Over a Century of Expertise – Tire Service at Its Best
06.24.22
Stellar is proud to be a homegrown company based in Garner, Iowa. Our long history of product excellence and trusted customer service begins with our knowledgeable team. One group that always stands out for their expertise is our Tire Service Truck sales team. Together, they represent more than 100 years of hands-on experience in the tire service industry.
Travis Glidden
Travis Glidden, Regional Sales Manager at Stellar, has been with the company for almost 30 years. Prior to that, he worked at Collins Equipment from 1986 until 1993, when they were purchased by Stellar.
Travis has traveled from coast to coast and from Canada’s Arctic Circle to the sweltering heat of South America to sell Tire Service Trucks. Over the years he has been involved with the Northwest Tire Dealers Association, North Central Tire Dealers Association, and the Tire Industry Association (TIA), where he is currently on the Board of Directors. For years, Travis has spearheaded Stellar’s partnership with TIA to host tire safety training classes in Garner. At last count, Stellar has hosted 200 tire technicians from 38 states and five different countries for these classes. Travis has also assisted with classes in Idaho, Oregon, Florida, Alberta, and British Columbia.
“I would like to see TIA training classes become an industry standard and a requirement for all tire service technicians,” said Travis. “Working with independent tire dealers who are servicing commercial truck, farm/ag and all sizes of OTR tires has given me understanding of the industry and its challenges, including safety considerations and lack of formal training.”
His many years of involvement with TIA, his relationships with those involved in the industry, and his experiences are a big part of what makes Travis who he is today and one of the many reasons he loves the industry. “My most rewarding experience during 36 years of being in the tire industry are the friendships I have made with customers and other industry colleagues from all across the globe.”
Tom Formanek
Tom Formanek, our Eastern U.S. & Canada Regional Sales Manager, has been with Stellar for nearly 30 years. Before Stellar, Tom worked with Collins Equipment for 6 years as a Tire Salesman and Manager. Over his years in the industry, Tom has been heavily involved with the Tire Industry Association, holding many positions on the board, including Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President. Over the years he has built many close relationships, both professionally and personally, which he says are among the things that make the tire industry so unique.
He is proud to be part of Stellar and the growth and respect they have gained over the years within the industry. “Stellar is viewed as the innovator in regard to our Tire Service products,” said Tom. “We are always finding better, faster and, most of all, safer ways for our customers to perform tire changing.”
While Tom still has many years left in his career, he’s happy to look toward the future and offer advice to upcoming generations. “Get as much training and hands-on experience as you can, and always be honest and forthcoming as you only get one reputation,” he said. “The tire industry is not an easy industry, but it is a rewarding one. You get out of it what you put into it.”
Tad Hartwig
Tad Hartwig, part of the Stellar Inside Sales Team, is responsible for assisting the Regional Sales Managers with quoting, order entry, and finalization of customer orders in addition to working closely with Distribution and Customers to meet their product needs.
Tad has been with Stellar for more than 17 years, and he can truly offer up hands-on experience because much of his career has been spent building service trucks. He’s also been part of the Quality Control Team, so he’s seen firsthand the pride that the Stellar team puts into our equipment and the value delivered to our customers.
“I really enjoy working closely with our distributors and customers to build working relationships with the folks that buy our products,” said Tad. “After being in Quality for so many years, it’s nice to be able to work with our customers who receive our equipment on a daily basis. Helping them go from a quote to getting a custom truck built exactly how they need it for their job is exciting.”
Ruben Guida
Ruben Guida, Stellar’s Director of Export Sales, has a global perspective on how the world runs on tires. He works with distributors around the world to identify and communicate customer needs and supply them with the best Stellar products to improve their productivity.
With more than 18 years of experience in the truck-mounted material handling industry and an extensive educational background in international business, Ruben brings considerable expertise to the Tire Service Truck team.
“I understand that each customer is different and requires a unique solution, and I enjoy helping customers get just what they need. I like building strong, long-term business partnerships, and I want Stellar to be the preferred source for high-quality truck equipment and accessories. That’s why I’m so proud of the quality of our tire service trucks and the commitment of our team to make them the best in the world.”
With this much experience and know-how available from a single source, it’s no wonder Stellar is the leading tire service truck brand. Check out our lineup, reach out to us, and count on our team of pros to deliver excellent service along with our quality equipment.