Tire Business reporter Bruce Davis honored by Crain

DETROIT — Bruce Davis, the longtime special projects reporter for Tire Business, was named the 2024 Outstanding Individual Contributor by Tire Business parent company Crain Communications Inc. at a ceremony in Detroit on April 30.

Davis, in his 44th year with Crain, won the honor in a vote by his peers across the Crain family of publications, an international portfolio that includes Automotive News, AdAge, Modern Healthcare, Pensions & Investments, Rubber News and city publications in New York, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.

The award was announced during a ceremony held at The Book Tower Conservatory Room in The Roost hotel in Detroit.

Each of 14 Crain publications and/or groups of publications across the globe nominated one staff member for the award.

"There couldn't be anyone more deserving of this honor," Tire Business Editor Don Detore said. "Bruce has contributed to Crain Communications in general and to Tire Business in particular in so many ways throughout his four-plus decades serving our readers by providing informative stories and data across the industry."

In addition, Tire Business' annual comprehensive look at the tire industry, the Global Tire Report, finished second in the Best Use of Data category. The other two finalists in that category were Staffing Industry Analysts (the winner) and Automotive News.

"It was totally unexpected," Davis said of the award, "and a true honor considering the quality of work done by the other nominees.

"I'm indebted to Ernie Zielasko, who hired and mentored me, for believing in me and encouraging me to pursue data-gathering as a basis for reporting."

Davis, a native of Shelby, Ohio, joined Crain in August 1980 after graduating from Ohio University. During his tenure, he has worked for three publications — sister books Rubber & Plastics News, European Rubber Journal and Urethanes Technology — in addition to being part of the launch team in 1983 of Tire Business.

He also spent 13 years in Germany, where he was the European correspondent for the four publications.

"Bruce has an innate sense of curiosity about the tire business, along with the talent and ability to break down complicated stories and data," Detore said. "He goes above and beyond to serve the tire industry."