Tire Leadership 21, the tire industry’s premier professional development program operated by Northwood University, recently graduated its second class of students.
The 18 graduates left the two-week program with improved business, management and leadership skills — ones they immediately can apply to their businesses. Participants in this year’s class included professionals from tire retail, commercial and retread business from four countries.
“Both the material presented and the faculty exceeded expectations,” says recent graduate Patrick Smith of Matthews Tire, Green Bay, Wis. “I feel that I am better prepared for future responsibilities because of my Tire 21 experience. It’s a first-class program that focuses on skills that are important to current and future business leaders.”
Northwood says Tire Leadership 21 is specifically designed to develop the next generation of professionals who work in tire retail, commercial and retread environments. The program covers a wide range of business, management and leadership topics that are critical to the success of the independent tire and service industry. The program was created in 2013 through a unique collaboration between a group of leading tire dealers — the Center for Tire and Service Education — and Northwood University, a fully accredited, private, non-profit business university that specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education.
Program participants attended a pair of one-week sessions. The first session was held in April at Northwood University’s campus in Midland, Mich. Participants reconvened in September at Advance Auto Parts’ headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Gold Level Sponsors of the 2015 Tire Leadership 21 program include American Tire Distributors, Continental Tire and Marangoni Tread North America. Each company donated scholarship funding that reduced each attendee’s tuition payment.
The 2016 Tire Leadership 21 program kicks off on April 10-15 at Northwood University’s Midland campus. The second session will meet September 11-16, 2016, in Raleigh, N.C. The $5,995 program fee covers everything except travel and lodging. Depending on available scholarship monies, fees may be reduced significantly. For more information and to register, please visit www.universityoftheaftermarket.com, or call 800-551-2882.
