MADA strongly encourages all dealer members to complete the 2013 Economic Impact Report. This report highlights the tremendous economic impact the automobile industry has on the State of Maryland.  The Association uses this report when dealing with the legislature, governmental agencies and the media.  This is a very important report that cannot be prepared without your help!   

Please take a few minutes to complete the attached survey and return it as soon as possible.  This new format is all-electronic allowing you to complete the survey on your computer.  Hint: You may need to open it in Adobe or Acrobat to fill in the text boxes.  All responses will be held in strict confidence.  When completed, you can simply click on "Submit" at the bottom of the form, which will transfer it to a secure Adobe web site where responses can be downloaded.  Or, you may save the form in Reader, and return it as an email attachment.  

If you operate more than one dealership, please complete one survey form for each location. We will provide dealers a copy of the report upon its publication.  We appreciate your participation and thank you in advance for your timely response.

MADA hosted its Annual Membership Meeting and Legislative Reception on January 14th in Annapolis.  We were pleased to have many members attend, as well as welcoming a large number of our Legislative representatives.  Local political guru and WBAL commentator, Blair Lee, spoke to members and shared with us his expectations for Maryland in the coming year. 

During the business portion of the meeting, we recognized and thanked Marc Cohen for his six year's of service on the MADA Board.  We also recognized former MADA Chairperson, Marisa Shockley, who will represent Maryland as this year's TIME Dealer of the Year nominee at the 2014 NADA/ATD Convention & Expo.  

Marisa Shockley, representing MD at the 2014 NADA Convetion

Maryland's 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year, Sean McComb, also spoke to our members during the meeting. An English teacher at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts in Baltimore County, McComb graciously thanked MADA members for their generous support of the TOY Program.  He remarked, "your generous support provides an air of grandeur and esteem to a field that is all too accustomed to going without.  Your contribution speaks to all teachers about the value those outside of education hold for our work."  He was candid in his thanks for the new vehicle that he received on behalf of all MADA members.  Everyone can be assured that the gift of a new car is especially helpful to this young teacher and his wife (also a teacher) who are expecting their first child in two months time!   This marks the 13th year that MADA has served as a sponsor of the program and has awarded the gift of a new car to the winning teacher.  This year's vehicle was a 2014 Kia Forte.

Sean McComb, the 2014 MD Teacher of the Year

We thank all of our members and Legislative representatives who attended this year's meeting and reception.    

MADA Chairman Tom Walls and his brother, Charlie Walls, of Plaza Ford with Candidate Wayne Norman and Ray Nordstrom of Courtesy Chevrolet

Sean McComb and his wife, Sarah, with Tommy Thompson and Fred Anderson of Thompson Automotive

We are thrilled to announce that this year's Maryland Teacher of the year, Sean McComb, has been named one of the four finalists from around the country who will compete for National Teacher of the Year!  Sean was named MD Teacher of the Year in October 2013.  The winner of the National competition will be announced during a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House in March. 

Maryland has had three other finalists for National Teacher of the Year in recent years; Montgomery County kindergarten teacher Kimberly Oliver Burnim in 2006, Frederick County chemistry teacher Michelle Shearer in 2011, and Cecil County's English teacher Rhonda Holmes-Blankenship in 2012.  Kimberly and Michelle both won National Teacher of the Year and we wish Sean the same success!

Date/Time:  Thursday, January 23rd at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Ensure that your dealership is up to date on the latest safety issues.  In this webinar, Bob O'Gorman, President of the Automotive Lift Institute, and Eric Schmitz, Vice President of KPA's Environment & Safety Products, will discuss:  

• Increased OSHA lift enforcement and emphasis
• The importance of using a qualified lift inspector
• Lift issues KPA commonly finds while assisting with safety inspections
• How the new Automotive Lift Institute online training can help your employees

Date/Time: Thursday, January 23 at 1pm Eastern

Presenter:  Jim Flint 

Cost: $149.00 per person              

Today's car shoppers have a hard time making a decision and are increasingly reluctant to submit an online lead to a dealership.  Jim Flint's "Moneyball" workshop will help you navigate the complex digital marketing arena and learn where to allocate your advertising funds to best drive new and used vehicle sales.

You Will Learn:

• A more effective process for prioritizing your advertising spending
• Ideas for increasing "your name" bids by as much as 900%
• How your dealership can benefit from the online shopping phenomenon of "showrooming"
• How "MoneyBall Math" can produce dramatically higher advertising ROI

 #2: How to Run your Store(s) by the Numbers...The Data-Driven Advantages of Operational vs. Financial Analysis 

Date/Time: Thursday, January 30 at 1pm Eastern

Presenter:  Sandi Jerome 

• Why and How your DMS often buries the really useful data  
• How to identify, extract and then analyze DMS data for operational advantages
• How managing strictly by the "Financial Statement" can be financially harmful  
• Examples of "Operational Data Analysis" and how to apply to your organization
• The Top 10 Loss Risk Areas resulting from Financial Accounting myopia

 Click Here to Register Today!