Tire and Rubber Association of Canada Announces 2026–2027 Board of Directors

Toronto, ON, June 5, 2026—The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (tracanada.ca) is pleased to announce its 2026–2027 Board of Directors, elected at the Annual General Meeting of members held on June 4, 2026.

At the meeting, members elected Jay Spears of Continental Tire Canada Inc. and Ira Shatzmiller of Bridgestone Canada Inc. as new directors, succeeding Kim Rolfe (Continental Tire Canada Inc.) and Phillip Diogenes (Bridgestone Canada Inc.), respectively.

Ira Shatzmiller is Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Bridgestone Canada, with more than 20 years of experience in corporate, commercial, construction, manufacturing, and employment law. Her expertise spans the manufacturing, infrastructure, construction, and consumer goods sectors, with a particular focus on major projects. She brings strong legal, governance, and risk management expertise to the Board.

Jay Spears is Head of Sustainability and Director of Standards & Regulations for Continental Tire, the Americas. He is responsible for tire regulatory and standardization matters, as well as sustainability efforts across North and South America, and represents Continental within numerous industry organizations, including USTMA and the Tire and Rim Association. Jay has more than 25 years of experience in the tire industry, including leadership roles in product development, technical product management, and racing development.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Kim Rolfe, Phillip Diogenes, and Paul Downey for their valuable contributions and dedicated service,” said Chris Figel, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, AirBoss of America Corp., and Chair of the TRAC Board of Directors. “We are pleased to welcome Jay Spears and Ira Shatzmiller, whose expertise will strengthen the Board’s depth in regulatory, technical, and legal matters. We look forward to their contributions as TRAC continues to provide consistent and effective industry leadership.”

“I would also like to thank returning directors Christine Baker, Lawrence Kumar, Maureen Kline, Michelle Black, and Paul Christou for their continued service,” added Figel.

TRAC 2026–2027 Board of Directors:

About the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada

The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada is the national trade association representing tire manufacturers, rubber products manufacturers, importers, recyclers, and suppliers of goods and services related to the industry. TRAC works with governments and stakeholders to support innovation, performance, safety, and sustainability, including end-of-life tire management.

For more information, please contact:
[email protected]
5409 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 208
Etobicoke, ON M9C 5K6
Tel: 437-880-8420