Before the holiday season fully arrives, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association is providing the chance for operators to gain knowledge and skills to make the business bright well into the future.

This week, NIADA opened registration for its next Certified Master Dealer (CMD) class, a three-day, in-person training and certification program for independent retail and buy-here, pay-here dealers.

The class will be held Dec. 7–9 at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott in Irving, Texas.

“What I liked most about the CMD course was that you weren’t just learning about one thing. You were learning about inventory, marketing, accounting, compliance, and even leadership,” said Lindsey Thomason, a Certified Master Dealer and general manager at Friendly Auto Gallery, Cumming, Ga.

“The moment that you think that you know everything is the moment that you probably need the education the most,” Thomason continued in a news release.

NIADA highlighted the agenda moves through 12 core areas of dealership operations in back-to-back sessions led by subject-matter experts.

The first day is devoted to dealership accounting and compliance.

The second day covers vehicle acquisition and inventory management, reconditioning, inventory pricing and merchandising, BDC and CRM lead management, and the sales process.

The closing day delves into finance and insurance, fixed operations and service management, customer retention, and leadership, with a breakout that lets attendees focus on either BHPH underwriting and collections or retail lender management, depending on their business model.

Throughout the class, NIADA said participants build a working business plan for their own dealership.

“The Certified Master Dealer program gives dealers a complete look at how every department of their store works together, and they leave with a plan they can put to work immediately,” NIADA CEO Jeff Martin said in a news release. “The dealers who earn this designation are the ones raising the bar for our industry, and we’re proud to help them get there.”

The class concludes with testing on Dec. 9.

Graduates will earn the CMD designation and join a network of dealers committed to compliance, industry involvement, and community leadership.

CMD holders maintain the designation through ongoing continuing education, which can be earned through NIADA in-person sessions, webinars, and convention education, as well as qualifying programs offered by state associations.

Tuition is $4,795 for NIADA members, $5,395 for non-members, and $2,395 for current CMD holders.

Tuition includes all three days of instruction, class materials, and meals during program hours.

Travel and lodging are not included.

For more information or to register, visit www.niada.com/cmd.