Outgoing TIA president has strived to be an advocate for the industry

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Why not Generation Y?

David Martin ends his year as TIA president at the Global Tire Expo. “I had many responsibilities as president, but the work was very rewarding.”

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MARTIN SAYS TIA/USTMA TASK FORCE HAS MOVED TIRE REGISTRATION REGULATIONS IN A ‘BENEFICIAL DIRECTION’

Lori L. Mavrigian

David Martin will relinquish his Tire Industry Association (TIA) presidency to John Evankovich (see page 71) at TIA’s Global Tire Expo during Automotive

Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas.

Martin is category director of tools and supply for American Tire Distributors

Inc. (ATD) in Charlotte, N.C.

As his reign ends, MTD asked him questions on his year as president.

did outgoing president Tom Formanek give you once he handed over the gavel?

Tom was a tremendous help to me throughout the entire process and was beside me every step of the way. Tom and I have worked side-by-side on the board of directors since 2012. There’s trust and depth to our relationship that I really value. Tom is a true leader and I trust his counsel. I’m not sure that anyone knows the ins and outs of the association better than Tom, and he was good enough to share his insights with me. His help made my transition much smoother. Tom’s support has helped make my time as president successful and enjoyable. A special thank you to Tom and Brenda Formanek is in order, and I know our relationship will continue going forward.

MTD: As incoming president, you told

us you had three goals: work to sustain the growth in TIA’s membership and facilitate expansion in the number of services programs; focus on the continued development of TIA’s training and

Martin reconstructs TIA and USTMA’s tire registration negotiations

David Martin, outgoing Tire Industry Association (TIA) president, says, “TIA is currently engaged in one of the most critical negotiations in the history of the association, and I am proud to be a part of it.

“After battling in Congress over legislation, TIA and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) came to the table and are now discussing a new tire registration and recall system that would significantly improve safety for consumers, retailers and tire manufacturers. The goal from both sides is to meet with the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) jointly with an agreement on the major points of focus. The USTMA/TIA task force continues to work toward this goal. The last task force meeting took place on Aug. 15 and the group is in the process of finalizing the agreed upon points from the meeting.

“The group plans to meet with NHTSA later this year to present a framework. Through meetings, negotiations, research with TIA members, discussions with tire manufacturers, members of Congress, and officials at NHTSA, I have learned so much about the process of implementing legislation into meaningful regulation.

“I have always been impressed with the grassroots power TIA has,”Martin says. “With members now in every Congressional district, we truly can make a difference and have our voice heard.

“I was also able to see our members in action at TIA’s federal lobby day. Members from all sectors of the industry spoke to their legislators on issues that impact their lives and businesses. They spoke to legislators as experts on these subjects because their work experiences made them experts. I realized it is true that nobody can tell our story as well as we can.

“The timing was right, as Congress is hoping to address many issues before the end of the year,” Martin says. “TIA was founded 98 years ago with the belief that dealers needed to help shape the public policy of this industry by speaking to lawmakers with one united voice. That need and message is as important today as it was then.”

educational programs, and work with Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield and the new board of directors to carry forward an effective and results-oriented government affairs program on Capitol Hill. Please tell us of your progress on each of these initiatives.

We have enjoyed a record year with new members! TIA membership grew by more than 4,000 new members. Today there are over 13,700 members and the Tire Industry Association is thriving. I am confident it will continue to grow in the coming years.

After serving as the chairman of the training and education committee for five years, I know how important the association’s programs are for industry professionals. We have made some great improvements to our programs over the last year, but we are not finished yet. A new five-year plan is being developed under the leadership of Dan Nothdurft, the new committee chairman. Dan’s experience as a Tire Pros franchisee and owner of Tires, Tires, Tires will be of great value to him and TIA in this position. He is stepping up in a big way and I could not be more confident in his ability to effectively lead our training programs to success. Dan has been very successful as a Tire Pros dealer and I am sure he will be bringing some best practices and great personal experience to the table. The committee is in good hands.

In terms of what the association is focused on, I am very pleased with our effectiveness in pushing for the best possible tire registration system. TIA and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) have been working together on this initiative to create a reasonable path

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Martin says his time working at ATD with Tire Pros dealers “helped me learn how to deal with large groups of people with different opinions and perspectives.”

COURTESY OF AMERICAN TIRE DISTRIBUTORS

TIA is working for the industry on many issues, including:

• Repealing the estate tax • Infrastructure funding • Online sales • Health care • LIFO repeal • Tariffs • Work Opportunity Tax Credit • Lawsuit abuse • Retroactive liability provisions superfund • Scrap tires and used oil • National Energy Bill • Urge strong enforcement of the

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act • Support the Motor Vehicle Owner’s

Right to Repair Act • Comp time • RPM Act To keep track of TIA’s government affairs activities, sign up for e-mail communications: • Weekly newsletter on federal activities • Monthly newsletter on state activities • Yearly issue position papers • Association resolutions Sign up by contacting: Roy Littlefield

IV, director of government affairs, rlittlefield2@tireindustry.org

forward for the tire registration regulations. At the Clemson University Tire Conference, USTMA representatives and TIA representatives jointly announced their commitment to work together on the best possible ways moving forward regarding a tire registration system. Throughout this process, TIA does not want to place unnecessary or costly burdens on smaller retailers.

MTD: What advances in TIA’s govern

ment affairs are you most proud of now that your term is ending?

Through meetings, negotiations, and research with TIA members, tire manufacturers, members of Congress, and officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am encouraged with the progress that has been made to develop a new national program for tire registration and recall to significantly improve safety for consumers, retailers and tire manufacturers (see sidebar). The USTMA-TIA task force continues to work toward this goal. I’m proud that we spoke together at the Clemson University Tire Conference concerning tire registration, and it is my hope we can soon come to a set of agreements that we can present to NHTSA. Our two associations are in a positive place, and the relationship is moving in a mutually beneficial direction. We both want to make sure that small businesses in the tire replacement industry are able to succeed. I speak with small and independent dealers all the time through my work with ATD, so I’m familiar with their needs as well as those of the manufacturers. I have been proud to be an advocate for the industry.

MTD: How did your experience at

ATD help you in your presidency?

Working with independent dealers and Tire Pros franchisees at ATD gives me a much better perspective on the tire industry as a whole. Learning the ins and outs of the day-to-day operations for these franchisees and independent businesses gives me insight into the issues that are top-of-mind for this important group of business leaders in our industry.

My time working with Tire Pros dealers also helped me learn how to deal with large groups of people with different opinions and perspectives.

Due to this, I was able to share these opinions and perspectives to improve the training and education programs at TIA. The TIA training and education programs are the gold standard in the tire industry and help technicians preform their activities in a safe and professional manner. The TIA mission statement encapsulates what TIA stands for: “The mission of TIA is to promote tire safety through training and education, to act as the principal advocate in government affairs, and to enhance the image and professionalism of the industry so our member businesses may be more successful.”

I do not think I could have achieved as much of what we accomplished during my presidency without my experience at ATD guiding me and helping me shape decisions. Working with both ATD and TIA has been a blessing, and I look forward to many more years of serving with both organizations.

I am so grateful for the good fortune to work for ATD. It’s a great place to work and I am glad to have been here for the last 10 years. However, I have been dealing with ATD and its associates since 1998.

We have a certain way of doing business at ATD that puts our customers first. I would like to think that I brought that same approach to my presidency with the Tire Industry Association. I worked hard to ensure that we always kept our members at the forefront of our efforts.

MTD: How will you look back on your

time as president?

I had many responsibilities as president, but the work was very rewarding. I also had an incredible support staff behind me that relieved me of as many demands as possible. That said, I am looking forward to the extra free time I will enjoy going forward.

I loved bringing together different groups of people with different opinions and perspectives to find the best solutions for problems. We discovered that we were actually much more aligned than we thought, and bringing together a more diverse group of ideas helped us to start some very rewarding dialogues.

When we combined the wealth of knowledge we had at our disposal between different groups, we were able to craft some great messages that resonated with the industry and the manufacturers within it. This culmination of ideas is something I think will continue to benefit the association for years to come.

MTD: Now that your year is over,

what do you hope your legacy will be?

TIA and USTMA coming together during my time on the executive committee and working on the legislation of tire registration can prove to be the most important results of my time on the committee. If the group can move forward and positively impact this legislation with NHTSA, then we have accomplished making the motoring public safer when traveling the highways of America.

MTD: What advice do you have for

incoming President John Evankovich?

The best piece of advice I can give John is “allow the TIA staff to do their job.” The amazing team and staff at TIA provide the president and the board of directors the support needed for the board and president to be an effective group and to run the business of the Tire Industry Association. John is going to do a great job, and I am excited to continue my involvement with John and TIA as past president over the coming year.

MTD: If you have any spare time now

that your role as president has ended, what do you hope to do with it?

I am really looking forward to spending more time with my family and enjoying more of Charlotte. I enjoy good music. I am excited about having more time to enjoy various concerts and events in the area.

If you are looking for me on Saturday mornings, the best place to look will be the golf course. I love the sport and am ready to improve my swing now that I will have some extra time to play.

Meet the incoming president Sam’s Club exec John Evankovich brings his unique vision to TIA

John Evankovich is director of tire and great resource TIA is and have been

battery centers for Sam’s Club Inc. He involved ever since.

will become the president of the Tire How will your experience at Sam’s

Industry Association (TIA) during the Club help you during your year as presi

association’s Global Tire Expo at the dent? Having nationwide responsibility

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. He takes the reins from David Martin (see page 68).

He’s been with Sam’s Club for over 28 years and has had specific responsibility for Sam’s Club Tire and Battery Centers for the last 10 years. He started with Sam’s Club as a tire technician in 1990, and worked his way up in the company. “But I never forgot where I started,” he says.

He brings his unique vision to the association, whose members represent all

COURTESY OF TIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

John Evankovich has moved through the officers’ chairs at TIA and will take over as its president during the association’s Global Tire Expo.

has opened my eyes to the issues faced not only by one state or region, but a view of the entire country.

What is your favorite part about being involved with the tire industry? I’m a car guy — I love being around cars and motorcycles. My favorite thing about the industry is the people I have met! I have developed friendships that will last the rest of my life.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? Balancing my desire to achieve and do good while being

segments of the tire industry. “I hope to continue the course that has been set in government relations, continue to strengthen the collaboration between the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and TIA, and attract new members to TIA,” says Evankovich.

Here’s a profile as he takes TIA’s top post.

Your full name is: John Clement Evankovich

Your age is: 50

Where do you live? Bentonville, Ark.

What is your educational background? I graduated from Red Creek High School and attended Cuyuga Community College. I have a certificate in Human Resource Employment Practice and Law.

Your family consists of: My wife, Angela (married for 25 years), son Ryan Boyer and son Lucas Evankovich .

In your spare time, what do you like to do? Riding my Harley — I have several — and boating — I spend weekends on the lake with my family.

How did you become involved with the Tire Industry Association? I started with a question about tire pressure monitoring systems, and after that I realized what a there for my family. I’m still working on it!

Who has had the biggest influence on your career and how? Without a doubt, that would be my father, Donald Evankovich. Dad taught me that hard work is important, but that you also have to work smart.

What advice do you have for young people just starting out in this industry? No matter whether you are with a big company or a small shop, it’s how you take care of the customer that matters.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years? Retired, sitting on a boat, enjoying life with my wife and family!