COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Tire & Automotive Association (OTAA), in partnership with the Tire Industry Association (TIA), will conduct passenger and light truck tire service training throughout September and October.
The member benefit will include TIA's in-person, hands-on 300-Level Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS) technician training classes.
The OTAA will host regional in-person technician training and certification sessions at three Ohio locations: Sept. 13-15 and Sept. 20-22, at the Goodyear/Cooper Tire in Findlay; Sept. 20-22 at Babcox Media/Tire Review in Akron; and Oct. 11-13 at Tire Discounters' Cincinnati training facility.
Classes are a half-day on Tuesday, a full day on Wednesday and a half day on Thursday, for two full days of training.
The OTAA will cover the cost of the training, meals and hotel accommodations for member employees participating in the program. Travel expenses and purchasing the required TIA manual will be the members' responsibility.
OTAA President Jeff Wallick said the goal "is to train technicians, deliver value, communicate value and grow membership. Our focus on creating training opportunities for our members fulfills our mission as an organization, which is: We are dedicated to protecting the legislative interests of Ohio tire and automotive suppliers and providing resources to our members."
Wallick said the role of a successful state tire association has evolved over the years.
"We are focused on training opportunities for our members who serve their communities across the state," he said. "Partnering with TIA to offer tire safety training was a natural step, and we are currently evaluating automotive service training providers in order to expand our portfolio of training options for our members."
OTAA members should contact OTAA directly at (614)-221-7950 or emailing at [email protected], or by signing up at www.ohiotire.org/training.htm. Sessions will be conducted by a TIA-certified ATS trainer.
To participate, tire retailers must be members of the OTAA.
"We encourage current and prospective members of the OTAA to participate in the training and look forward to working with the association on additional mutually beneficial programs," TIA CEO Richard "Dick" Gust said.
For more info on the OTAA Training program, go to the OTAA website, email [email protected], or contact the association at 614-221-7950.
Tire and auto retailers in Ohio who are not OTAA members may join the association online at www.ohiotire.org/join.htm.