LAS VEGAS -

It has been a busy week of news coming out of the National Independent Automobile Association Convention in Las Vegas.

In addition to the inaugural NIADA Lifetime Achievement Award and the newest NIADA Ring of Honor member being named, NIADA and the National Auto Auction Association announced that their print media are merging.

NAAA’s On the Block newsletter will now be included in NIADA’s Used Car Dealer monthly magazine six times a year as a special section. In addition to the news media merger, the organizations said they plan to combine their annual industry reports.

This news was revealed Thursday.

Meanwhile, at the convention’s National Leadership Awards Banquet on Wednesday, the first-ever NIADA Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Michael Linn, NIADA’s chief executive officer. The 2012-2013 NIADA Executive Committee created the award to recognize Linn’s career and support of the association, where he has served as CEO for 14 years.

As a tribute, the award will be named the “Michael R. Linn NIADA Lifetime Achievement Award” for future years.

“NIADA has been truly blessed to have had the leadership of Mike Linn,” said Don Fincher, chairman of NIADA’s executive board and a past president.

“Serving on the executive board these last few years, I have seen first-hand the issues, challenges and problems we face as dealers on the national level,” he continued. “And I have worked side by side with a man who has calmly, competently and efficiently led our association with integrity and dedication through those trying times.

“The true measure of leadership is someone who refuses to give up or give in and does not let anything or anyone deter from the objective. That is Mike Linn.”

In receiving the award, Linn said: “I want to thank of course all of our dealers, our vendors, all of my good friends in the industry. They have been the most important thing to me throughout my entire career. The people I have met in this industry, I want to tell you, are No. 1.”

During the same ceremony, Black Book president Tom Cross became the 23rd industry leader to join NIADA’s Ring of Honor. It is the highest non-dealer award from NIADA.

“Tom has always been a strong advocate for our dealers, our associations and the industry as a whole,” Linn said.

“Like our other Ring of Honor members, he has dedicated his career to the automotive industry, always giving of his time and resources to improve the image of the industry and to assist its dealers,” he added. “We are deeply indebted to their service.”

Also on Wednesday, NIADA and Manheim presented the third annual Dealer’s Edge National Community Service Award to Freeman Motor Co. of Portland, Ore.

Manheim vice president of industry relations Jay Cadigan presented the dealership with a $5,000 check to be donated to Bridge Meadows, a charity chosen by Freeman Motor Co. that builds and sustains intergenerational neighborhoods for adoptive families of foster children. It aims to promote permanency, community and caring relationships, while offering safety and meaningful purpose in the daily lives of older adults.

“Independent auto dealers who share their time, talent and resources to improve lives locally and globally deserve to be honored,” said Cadigan. “Eric and Jenny Freeman of Freeman Motor Co., this year’s recipient of the Dealer’s Edge National Community Service Award, have embraced charitable giving and volunteerism to empower the lives of children and families through their tireless efforts.”

Some of those efforts include local charities like Children’s Center, a child abuse assessment center; Remember Nhu, which works to prevent children from entering the sex trade industry; Jubilee Transitions Home, which provides housing for homeless men; and Toys for Tots.

Freeman’s efforts also extend beyond U.S. borders.  Dealership president and founder Eric Freeman launched a campaign raising funds for trucks in a resettlement camp in Kageyo, Rwanda that would provide transport for food and supplies as well as taking people to receive medical treatment.

He remains involved with the village.

“Along with using his business to improve lives, Eric and his wife, Jenny, have also personally contributed nearly $20,000 to help with the development of Kageyo,” said Alan Hotchkiss, executive director of Africa New Life Ministries International, who was among those who nominated Freeman Motor Co. “These donations have been used to purchase food for children, hire well educated teachers for their schooling and drill clean water wells in their community.”

Other finalists were also spotlighted for their charitable efforts. Those included:

• The Car Store in Oklahoma City, Okla.
• City Auto Sales in Memphis, Tenn.
• Alamo Valley Auto Sales in Kalamazoo, Mich.
 

Continue the conversation with Auto Remarketing on both LinkedIn and Twitter.