Tire Industry Association’s Dick Gust and other industry veterans join board to drive the foundation’s mission of recycling and end-of-life tire solutions
Bowie, Md.—The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has announced that its CEO, Dick Gust, has joined the inaugural board of directors for the Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative led by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and TIA, which debuted Feb. 21. The TRF’s mission is to foster innovation, accelerate sustainability, and support research and development efforts to advance tire recycling and the circular economy.
The TRF’s board will focus on critical initiatives aimed at enhancing tire reuse markets, securing funding for innovation, and advancing the development of emerging technologies like rubber-modified asphalt (RMA), which helps improve the performance and sustainability of road surfaces. The foundation’s long-term goal is to achieve 100% circularity for end-of-life tires by 2030, a milestone that will have a transformative impact on the environment and the tire industry.
“It is an honor to be part of the Tire Recycling Foundation’s efforts to advance sustainable tire recycling,” Gust said. “The tire industry is at a pivotal moment, with tremendous opportunities to improve the circularity of tire products and reduce their environmental footprint. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members and industry stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions and ensure that the tire recycling supply chain continues to evolve for the benefit of both industry and the planet.”
Fundraising initiative
As part of its fundraising efforts, the TRF aims to raise $300,000 in 2025 to support critical projects focused on tire recycling research, education, and demonstration initiatives. A longer-term goal of $2-3 million is set for 2026, to further accelerate the development and deployment of tire recycling solutions across the global supply chain.
The full list of the TRF Board of Directors includes:
- Dr. John Baldwin, Chief Product and Technical Strategist, Discount Tire
- Greg Bell, President, Tire Pros/American Tire Distributors
- Thomas Boehme, CEO/President, Genan, Inc.
- Olivier Brauen, VP Circularity Business Transformation, Michelin
- Amy Lestition Burke, Executive Director/CEO, SWANA
- Art Dodge, CEO/President, ECORE International
- Anne Forristall Luke, President & CEO, USTMA
- Terry Galvin, Vice President, Recycling Services Mining Tire Group, Kal Tire
- Dick Gust, CEO, TIA
- Allie Kelly, Executive Director, The Ray
- Maureen Kline, Vice President, Public Affairs and Sustainability, Pirelli Tire LLC
- Nicolas Nicolaou, Vice President, End-of-Life Tire Solutions and Sustainability, US Auto Force
- Darcy Robison, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Goodyear
- Andy Thompson, Global Director of Sustainability Policy, Bridgestone
- Thomas Womble, CEO, Liberty Tire Recycling
For more information on the Tire Recycling Foundation and its initiatives, visit https://tirerecyclingfoundation.org.
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