ITEC, Tire Society events highlight 'Tire Week in Akron'

AKRON—Tires and Akron are inevitably linked. Now, it's also official.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has signed a proclamation designating Sept. 12-16 as "Tire Week in Akron."

During Tire Week, more than 1,500 tire industry professionals—including engineers, material scientists and technologists—are expected to attend the Tire Society's 41st Conference on Science and Technology and International Tire Exhibition and Conference.

ITEC, organized and presented by Rubber News, is the largest tire manufacturing trade expo and conference in North America. The agenda features more than 50 presentations from experts across the industry.

Keynote presentations are set for each day of the event.

Ellis Jones, Goodyear's vice president and chief sustainability officer, will focus on the sustainable future of the industry Sept. 13, while and Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, will discuss the space where technology and policy collide on Sept. 14.

Will Mars, who is set to receive the Herold Herzlich Award, will give a keynote presentation on the final day.

The Sept. 15 schedule also includes a Women's breakfast with a keynote presentation from Terry DeLapa and a panel discussion, featuring female leaders from around the industry. Panelists include:

• Heather Adelman, vice president of consumer replacement sales at Yokohama Tire Corp.;
• Katrina Cornish, endowed chair and Ohio Research Scholar, bioemergent materials, The Ohio State University;
• Renee Radabaugh, Goodyear's vice president of consumer channels and categories in North America; and
• Natalie Weingart, director of supplier quality for Bridgestone Americas Inc.

In addition to the programming, expo and networking opportunities, a Tire Mechanics Short Course will be held in conjunction with ITEC. The five-day educational and developmental course provides engineers and scientists with an in-depth, intense study of developments surrounding tire engineering. The course, overseen by the University of Akron, is designed for practicing engineers, chemists and scientists concerned with tires and vehicles, and those who have an engineering or science background at the bachelor of science level.

To learn more or register for ITEC, visit itec-tireshow.com.

The Tire Society's 41st Conference on Science and Technology runs Sept. 12-13, and includes a keynote presentation from Alexis Garcin, chairman and president of Michelin North America, focusing on the tire maker's strategy for sustainability.

Tracey Norberg, senior vice president and general counsel at the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, will give a plenary talk on policy and technology impacting the industry.

More information about the Tire Society event is available at tiresociety.org/conference.