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 the world’s leading tire manufacturers, 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.
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.
Red has served on a number of industry trade association technical and policy development committees and has delivered more than five hundred publications, technical reports and presentations over the course of his career. Dr. Clark has also provided testimony and technical consulting support on a number of economic, trade, environmental and engineering issues for a range of US state and federal agencies, the US Congress, various foreign governments and wide array of domestic and international industrial clients.
Dr. Clark is currently the president of Asphalt Plus, LLC, a company working to expand the cost-efficient use of recycled tire rubber (Engineered Crumb Rubber or ECR) in asphalt on a global scale. During his tenure as president, Asphalt Plus, LLC, has spearheaded the development, specification, and commercialization of dry process rubber asphalt use in North America, Europe and Asia. Asphalt Plus is a world leader in rubber asphalt technology deployment. Dr. Clark has worked with hundreds of plant owners and operators to produce modified asphalt mixes with close attention to pavement sustainability. The company’s ECR technology has been used in thousands of miles of US asphalt pavement. Dr. Clark has also worked directly with FHWA, NCAT, NAPA and US EPA to accelerate industry adoption of new technologies. Dr. Clark helped to develop dozens of national and international patents for a range of technologies, including asphalt additives.
Coming soon.
Hope Pegues is a Tire Performance Engineer at the Michelin Americas R&D Center in Greenville, South Carolina. She earned her Master of Science degree from Duke University in 2021 and soon after joined Michelin’s Tire Physics and Performance Modeling department. In her current role, she focuses on leveraging data to develop predictive systems and testing methodologies to better understand tire wear performance.
Coming soon
Dr. Rath is an Assistant Research Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). He is primarily active in asphalt pavement research, with a focus on the sustainability and resilience of asphalt mixtures. His research and professional interests include the analysis and characterization of asphalt pavements; evaluating the use of sustainable materials including recycled ground tire rubber in asphalt pavements; and pavement distress evaluation. His work in the incorporation of ground tire rubber in asphalt pavement surfaces via the dry process modification has garnered considerable recognition, leading to several invited lectures. Dr. Rath has authored more than 45 publications including USTMA’s State of Knowledge on Rubber Modified Asphalt which was published in 2021.
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
Brent developed the foundation for the EV practice at J.D. Power through the creation of the company’s suite of electric vehicle experience studies. He utilizes voice of customer feedback and subject matter expertise to provide critical insights for helping the automotive industry transition to electrification through improving charging infrastructure and EV products.
Previously at J.D. Power, Mr. Gruber led the company’s Powersports, Commercial Vehicle, and most recently, Global Automotive Supplier practices. Brent was responsible for all sales, research and consulting activities involving those industries.
Brent sits on several automotive industry advisory boards, frequently speaks at industry events, and routinely conducts media interviews about automotive products and emerging trends. Prior to joining J.D. Power in 2008, Brent held senior level positions at research and consulting firms, focusing on product and service improvements based on voice of customer feedback.
Top industry players attend Traction Summit with the goal of discussing innovations, finding solutions, and building relationships needed to thrive in this market. Show attendees why your services and products are necessary to improve their business operations.
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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
