference
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • BEST PLACES TO WORK
    • News
      • HUMANITARIAN
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
      • MID YEAR REPORT
      • SERVICE ZONE
    • ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Resources
      • Events
        • ASK THE EXPERT
        • LIVESTREAMS
        • WEBINARS
        • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
        • RUBBER NEWS EVENTS
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION