Jeff Barna, David Zielasko to speak at Clemson conference

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.—Jeff Barna, president of Yokohama Tire Corp., will be the keynote speaker at the Clemson University Global Tire Industry Conference, scheduled for April 18-20 at the Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head.

"An Outsider Looking In: A Contrarian's View of an Imperfect Tire Industry," will be the topic of Barna's speech at the keynote luncheon Thursday, April 19.

Also speaking the afternoon of April 19 will be David Zielasko, vice president of Crain Communications Inc., editorial director and publisher of Tire Business, and publisher of Rubber & Plastics News and European Rubber Journal. Zielasko's topic will be, "The Tire Industry: What's Next?"

Tracey Norberg, senior vice president and general counsel for the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, will speak April 19 instead of April 18 as originally scheduled.

Other speakers at the Clemson conference include:

• Leesa Owens, director of state, local government and community relations at Michelin North America Inc., will present "Unsafe Used Tire Legislation."
• Mauricio Mendez Sotelo, manager, technical product specialist, R&D, passenger and light truck tires, Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., will discuss "Innovation in Tire Technology."
• James A. Popio, vice president of operations N.A., Smithers Rapra Smithers Pira, will explore at "Top 5 Opportunities in the Global Tire Industry and How Technology Can Meet the Challenge."
• Walter J. Weller, senior vice president, China Manufacturers Alliance L.L.C., will present "Antidumping & Countervailing Duties: USW vs. Chinese Truck Tires."
• Steve Teertstra, technical service and development manager, Tire and Specialty Rubber (TSR) Business Unit, Arlanxeo Canada Inc., and Janice Tardiff, research head, Elastomer Material Research, Ford Motor Co., will discuss "A Global Study of Materials Technology in Relation to Performance of OE Passenger Car Tires."
• Roy Littlefield IV, director of government affairs, Tire Industry Association, will explore "Chinese Tariffs and Border Adjustments."

The agenda is subject to change, according to the conference website.

More information, including conference registration and room reservations at the Sonesta Resort, is available at clemsontireconference.com.