LAS VEGAS –

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association has named Auction Direct USA chief executive officer Todd Hoagey its inaugural NIADA CPO Dealer of the Year.

Hoagey was presented the award Wednesday during the National Leadership Awards Banquet at the association’s convention.

NIADA said the award spotlights, “the quality of dealership operations, the vehicle certification process, the number of CPO vehicles sold and the dealer's commitment to providing a better product and level of service to his customers and the community.”

Auction Direct had three of the top four dealerships for NIADA CPO last year, including the top-ranked Raleigh, N.C., store.

The Rochester, N.Y., store ranked third and the Jacksonville, Fla., location came in fourth.

“Todd is committed to excellence, quality and customer service," Chris Murphy, senior executive vice president of Warrantech, the NIADA CPO program's administrator, said in a news release. “He has a well-rounded approach to implementing the CPO program into all facets of his dealership operations.

“Starting with service and moving into the sales process, the NIADA CPO program has shifted the culture in his dealerships. That shift can be seen in the marketing and advertising he does to separate his dealerships as best-in-class CPO facilities, which has helped him gain critical market share at all of his locations,” Murphy said.

NIADA CEO Steve Jordan said: “Todd has excelled in business, winning numerous awards thanks to his customer-centric business model. We're proud to honor him with this inaugural award. He exemplifies the best of the best among the dealers who are leading the way in offering the NIADA CPO program to their customers.”