Along with adding a new staff member in charge of dealer education, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association also selected its newest Gold-level National Corporate Partner.

According to a news release distributed this week, that partner is National Lenders General Agency, specializing in reinsurance products for dealerships and finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here, lease-here, pay-here and point of sale markets.

National Lenders sells contractual protection, limited warranty and vendor single interest insurance products.

National Lenders announced late last month that it is being managed by president Ken Terkel and executive vice president and chief operating officer Eric Hurst, two highly seasoned industry veterans.

“As our company grows, we find customers appreciate the innovations we bring to the market,” Terkel said in the news release from NIADA.

“We share common ownership with Empire Indemnity Insurance Company RRG and will be Empire Indemnity’s exclusive managing general agency, a streamlined business structure that results in reduced risk, improved returns and significant cost savings in the insurance vertical.”

NIADA fills key director of education role

Janet Staderman recently joined NIADA as its new director of education, filling a key role in executing the association’s strategic plan.

According to another news release, Staderman will develop and implement NIADA’s education strategy, focused on expanding and advancing dealer education to help NIADA members compete and succeed in the competitive and ever-changing used vehicle industry — a major objective of the association’s five-year strategic plan.

That strategy will include certification, on-demand e-learning, virtual classes, in-person courses and workshops, and NIADA’s premier Certified Master Dealer program.

The association said Staderman will also be involved in the NIADA Foundation scholarship program.

“We are very excited to have Janet join our team,” NIADA chief executive officer Robert Voltmann said. “Janet is an entrepreneur at heart and will resonate with NIADA members and our state affiliates. She will take NIADA dealer education to new heights.”

Staderman previously was academic director of the University of Cincinnati’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education, responsible for the university’s adult continuing education, business and industry training, workforce development and professional development programs.

NIADA highlighted that Staderman’s areas of expertise include e-learning strategy and implementation, learning management system operations, continuing education credit program design, instructional design, student needs assessment and analysis, and program budgeting and marketing.

“I am a huge advocate for lifelong learning,” Staderman said. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to further develop NIADA’s dealer education programming and create strong relationships with our state associations and their members.”