TIA Program trains 50,000th tire technician.
Press Release Summary:
TIA is celebrating an important milestone - Gumersindo Compean of Southern Tire Mart is the 50,000th tire service technician trained using TIA training program. Compean, who undertook TIA's Commercial Tire Service Training and Certification Program, was trained by TIA-Certified CTS Instructor Walter Parker of Mohawk Rubber Sales. TIA has expanded its training library to include educational programs that cover Automotive Tire Service, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, and Earthmover Tire Service.
Original Press Release:
TIA Reaches Milestone of 50,000 Tire Service Technicians Trained
Bowie, MD - The Tire Industry Association (TIA), one of the world's leading authorities on tires and wheels, is celebrating an important milestone - Gumersindo Compean of Southern Tire Mart is the 50,000th tire service technician trained using a TIA training program. Compean, who undertook TIA's Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Training and Certification Program, was trained by TIA-Certified CTS Instructor Walter Parker of Mohawk Rubber Sales.
TIA training and certification began in 1997, when one of its forerunner associations, the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA), held the first Certified CTS Instructor class. TIA has since expanded their training library to include educational programs that cover Automotive Tire Service (ATS), Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) and Earthmover Tire Service (ETS).
"We congratulate Gumersindo Compean on being the 50,000th tire service technician trained by a TIA program," said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield. "We also want to recognize Southern Tire Mart and Mohawk Rubber Sales for their ongoing commitment to safety training and technician certification."
"It's fitting that one of our Certified Instructors trained the 50,000th technician," said TIA Senior Vice President of Training Kevin Rohlwing. "TIA's 'train-the-trainer' approach to certification is designed to create a network of qualified instructors, so our tire dealer members have the flexibility to train and certify technicians at the local and regional levels. By preserving the teacher-student relationship, we give technicians like Gumersindo the opportunity to ask questions and interact with a knowledgeable instructor. TIA also has basic training programs that consist of videos and workbooks, so every tire dealer has access to quality technician training materials. Our goal from the beginning has been to improve safety in the shop and on the highway, so this milestone is shared by the thousands of instructors who have helped us change the way tires and wheels are serviced."
"Knowing that our people are out on the roads serving the trucking industry with the most up-to-date training is a source of great pride. It is also a comfort to know that they are as safe as possible having completed TIA's training and certification program. Southern Tire Mart has embraced TIA Certification to help us fulfill our vision of being the most professional tire people we can be for our customers," said Tommy Duff, owner of Southern Tire Mart.
"Mohawk Rubber is committed to promoting safety and education in our industry. With a healthy, safe and informed workforce, the industry and the motoring public all benefit. We believe that TIA's training and certification programs are the best tools available to accomplish that goal. Offering TIA training provides us with another opportunity to serve our customers and add even more value to our relationship," said Pat McGeoghegan, former owner of Mohawk Rubber Sales.
The majority of TIA-trained and -certified technicians are in North America, but TIA training materials have been used for training classes all over the world, including Jamaica, Mexico, the West Indies, Australia, Barbados, Korea, Qatar, Kuwait and Taiwan.
In the continuing effort to provide the most comprehensive tire service training available in the industry, TIA regularly updates existing programs and is exploring the development of new training resources for other markets, such as farm/agricultural and industrial tire service. For more information on TIA training and certification programs, contact Chris Bell, TIA Director of Training at 800-876-8372, ext 106 or cbell@tireindustry.org. NOTE: A photo of Gumarsindo Compean is available at www.tireindustry.org. Just go to "News" and then "Press Releases."
About TIA:
TIA is an international association representing all segments of the tire industry, including those that manufacture, repair, recycle, sell, service or use new or retreaded tires, and also those suppliers or individuals who furnish equipment, material or services to the industry. The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has a history that spans more than 80 years and includes several name changes. Originally known as the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NTDRA), the organization gave birth over the years to the American Retreaders Association (ARA) and the Tire Association of North America (TANA). ARA changed its name to the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) and merged with TANA in 2002 to form the current Tire Industry Association (TIA), which now represents every interest in the tire industry. For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org, or call 800.876.8372.
