De Willard and Geoff Pohanka were recently honored at the 95th Annual NADA Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas. Dewalt (De) Willard, of Ideal Buick GMC Hyundai, represented Maryland as our 2012 TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year nominee. Geoff Pohanka, of Pohanka Automotive Group, represented the Washington Area New Auto Dealers Association at their nominee.

The TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry's most prestigious and highly coveted awards for new-car dealers. Recipients are among the nation's most successful auto dealers, but they must also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to effective community service. We congratulate De and Geoff on this honor!

MADA would like to thank all of our generous sponsors who made this year's NADA Reception possible. Please consider those who support your Association when making business decisions...

Thanks to our sponsors listed above, MADA members enjoyed a wonderful Reception at the 2012 NADA/ATD Convention and Expo.  See for yourself!

MADA Chairperson, Marisa Shockley of Shockley Automotive, and Harold Redden, Fitzgerald Automotive Group

Erik Nachbahr, Helion; Steve Sarecky, Chevy Chase Nissan Acura; Scot McConnor, Helion; and Sam Weaver, Jr., Chevy Chase Nissan Acura

2012 TMQDA Nominee, De Willard, Ideal Buick GMC Hyundai

Sheehy Automotive's, Vince Sheehy, Sr. and his wife, Helen, with Vince Trasatti, Jr. of East West Lincoln and his daughter, Alexandra

Lynn Kitzmiller with Tom, Katie, and Sharon Walls, Plaza Ford, and David Williams, Williams Automotive Family

We hope you attended and enjoyed the 2012 Motor Trend International Auto Show-Baltimore last week. Attendance was good and we received reports from dealers who sold cars as a direct result from a customer having attended the show the previous day!   

The new Hyundai Veloster was a popular model on display.

This year's show featured the GM Ride & Drive and the Chrysler Drive Experience. Both features were a huge hit, as customers test drove various models from Chrysler, Dodge,

Jeep, Fiat, GMC, Buick, and Chevrolet. Passers-by loved checking out the vehicles as they sat on display in front of the Convention Center on Pratt Street each day.

A very popular feature on Saturday, WWE Diva Beth Phoenix, drew a huge crowd. Fans eager to meet her and get an autographed photo lined up at least two hours in advance on the show floor. Ms. Phoenix was friendly and welcoming to her fans. She even hung around for a little flirting and photo opportunity with King Robota, another big hit on the show floor.

WWE Diva Beth Phoenix and King Robota

We are pleased with this year's show, but we anticipate a better show in 2013. Thank you for attending this year's Auto Show and we look forward to sharing the latest and greatest with you next year!

Courtesy of MADA, this year's Teachers of the Year, enjoyed a day in Annapolis and a luncheon in their honor.  Association President, Peter Kitzmiller, welcomed the teachers at their luncheon, held at the historic Maryland Inn. He thanked them for their dedication to public education and for making Maryland's public school system the best in the country for four years in a row!

During the day, each of the 24 teachers had the opportunity to meet with their local delegates and State senators. As a group, they were welcomed and received by the General Assembly.  Each teacher also received a poster, provided by MADA, celebrating their distinction as being chosen a Teacher of the Year nominee.

As a presenting sponsor of the Maryland Teacher of the Year Program, MADA annually supports the program through financial contributions. MADA is proud to support our teachers and to recognize the very best in Maryland!

MADA announces the next live webinar coming to you from DealersEdge... 

Your DMS: Convert to Another or Accept What You Have?  

Date/Time: Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

Presenter:  Sandi Jerome  

Cost: $149.00 Per Person

A step-by-step decision plan:  This Webinar will feature DMS guru Sandi Jerome with her new ideas on how to decide if a DMS change is needed and then how to organize and simplify the process.

Even if it has been years since your last conversion, or years before your next, these tips will help you avoid the pain of switching systems.  Her process may even convince you that the system you presently employ is the right one for your organization.

If you do decide a switch is needed, her process and checklist will help you determine which system would be best for your situation.

Also, you will learn how to take the fear out of the conversion process.  Many dealerships simply stick with what they have in order to avoid the conversion process.  This session will help you overcome that obstacle to having the best system for your dealership or group.

You Will Learn:

• How to determine if you should change systems or to simply stick with what you have
• How to use training based on your needs and how to get better DMS support
• The best time for your DMS conversion and how to create a custom checklist for confidence when you "go live"

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY! 

B&R Associates, providing automotive equipment service to dealerships for over 40 years. Thomas Parsons, President/Owner, 301.417.7777 (work) or email: tparsons@bandrassociates.com. Bortie Twiford, Business Development, 301.417.7777 (work) or email:  btmail@bandrassociates.com.

* MADA would like to congratulate Tom Parsons on his new business venture. A longtime member of MADA through his former employer, DARCARS, Tom left the company in 2010 to pursue his goal of owning and operating a successful company. We congratulate Tom on this success!