Bridgestone Firestone Promotes Two Longtime Teammates
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 18, 2007) – Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) today announced promotions in its logistics department as well as its sales engineering department. The promotions—effective July 1, 2007— are:
- Nelson Miller, who is currently serving as Director, Logistics, will be promoted to Vice President, Logistics, and will continue reporting directly to Asahiko “Duke” Nishiyama, President, BFNT. As BFNT’s chief logistics executive Miller is responsible for the company’s state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution systems as well as the company’s industry leading, award winning private trucking fleet.
- Bill VandeWater, presently Consumer Products Manager, Sales Engineering department, BFNT, will be promoted to Director, Consumer Products and Technologies. VandeWater will continue to report to David Laubie, Vice President of Sales Engineering.
According to Nishiyama, “At Bridgestone Firestone, we’re focused on developing our teammates and giving them the opportunity to grow and advance with the company. I have every confidence that both Nelson and Bill will do very well in their new assignments.”
Miller joined Firestone Tire & Rubber Company (predecessor of BFNT) in 1966 in the Central Scheduling Department. Within his more than 40 years with the company, Miller has served in various roles of increasing responsibility in the areas of logistics and physical distribution. In 1983 thru 1988 he was responsible for logistics in Europe. Miller holds a degree in mathematics from Ohio State University.
VandeWater joined Firestone in the Tire Development Department in 1973 and worked on both the replacement and original equipment sides in Akron, Ohio. In 1990, VandeWater moved to the Sales Engineering department and a year later he moved to Nashville to assume the position of Firestone Consumer Products Manager. In 1995, he was promoted to Consumer Products Manager over all consumer tire brands. VandeWater holds a degree in engineering science from theUniversity of Virginia.
About Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC:
Nashville-based Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, motorcycle, agricultural and other tires to its customers in North America.