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Virginia Automotive Report E Newsletter for May 2018 Meet Your New VAA President, John Kline have requested, and today, they do it all. A true family By Steve Akridge business, the longevity of key John Kline’s journey that led him employees has contributed to to the tire and automotive industry Old Dominion’s success. in Midlothian, VA, started off in a Service Manager John slightly different path, and in many Haddon has run the shop for different places. Born in Barranca- 25 years, and his son Jake is a bermeja, Columbia, South America, technician. One of John and Barbara and John Kline his Dad’s career working with com- Barbara’s 4 grandsons, Justin panies that built power plants took Sullivan works full time as a general service technician, John Kline their family to Freeport, Texas, and David Rainer has run the front sales for the retail side Tampa, Florida, Rodondo Beach, California, and Yorktown, Virginia. for 15 years. Their daughter Katie is involved with market- His last job brought the family to Richmond as the comptroller for the ing on a part time basis, and her husband, Jonathan company that built the Dutch Gap Plant. He attended Midlothian Hayden has been the General Manager of their whole- School when it was grades 1-12, and graduated from Manchester sale division, Old Dominion Tire Direct, since 2004. High School in Chesterfield County. John has clearly under- He got his first taste of the tire business in 1967, when at 17 stood the importance of years of age he went to work for Buck Wheeler in Richmond, regroov- our political process, and ing tires and doing section repairs on ag tires. The business did not do the need for strong repre- any service, and only sold the tires they regrooved or repaired. Next sentation at our General up was his first job selling wholesale, when he joined Sonic Tire in 1970, Assembly. This led to his calling on accounts in Virginia, Maryland and Eastern North Carolina. involvement in the VAA, That was also the year he and Barbara were married, and over the and he was recognized next eight years, two daughters, Katie and Jennifer, were born. Seek- L-R: John Kline, John Haddon, for his service in 2003 with Jonathan Hayden ing a position that would get him off the road, and keep him home the association’s highest more, John went to work for Hicks Tire, where he learned the commer- honor, The Distinguished Member award– before he cial truck tire business. In 1984 he joined Colonial Ford in commercial joined the Board. He was elected to the VAA Board in sales, and in 1988 he made the decision to open his own business, Old 2008, and has been our Legislative Chairman since 2012. Dominion Tire. He sold commercial truck tires out of his garage, and He has also represented the Tire & Rubber Industry on the Barbara kept the books. With his accounts requesting more services state’s Recycle Markets Development Council, which from him, he moved the business was a governor appointed position. to a building in Hendricks Indus- John has a strong commitment to trial Park off Hull Street that he community, and has served on the rented. With two bays, he add- Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce ed light services, and began Board of Directors, the American selling passenger and light truck Disabled Vets, the Chesterfield tires, and soon expanded to six Animal Shelter, and the South bays to keep up with the de- Richmond Rotary Club, where he mand. In 1989 Barbara joined remains very active. him full time, and they built their David Rainer has run One visit to John’s office will the retail for 15 years. current location on Warbro clearly define his passion for his Road in Midlothian. As Old Do- favorite hobbies, hunting and fishing, and his trips have minion’s retail business contin- taken him to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexi- ued to grow, the building was co, Alaska, South Dakota and Georgia. He and Barbara expanded to 8,500 square feet, enjoy traveling, and last year spent a month in New Zea- and today has 9 lifts, an align- land; an extensive trip to the western states is planned for ment rack and a separate area this summer. for tires. In addition to the com- Please join me in welcoming John Kline as our mercial truck tire business, they new Virginia Automotive Association President– we look Outgoing President Scott Brown (L) perform complete automotive presents John Kline his new Gavel forward to two great years of steady leadership with you service for every make of vehicle at the helm! including repairs for large trucks. Through every phase of their busi- ness, they have expanded into areas based on what their customers OUR PARTNERS The following Supplier Members have commited to our Partnership Program, and to support the good work of the VAA at the very highest finanacial levels. Each Partnership also includes Sponsorship and Exhibit booths at our annual Convention and Trade Expo. We are very grateful for this support, and will continue to recognize them in every Newsletter issue throughout the entire year, and on our website. We ask our Dealer members to show your thanks by giving them your business...support those who support us. Platinum Level Partners Advance Auto Parts / Autopart International American Tire Distributors Carroll Tire Company Federated Insurance Napa Auto Parts Gold Level Partners Justice Tire Distributors Max Finkelstein Inc. Mohawk Rubber Sales Nexen Tire Parrish Tire Company TCI Tire Centers Unifirst Corporation Silver Level Partners Automotive Training Institute Autoshop Solutions Blue Ridge Insurance Services Hot Rod Processing Kukui Corporation Myers Tire Supply Papco Oil Pirelli Tire Snap Finance 2 VAA Officers & Directors President’s Corner President: John Kline By John Kline Old Dominion Tire, Midlothian Richmond Region Change is the one constant I have seen through- Secretary-Treasurer: Jerry Tatum out the 47 years I have been in this industry. At one time, the engine had points and plugs. Fuel was regulated by Leete Tire & Auto, Petersburg carburetors. When a car got 100,000 miles on it, it was the Richmond Region best car ever bought. We only had 10 tire sizes, which covered all passenger and light trucks on the highway. President Elect: Chris Barnett Who still gets calls for a 165R15? We were even re- Tire Tread Service, Fredericksburg treading them! Northern Virginia Region Fast forward to present day and we now have Past President: Scott Brown cars that are all electric, port injection and over 200 differ- Cardinal Plaza Shell, Springfield ent tire sizes (which only fit 70% of the tire market). There Northern Virginia Region are electric fueling stations and sensors to tell you if your tire is low on air. Executive Director: Steve Akridge So the one thing we can count on is change. We must be VAA, Richmond able to adjust as the markets develop. When technology Richmond Region advances, we better change or we will be left behind. Directors: Change also happens in all other facets of your Richmond Region: business. The innovations made to the equipment in your Kim Taylor, Titan Auto & Tire, S. Chesterfield shop are astounding. The software for our service writers, Clint Farrar, American Tire Distributors, Richmond technicians and office personnel has been detailed to meet the needs of the shop. Scott Derouaux, Napa Auto Parts, Richmond Mike Fortune, Cloverleaf Tire & Auto, Richmond Embracing the advancements and innovations Andrea Ellett, Winding Brook Tire Pros, Milford within our industry does not come without concern. How- Coastal Virginia Region: ever, that concern will help you make the right decisions Mike Scaglione, Arrowhead Auto & Align, Virginia Beach for your shop. Letting the concern become fear is some- Bobby Cutchins, Bobby’s Tire & Auto Care, Franklin thing we must not allow. Encourage the change and en- Mark Anderton, First Landing Auto Care, Virginia Beach joy the results of your hard working team. Northern Virginia Region: ST Billingsley, B & W Associates, Woodbridge When I go to meetings like the VAA Convention, I Lynchburg Region: enjoy talking to people in the same business. Borrowing Brenda Carpenter, Colony Tire, Lynchburg and sharing ideas with friends I have made, allows me to Southwest Virginia Region: make changes in my own business. I look back at the Bill Hoal, Carroll Tire Co., Roanoke many speakers we have had. One I remember motivated Shenandoah Valley Region: me to walk into my shop the next day and increase my Steve Crawford, Hepner Tire, Woodstock labor rate by $10.00 per hour. No one said a word about Terry Westhafer, Central Tire, Verona the increase! Now, wasn’t that a good change? Tom Jones, Fisher Auto Parts, Staunton Larry Williams, University Tire & Auto, Charlottesville So, coming to the end of my first article, embrace Next Generation Advisory Council: change. Nurture new ideas. Things will always change. Wes Tatum, Leete Tire & Auto, Petersburg Gary Eavers, Jr., Eavers Tire Pros, Stuarts Draft Until Next time, Robby Cutchins, Bobby’s Tire & Auto, Franklin John Kline, VAA President VAA Contacts: Steve Akridge, Executive Director Welcome New VAA Members Email: [email protected] Carl’s Wash, Lube & Service, Carl Evory, Chesapeake Web: www.vaauto.org Referred by Steve Akridge Phone: 804-739-1400 Accounting Office: Support the organization that supports You, and help 8814 Fargo Road, Ste. 225 VAA grow it’s membership– recommend a shop or a sup- Richmond, VA 23229 plier you know and sign them up online at www.vaauto.org. Click on the Join VAA tab 3 “My Turn” By Wes Tatum VIO Surge to 2020 "After minimal growth on U.S.

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