Wichita Kan. -- -The leader of Titan International predicted a coming boom in the ethanol and biodiesel markets during his speech to the Mid-America Tire Dealers Association (MATDA) 17th annual Convention & Trade Show on March 16.
CEO and Chair Maurice M. Taylor Jr., speaking at the Wichita Marriott Hotels and Resorts, said, "The people in the Midwest should be aware that ethanol and bio-diesel markets will explode. This will be a boom for the economy and will not be just a one year deal."
Taylor led a leveraged buyout of Titan in 1990 in concert with MascoTech. In 1996, he ran as a Republican candidate for president of the United States. 
Earlier on March 16, the first day of the Friday and Saturday conference and trade show, attendees registered and attended the board meeting from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. At the awards presentation after Taylor's speech, the Employee of the Year Award was presented to Warren Wasson of Hay Machinery in Baldwin City, Kan. John Hay accepted the award for Wasson.
"A business's most valuable asset are its employees," Hay said. "Without our employees here at Hay Machinery Co. Inc., we could not be the successful business that we are today. Warren Wasson is one of those valued employees. Warren has a great work ethic, is courteous, and trustworthy. In September, Wasson will have worked with us for 40 years."
This year's Industry Service Award was given to Randy Haas of T.O. Haas in Lincoln, Neb. George Hoellen accepted the award on behalf of Haas. MATDA President Phil Thompson made the presentation.
MATDA has established a scholarship program to help promote career opportunities in the tire industry for Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma students. Six scholarships in the amount of $500 each were presented to:
Ashley Broesch, sponsored by Tire Centers Inc.; Laura Flies, sponsored by Country Tire Inc.; Amber Howard, sponsored by Becker Tire; Amber Knight, sponsored by T.O. Haas Tire; Kurt Kolm, sponsored by T.O. Haas Tire; and Meghan Smith, sponsored by Canton Service Center.
On Saturday morning, Fran Jabara held a seminar titled "Improve Your Profits; Managing the 1%s."
"Leadership," Jabara said, "is what determines the direction a company proceeds. Good leaders have great drive, high energy, they exercise, don't abuse their body, and they avoid negative people."
Jabara said he worked with Dave Thomas of Wendy's where he learned the value of foreseeing problems and how to address them before they occur.
"Competing with the Big Box" was the title of the seminar presented by Mark Jackson of Cooper Tire Corp. "Properly led," Jackson said, "any company can compete with a big box."
Jackson related that doing business with Big Box competitors was like the Colonies taking on England in the Revolutionary War. Jackson said that in order to succeed, a small-business owner needs to learn when the business is going in the wrong direction.
"This is the job of the leader or owner of the business," he said. "Communicate, have clear goals, a contingency plan, lead by example, don't be afraid of risk, have confidence, and demonstrate competence, authority, and honesty."
The convention was rounded out with the St. Patrick's Day-themed trade show with 25 sponsors and exhibitors.
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