2023 Year In Review

Dear Members:

As we near the end of the year, I want to take some time to reflect on the state of our association and our industry. I am proud to say that thanks to your continued support and engagement, 2023 was another successful year for the OTAA. Certainly, some challenges have persisted. Inflation, waning consumer confidence, and of course, workforce shortages all presented difficulties throughout the year. Despite those challenges, independent tire dealers like you remain a driving force of Ohio’s economic vitality. I am immensely proud of members like you who provide quality products and services to working families, employ and provide careers for hardworking Ohioans, and as small business owners, represent the best of our communities. The strength of our association truly lies with you.

This past year, the OTAA made training a top priority. We devoted significant resources toward expanding our training partnership with Garage Gurus. As a result, we held three separate training seminars across the state focusing on upskilling our members’ technicians. These seminars included training on engine performance diagnostics, modern chassis systems, and hands-on electrical diagnostics. We are proud that all training seminars were offered cost-free for members. In all, over forty technicians received best-in-class training during these sessions. We know each technician trained makes our workforce stronger, places our workers on a path towards a more rewarding career, and makes our industry safer. In 2024, we have even more planned with training events set for Akron and Columbus. Our goal is to train 100 technicians in 2024. In the coming month, we will provide more details on those training opportunities.

With workforce being our members’ top issue, OTAA was proud to enter a partnership with the leading HR hiring platform, CareerPlug. Through this partnership, OTAA members receive a free CareerPlug account that comes with a branded careers page, pre-built job templates, and a configured hiring process. Members also receive a discounted rate for premium services. Please reach out to us if you would like more information.

As always, our legislative advocacy is the core mission of our association and in 2023, there were no shortage of legislative and regulatory issues in which OTAA engaged. The OTAA successfully advocated for changes to a scrap tire rules package authored by Ohio EPA which would have placed new cumbersome regulatory burdens on tire dealers in Ohio. Fortunately, after participating in several meetings and providing suggested changes, the Ohio EPA revised the rules package to reflect our input. In addition, there were several key pieces of legislation which OTAA advocated for and monitored. Perhaps the most significant was House Bill 110. OTAA provided proponent testimony for the measure, which would stem the tide of catalytic converter thefts in the Buckeye State. By requiring basic record keeping, limiting the amount of catalytic converters that can be sold without a license, and stipulating proof of ownership when these parts are sold, we can drastically reduce the easy access to quick cash for criminals. We expect action on that legislation in the coming year. Throughout the legislative session, OTAA will continue to broadly advocate for policies which preserve and enhance a positive business climate for Ohio.

In closing, it is truly an honor to represent you and our industry. On behalf of our board of directors and our staff, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year!

Sincerely,

Jon Boyd

President