AKRON—As the International Tire Exhibition & Conference continues to take shape, the reasons for not connecting to this year's event are diminishing.
The biennial ITEC event, organized by Rubber & Plastics News, will transition to a virtual event this year, a decision made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The transition is offering more opportunities for insight into tire industry trends and innovations.
That's where Jeff Schuster comes in.
Just recently, event organizers announced that Schuster, president of LMC Automotive's Americas operation and global vehicle forecasting, will give a keynote presentation. His talk is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 14 and is titled "Automotive Outlook: Uncertainty, Recovery, Transformation."
Schuster, who joined LMC in 2001, has been tracking developments in the global automotive industry for more than 20 years, and is one of the company's primary automotive experts. Prior to joining the company, he led the automotive forecast division of J.D. Power and Associates and has experience in financial analysis and cash management in the automotive supply base.
Schuster joins Brian Goldstine, president of Mobility Solutions and Fleet Management at Bridgestone Americas, on the agenda. Goldstein will deliver the first ITEC keynote presentation on Sept. 8, the opening day of the event.
ITEC 2020 Virtual Edition will be hosted Sept. 8-18 with conference sessions planned for each weekday, both in the morning and afternoon. In addition to the keynote speakers, the lineup includes individual presentations and panel sessions, such as the ITEC Women's Leadership Panel Discussion.
Led by Lakisha Miller-Barclay, executive director of the ACS Rubber Division, the ITEC Women's Leadership Panel Discussion is intended to bring together women from around the tire industry to discuss leadership practices.
Each weekday at noon Eastern, ITEC 2020 Virtual Edition attendees also can participate in "Ask the Expert" events and Q&A sessions with show exhibitors.
Show organizers also will award the Harold Herzlich Distinguished Technology Achievement Medal. The honor recognizes innovators in tire manufacturing, tire reliability or performance. The award is named after Herzlich, the former longtime technical editor of Rubber & Plastics News and chairman emeritus of ITEC.
ITEC 2020 Virtual Edition also will include a matchmaking networking opportunity for participants as a way to connect buyers and sellers. Attendees will receive recommended matches based on their registration profile and have the ability to search for additional matches with category and keyword filters.
Registration for an all-access pass to ITEC 2020 Virtual Edition is free through July 31.
Beginning Aug. 1, the cost will be $149.
To register, learn more about the virtual event or see the speaker lineup, visit itec-tireshow.com.
Companies interested in sponsorships at ITEC Virtual should contact Sales Director Christine Zernick at [email protected].