TMC Names Silver Spark Plug Winners

The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the ATA bestowed its Silver Spark Plug Award on six trucking industry professionals

during its 2004 Fall Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 13-16.
The 2004 TMC Silver Spark Plug recipients are: Dave Rehurek, transportation manager for Alcoa Extrusions Inc., Yankton, S.D.; Herman Miller, fleet equipment manager for Shopko Stores Inc., Green Bay, Wis.; Kenneth Claar, program manager for The Lubrizol Corp., Wickliffe, Ohio; and Jerry Warmkessel, sales engineer for Mack Trucks Inc., Allentown, Pa.
These recipients were recognized for their contributions to the improvement of equipment, its maintenance and maintenance management.
Silver Spark Plug awards were also presented to Carl Kirk, executive director of TMC and vice president of councils for American Trucking Assns., Alexandria, Va., and Robert Braswell, technical director for TMC, Alexandria, Va.
Rehurek became a TMC member after he was named the winner of TMC's Excellence in Maintenance Supervision Award in 1995. He became active within the S.3 Engines Study Group, serving on several task forces and eventually becoming first vice chairman of the group. In 2000 he became study group chairman. He organized, moderated or was a presenter for numerous technical presentations. In 2002 he was elected to the Board of Directors and was named vice chairman and chairman of meetings in 2004.
Miller has been a TMC member for nearly 14 years, serving behind the scenes for many TMC activities. In 2000 he became the first vice chairman of the S.3 Engines Study Group, standing in as chairman much of that time until he was officially named S.3 chairman in 2003. He helped organize several technical sessions. Miller has been an active of the Wisconsin Fleet Maintenance Council for more than 16 years.
Claar, a TMC member since 1991, has worked extensively with the S.3 Engines Study Group, the former S.11 Vehicle Energy Conservation Study Group, and the S.14 Light- & Medium-Duty Trucks Study Group. He has assisted in the development of numerous TMC Recommended Practices and was named a TMC Recognized Associate in 2003.
Warmkessel, a TMC member since 1989, has served on and chaired numerous Task Forces within the S.4 Cab and Controls Study Group and been an organizer or panelist for numerous technical sessions. He currently serves as S.4's second vice chairman.
Kirk joined TMC in 1987 as information manager, became technical director in 1991 and executive director in 1993. In addition he was named ATA's vice president of councils in 2000, where he oversees the National Accounting & Finance Council and the Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council in addition to TMC. Kirk led the council through a period of significant change, including the inclusion of an information technology and logistics segment and the addition of international meetings in Canada and Mexico, and TMC's FleetPortal.
Braswell joined TMC in 1992 as information manager. He became assistant technical director in 1994 and technical director in 1996. Braswell has channeled the development of industry standards and recommended practices into an array of industry products and publications. He has worked closely with the continued refinement of TMC's Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards and helped in the development of TMC's FleetPortal. Braswell has also moderated and participated in technical sessions within TMC and in conjunction with SAE's Commercial Vehicle Maintenance Committee.
The Silver Spark Plug is awarded annually to individuals who have:
Since the award's 1968 inception under the Regular Common Carrier Conference Maintenance Committee, 154 individuals have been recognized with the Silver Spark Plug Award. Both fleet representatives and members of the supplier community are eligible.
For more information, visit www.tmc.truckline.com.