The American International Automobile Dealers Association welcomed 2012 chairman Ray Mungenast to the helm Monday at its 42nd Annual Meeting and Luncheon while also revealing the winners of the annual achievement award named after the new chairman’s late father.

Receiving this year’s David F. Mungenast Lifetime Achievement Award were Rick and Rita Case, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. husband-and-wife team that owns Rick Case Automotive Group.

The honor is given each year to a leader who embodies similar community and industry commitment as the award’s namesake (who also served as AIADA chairman), officials explained

The Cases were honored during Monday’s event in Las Vegas. Their dealership group includes 15 stores through Florida, Georgia and Ohio.

“The Cases have demonstrated a commitment to the same values as the award’s namesake, Dave Mungenast. Their dedication not only to their business, but also to their community, provides an example for dealers nationwide,” stated AIADA President Cody Lusk.

Rick Case began his career in the car business with an Akron, Ohio store in 1962. Now the auto group he and Rita Case own is commemorating 50 years in the business.

The pair also donates their time and money to 30 charitable endeavors, including the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. The Cases have helped generate $50 million for this cause over the years.

They have also been given other industry accolades as well as community honors. The Cases were honored with the 2004 Sun Sentinel Business Leader of the Award for South Florida, as well as the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

New Chairman, Board Offiicers

Moving along, AIADA also shared more about its new chairman and the accompanying officers on the board of directors.

Joining chairman Mungenas are: Jim Smail, the immediate past chairman; Jenell Ross, who is the chairman elect; and Greg Kaminsky, AIADA’s new treasurer.

The new chairman, of course, runs Mungenast Automotive Family with his brothers and serves as its president. The group is based out of St. Louis and features Acura, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, and Toyota franchises. Mungenast Automotive Family also has a motorsports store.

Mungenast has served on the association’s board of directors since 2008, while also taking on various leadership positions within the industry.

He chaired the Automotive Free International Trade Political Action Committee from 2000 to 2002. Mungenast has also been on Acura’s Dealer Product Advisory Committee.

“At some level, we all want our businesses to be our legacies. We want people to remember us for the jobs we created, the customers who trusted us, and the communities we helped build,” Mungenast said.

“We want our names to last on the stores we opened and the charities we founded. We want to be remembered for what we stood for, and for what we stood against,” he added. “In 2012, we will all have the opportunity to stand together as leaders and add to that legacy.”