View The Latest Edition
Dealer news: Dealers honored with awards during NADA Show
Lithia and Driveway’s Tina Miller (right) received the Barbara Cox Woman of the Year Award from Cox Automotive CEO Steve Rowley during the 2024 NADA Show. Northwood University student Hayden Wilburn (left) was presented with the $10,000 Barbara Cox Scholarship. Photo courtesy of Cox Automotive.
Tina Miller, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Lithia and Driveway, was honored by Cox Automotive as the recipient of its annual Barbara Cox Woman of the Year Award during the NADA Show last week in Las Vegas.
The award, named for Barbara Cox, the late co-owner of Cox Enterprises and daughter of the company’s founder, recognizes women who demonstrate business leadership, community advocacy and a commitment to advancing the automotive industry.
In nearly 20 years with Lithia, Miller has driven significant growth and aligned external financing to fuel an industry-leading acquisition strategy, Cox said in a news release. Under her tenure, company performance has thrived — it is currently one of the largest global auto retailers, with more than 300 locations across North America and the U.K., and among the fastest growing companies in the Fortune 500.
She is also passionate about giving back to her community, serving on the board of the Arc of Jackson County, a local nonprofit that seeks to integrate people with disabilities into their communities, and as a trustee for St. Mary’s School in Medford, Ore.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by Cox Automotive for Woman of the Year and to be part of the community of amazing women who have received this award before me,” she said. “Supporting diversity within the automotive industry is essential as we continue to evolve the customer experience to match the uniqueness of each individual.”
The award was presented by Cox Automotive president Steve Rowley on Saturday at the annual Northwood University Dealer Education Awards Breakfast, part of the NADA Show. Cox also awarded the Barbara Cox Memorial Scholarship of $10,000 on Miller’s behalf to Haiden Wilburn, a Northwood University sophomore from Muskegon, Mich., studying automotive aftermarket management.
“Through this award, we are reiterating our dedication to promoting diversity, inclusion and equity in the automotive industry,” Rowley said. “We are recognizing one of our clients who embodies the qualities and achievements of the late Barbara Cox. Barbara was a resolute, skilled and determined woman who cared deeply about her community, business, and people.”
Five dealers receive Northwood Dealer Education Awards
Northwood University named five dealers as winners of its annual Dealer Education Awards in a ceremony Saturday at the Wynn Las Vegas during the NADA Show.
Northwood has recognized auto dealers for contributions to education and their communities since 1972.
The 2024 recipients are:
— Sandy Angello, vice president/dealer operator of Pohanka Automotive Group in Salisbury, Md.
— Thijs Bochane, CEO/owner of Bochane Group in Veenendaal, The Netherlands.
— Joey Gabarda, owner/dealer operator of Classic Honda in Midland, Texas.
— Tim Kool, president/dealer principal of Heritage Chevrolet in Battle Creek, Mich.
— Brett Sutherlin, president and CEO of Sutherlin Automotive Group in Montgomery, Ala.
“These honorees are leaders in the industry,” Northwood vice president of advancement Murray Kyte said in a news release, “and Northwood couldn’t be more pleased than to recognize each and every one of them as this year’s Dealer Education Award honorees.”
Front row (from left): Northwood Dealer Education Award winners Tim Kool, Thijs Bochane, Sandy Angello, Joey Gabarda and Brett Sutherlin. Back row: Student presenters Vanessa Collins, Hannah Wood, Katrina Ness, Eddie MacNellis and Sawyer Jordan. Photo courtesy of Northwood University.
Morgan Automotive Group partners with automotiveMastermind
Morgan Automotive Group, one of the nation’s largest automotive dealer groups, has joined with data and technology provider automotiveMastermind — part of S&P Global Mobility — in a strategic partnership to integrate Mastermind’s technology and data enrichment, as well as Polk Automotive Solutions’ data services from S&P Global Mobility, into the operations at Morgan’s 73 dealerships throughout Florida.
Through the partnership, Mastermind and Polk Automotive Solutions will serve as a data quality, enrichment and business intelligence resource for Morgan. Combining the power of those offerings, the companies said, will enable Morgan to access cleaner customer data and predictive analytics from its customer data platform to enhance its operational systems and marketing strategies and improve the consumer experience at its dealerships.
Morgan chief operating officer Tom Moore said in a news release that the collaboration “better equips our marketing partners, marketing teams and dealer operators to execute the best possible consumer experience through our dealership network.”
“Having clean data with Mastermind predictive analytics,” he said, “gives us a unique advantage to serve our customers with a personal touch.”
automotiveMastermind CEO Matt Leone said the company is looking forward to working with “this incredible dealer group to build on its established success by providing our data and predictions, in-market behavior insights, seamless integrations with other tech providers and new innovations that we introduce to Mastermind.”
Joe Kyriakoza, vice president and general manager of Polk Automotive Solutions and S&P Global Mobility, said the partnership “highlights the strength of the S&P Global Mobility portfolio by leveraging the mutual strength of Polk Automotive Solutions’ data services and Mastermind’s predictive analytics.”
