Sheerin to succeed Blumenthal as RMA's scrap tire expert

WASHINGTON—The Rubber Manufacturers Association has hired John Sheerin as its director, end of life tires.

Sheerin, the current environmental director at Bridgestone Retail Operations L.L.C., will succeed RMA Vice President Michael Blumenthal, who will retire July 11 after 24 years with the association. Sheerin's first day with the RMA will be June 30.

A graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology and Chicago's Kent College of Law, Sheerin joined Bridgestone Retail Operations in 1995 as an environmental manager. As the company's environmental director since 2008, he was in charge of its environmental activities, programs and systems.

Sheerin helped create and implement Bridgestone Retail Operations' “Beyond Compliance” environmental programs, including its Spent Tire Program and other recycling initiatives. Since 2002, he also has been an active participant in RMA member committees, the association said.

At the RMA, Sheerin will be responsible for representing the association on issues involving scrap tire generation, processing and end-uses in the U.S., the association said.

He also will promote environmentally and economically sound used for scrap tires; educate stakeholders, government officials and the public about proper scrap tire management; participate in industry coalitions; and conduct research, collect data and publish reports about scrap tire management and end-uses.

Blumenthal joined the RMA's Scrap Tire Management Council Oct. 1, 1990 and continued with the RMA after the STMC was folded into the larger association. During those years, he spearheaded the association's efforts in sponsoring state scrap tire management legislation and promoting viable end-uses for scrap tires.

On Blumenthal's watch, the utilization rate of scrap tires rose from 11 percent in 1990 to about 85 percent today.