CROWN POINT, Ind. -

The Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association recently named its 2011 winner of the Joe Krier Quality Dealer of the Year.

Garnering the accolade this year was Shaver Preferred Motors of Merrillville, Ind. The association gave the honor to Michael Shaver Sr. at its annual golf outing and awards day on Sept. 11 at Ironwood Golf Club in Fishers, Ind.

IIADA reiterated its Quality Dealer of the Year is chosen based on several attributes.

“The dealership must be consumer oriented, and the dealer must have a record of good business decisions based on honesty and integrity,” association officials said.

“Also, the dealership must represent themselves as a civic leader within the community. Shaver Preferred Motors represents all of these attributes,” they added.

In 1913, E. L. Shaver started in the auto business as a Hudson-Essex distributor in Lake County, Ind. Officials highlighted the Shaver family has had second, third, and now fourth generations in the new- and used-vehicle business, stretching from Indiana to California.

Shaver Preferred Motors opened its doors as a small independent dealership in 1994.  Since then, it has grown from selling 15 units a month to moving in excess of 700 units per year.

The store specializes in both prime and non-prime clientele in northwest Indiana. 

In 1999, Shaver Preferred Motors opened a seven-bay repair center so the rooftop can recondition units before going up for sale.

Furthermore, Shaver acts as a regional repair center for its service contract customers, walk-ins and dealer referrals. The store also has a state authorized emission center with seven ASE certified technicians on staff.

Michael Shaver Sr. has served on IIADA’s board of directors for eight years, with four of those years as treasurer. Shaver has also been a director at his alma mater, Regis University in Denver, as well as serving as member of local and state chambers of commerce and an elite panel for subprime dealer conferences.

Shaver also is a member of Leedom & Associates first dealer 20 group for secondary independent dealers.

IIADA noted Shaver Preferred Motors will represent Indiana at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas next June.  The store will compete with quality dealers from other states in the National Quality Dealer Award Program.

“The association is proud to have Shaver Preferred Motors as this year’s Quality Dealer of the Year,” officials concluded.