The 2022 theme is "Sustainability in Tires: From Materials to Aftermarket." Visit the agenda >>> to meet the speakers from GM, Momentive, Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli, Discount Tire, Tyrata, Smithers, Carbon X, Department of Toxic Substance Control, and many more!
Traction Summit 2022: "Sustainability in Tires" will focus on sustainability in the tire industry, from raw material selection, to fuel efficiency, to end of life options. This event will provide an exciting new forum for a comprehensive assessment of sustainability issues in the tire industry.
Traction Summit is the definitive meeting place to discuss and understand future opportunities for tires, and to make the connections needed to capitalize on those prospects. With a unique blend of speakers and attendees from throughout the full tire supply chain, including tire sensor startups, the world’s leading tire manufacturers, and the voice of the customer from fleets, aftermarket, and OEMs, Traction Summit is unlike any conference in the tire sector. This event is the perfect place to network with industry insiders, hear ideas and insights from different parts of the supply chain, and learn about innovations, growth opportunities, and the latest trends.
Smithers has been in the Tire testing market since the 1920’s and has a very strong brand for independent expert opinion on tire performance. Along with presenting leading industry information at Traction Summit, with over 90 years of expertise in rubber testing, Smithers provides custom tire analysis and standard testing to meet your requirements. Learn More About Tire Testing >>>
*On Demand registration ticket will include recordings of each presentation, access to the conference app and online platform, as well as any PDF documents from presenters that have been deemed shareable. No live streaming will occur with this registration ticket. Any questions, please feel free to reach out to: Lauren Wolford, LWolford@smithers.com.
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Senior attorney providing leadership, advocacy, and counsel in the areas of environment, health, safety, sustainability and corporate law. Proven experience in developing effective advocacy strategies to shape global, federal and state policies; directing technical research; managing litigation; collaborating on strategic communications; and building and retaining highly effective teams.
Josh Guilliams, Vice President of Consultancy leads, Smithers’ technical consulting team based in Akron, Ohio. Josh manages client relationships and works with other Smithers experts on complex projects. He also conducts in-depth investigations of a wide variety of rubber materials and final products on behalf of clients.
Before joining the team at Smithers, Guilliams spent several years in leadership at Polymer Valley Chemicals, Inc., as Technical Director and Vice President of Technical Operations. Prior to his time at Polymer Valley Chemicals, he held technical and commercial roles at Hankook Tire, EASTMAN Chemical Corporation, LANXESS Corporation, and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
bio coming soon
With a diverse background in environmental law, policy, communications, non-profits, and business, Andy provides a unique perspective on strategy and execution for realizing sustainability impacts. He holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a M.S.E.L. from Vermont Law School, and J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Karl Palmer has been named Deputy Director for DTSC’s Safer Consumer Products Program. Prior to this position he managed the Safer Consumer Products Branch, where he was responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing California’s Safer Consumer Products regulations.
Karl has worked for DTSC for over 30 years in a wide array of management and technical positions, including managing programs in Pollution Prevention, Hazardous Waste Management, and Emergency Response. Karl received his Bachelor of Science in resource sciences from the University of California, Davis.
Punyaslok Rath (Punya) is a research scientist in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou), where he works at the Missouri Asphalt Pavement and Innovation Lab (MAPIL). His research focus is on asphalt materials, specifically in asphalt material characterization. Dr. Rath has worked in collaboration with many industry entities (state DOTs, agencies and companies) to promote sustainability through use of recycled materials in asphalt mixtures. He has worked extensively on dry process rubber-modification of asphalt mixtures and is one of the leading experts in the field. In addition, he is a member of number of civil engineering organizations and an active participant in the workings of research committees.
Josh Guilliams, Vice President of Consultancy leads, Smithers’ technical consulting team based in Akron, Ohio. Josh manages client relationships and works with other Smithers experts on complex projects. He also conducts in-depth investigations of a wide variety of rubber materials and final products on behalf of clients.
Before joining the team at Smithers, Guilliams spent several years in leadership at Polymer Valley Chemicals, Inc., as Technical Director and Vice President of Technical Operations. Prior to his time at Polymer Valley Chemicals, he held technical and commercial roles at Hankook Tire, EASTMAN Chemical Corporation, LANXESS Corporation, and Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
With a diverse background in environmental law, policy, communications, non-profits, and business, Andy provides a unique perspective on strategy and execution for realizing sustainability impacts. He holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a M.S.E.L. from Vermont Law School, and J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Bio coming soon!
Jay is the Director of Standards and Regulations for Continental Tire, the Americas located in Fort Mill, SC. He is responsible for all tire regulatory and standardization work throughout North and South America and represents Continental within numerous industry organizations including the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the Tire and Rim Association. Jay has been with Continental for over 15 years with leadership roles in product development, technical product management and racing development. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineer from Clemson University - home of the 2016 College Football National Champions.
John began his career with Discount Tire Company in May of 2012 at the Corporate Office. John’s role for Discount Tire includes overseeing all aspects of Merchandising (sourcing, purchasing, assortment planning, retail pricing) for the company, Vendor Relationship Management of all tire, wheel, and non-merchandise vendors, and the Product Technical Team, which includes the Product Data Analytics group, the Product Quality Team, and the Product Fitment Team, which manages the Treadwell and the tire/wheel fitment guide. Prior to joining Discount Tire, John worked for Exponent, a scientific and engineering consulting firm. Before Exponent, John worked in the Research Laboratory of Ford Motor Company, where he became internationally recognized for his research on the topics of tire aging, tire test development, tire service life prediction, and the use of nitrogen as a tire inflation media. John has authored/presented over 40 papers on tire testing, has lectured in Europe and Asia, and holds 3 U.S. Patents.
Academic Credentials and Professional Honors
Ph.D., Polymer Science, The University of Akron, 1992
B.S., Chemistry, The University of Detroit, 1986
2009 Sparks-Thomas Award given by the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society for ‘outstanding contribution to the science and technology of elastomers’.
Member of Sigma Xi; Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt
Former Adjunct Associate Professor of Chemistry, Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan
Doug Terrill is currently the Test Team Manager for the America Technical Center of Hankook Tire and Technology Co., Ltd. in Uniontown, OH. Doug began his career with Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation wheel and brake division as a technical writer and product development engineer. He has more than 20 years of experience in wheel and brake design in the aircraft and commercial vehicle market and over twelve years of experience in tire testing. Doug holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University as well as an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is a former member of the Tire and Rim Association, serving on the Truck / Bus committee and an SAE member serving on the Wheel Standards Committee and the Truck Bus Wheel Committee.
