Tricolor Holdings added another award to its mantle.
The used-vehicle retailer that focuses on the Hispanic market announced that it has been named to the Inc. 2022 Best in Business list, which honors companies that have made an “extraordinary” impact in their fields and on society.
Tricolor Holdings said it was recognized for its groundbreaking success in expanding physical and financial mobility for underserved Hispanics.
Over the last 15 years, Tricolor has booked more than $2 billion in auto financing to help thousands of customers — many of whom lack access to affordable credit — purchase a used vehicle. As a result of its focus on expanding financial inclusion to the underserved, Tricolor became one of the first finance companies in the United States to issue a social bond collateralized by consumer auto asset backed securities (ABS).
“We are honored to be included among this distinguished group of purpose-driven companies and grateful to Inc. for this tremendous recognition of our strategy,” said Daniel Chu, founder and CEO of Tricolor Holdings. “We have a strong conviction that success derives from empowering our customers and helping them to achieve a higher quality of life. Our mission to create that path has been inextricably embedded in both our culture and strategy.”
Rather than relying solely on quantitative criteria tied to sales or funding, Inc.’s editors reviewed the companies’ achievements over the past year and noted how they made a positive difference in the world.
Honorees for general excellence across various industries and categories are featured online at https://www.inc.com/best-in-business.
Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk said, “Inc. magazine is dedicated to showcasing America’s most dynamic businesses and the great things they do. The Best in Business awards shine a light on those that have gone above and beyond their original mission to make a social, environmental or economic impact, benefiting those around them.”
In February, Tricolor was named the LendIt Fintech Industry Award winner for Excellence in Financial Inclusion.
Tricolor — also a U.S. Department of the Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) — uses artificial intelligence (AI) and nearly 15 years of proprietary customer insights and with more than 25 million unique non-traditional credit attributes to unlock financially inclusive opportunities for low-income, credit invisible Hispanics.
The company has also helped more than 50% of its borrowers with no FICO score to establish a score with a major credit bureau.
For more information about Tricolor, visit tricolorholdings.com and tricolor.com.
Earlier this month, Byrider presented awards to its franchise dealer body during the company’s annual convention in Aventura, Fla., honoring more than a dozen professionals who operate buy-here, pay-here dealerships with its franchise system.
Byrider highlighted its franchise of the year award recognizes the best overall performance by a franchise group based on internal store rankings and a measure of how the business has contributed to the Byrider franchise community.
The honorees included:
• 4 or more locations: Russ Larson, Jeff Lee, and Winston Sleeth with dealerships in Burlington, Iowa; Davenport, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Columbia, Mo.; Joplin, Mo.; and Springfield, Mo.
• 2 to 3 locations: John Chalfant and Thomas Loughran with dealerships in Boise, Idaho, and Nampa, Idaho.
• Single location: Keith Kocourek and Jennifer Freiboth with their dealership in Wausau, Wisc.
The president’s awards recognize dealership locations included in the top 10% of stores as defined by Byrider’s store ranking system. Winners, in order of performance ranking, were:
• Springfield Mo.: Russ Larson, Winston Sleeth Top store nationwide
• Davenport, Iowa: Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Joplin, Mo.: Russ Larson, Winston Sleeth
• Burlington, Iowa: Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Des Moines, Iowa: Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Mansfield, Ohio: Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Akron, Ohio: Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Ashtabula, Ohio: Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Bloomington, Ind.: Roy Wagner, Terry Gerhart
• Wausau, Wisc.: Keith Kocourek, Jennifer Freiboth
• Richmond, Ind.: Roy Wagner, Terry Gerhart
• Traverse City, Mich.: Bill Marsh Auto Group, Jeff Chevalier
• Muncie, Ind.: Roy Wagner, Terry Gerhart
• Canton, Ohio: Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
The most improved award was granted to stores that demonstrated the most improvement from 2021 to 2022 based on store rankings for earnings, customer advancement, service comebacks, reputation management, portfolio performance, and more.
• Most improved Single Point: Rick Steenbock in Denver
• Most improved with 2 to 3 locations: John Chalfant and Thomas Loughran in Boise, Idaho, and Nampa, Idaho.
• Most improved with 4 or more locations: Mark Morris in Clarksburg, W.Va.; Morgantown, W.Va.; Parkersburg, W.Va.; and South Charleston W.Va.
A new award recognizing top customer satisfaction scores in the network went to Steve Locklear in Panama City, Fla.
Also honored with a commitment to excellence award was Greg Barrett, who co-owns stores in Ohio and North Carolina. The award recognizes Barrett and his team’s dedication and high-performing stores’ contributions to the larger Byrider network.
Byrider CEO Craig Peters said, “We’re proud to recognize our franchisees and their teams each year at our annual convention. Our franchisees are at the heart of Byrider’s success. Their commitment to helping their customers move forward, as well as expertly operating their stores, is truly commendable.”
Vice president of franchising Chris Hadley added, “I am excited to recognize the owners and operators who have been key drivers of the Byrider franchise business in 2022. These franchisees and operators demonstrated their ability to set high customer service standards and grow the business.”
Tricolor is in the running for a pair of prestigious honors.
The tech-enabled Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and one of the nation’s largest used-vehicle retailers that caters to Hispanic consumers announced it has been named a finalist in two categories for the annual Finovate Awards: Excellence in Financial Inclusion and Best Consumer Lending Solution.
Tricolor said this latest recognition from one of the fintech industry’s leading awards programs builds on a growing list of milestones for the company as it delivers on its mission to help underserved Hispanics enter the financial mainstream and pursue a better life.
To date, Tricolor said it has originated more than $2 billion in auto financing by applying artificial intelligence (AI) to nearly 15 years of proprietary customer insights. With more than 25 million unique non-traditional credit attributes, Tricolor said it can unlock financially inclusive opportunities for low-income, credit invisible Hispanics.
Not only is Tricolor gaining notoriety in the tech space, but the investment world previously has taken notice, too.
Last year, Tricolor announced a $90 million equity investment from BlackRock’s Impact Opportunity Fund, which focuses on empowering underserved communities.
“Underserved Hispanics continue to experience a significant wealth gap in America and are challenged to find reliable transportation at affordable prices and rates,” Tricolor founder and chief executive officer Daniel Chu said in a news release.
“Being recognized by Finovate for both the power of our lending platform and our track record of expanding financial inclusion is a tremendous validation of the vital role Tricolor plays in helping its customers pursue their dreams,” Chu went on to say.
For more information about Tricolor, visit tricolor.com and tricolorholdings.com.
Already with a large collection of accolades and awards, you might say that Dale Pollak now is standing tall on the front line of the independent dealership world, as he’s now considering himself to be a “real car guy.”
Pollak, founder of vAuto, Cox Automotive executive vice president and an innovator in dealership inventory management, was selected as the newest member of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s prestigious Ring of Honor.
Pollak became the 33rd auto industry leader to be inducted into the Ring of Honor, NIADA’s highest award for non-dealers, during Tuesday’s Leadership Awards ceremony. It was part of the 76th annual NIADA Convention and Expo at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
NIADA recapped in a news release that its Ring of Honor recognizes allied industry leaders who have contributed to the professionalism and growth of the automobile industry through outstanding performance and leadership.
“Dale is a pioneer of management, metrics and technology in the auto retail industry who changed the way dealers look at inventory,” NIADA chief executive officer Robert Voltmann said in the news release. “He’s helped countless dealers over the years with his investment-minded approach to used vehicle management.
“Dale’s monumental impact on our industry makes him a worthy and welcome addition to NIADA’s Ring of Honor,” Voltmann added.
The son of an auto dealer, Pollak grew up in the industry, sold his first car at age 16 and ran the used-vehicle operation for a Cadillac/GMC dealership he co-owned with his father, Len, in Elmhurst, Ill.
But while running that dealership with his father, Pollak was also losing his eyesight as a result of a genetic retinal disease. He worried that he wouldn’t be able to judge vehicles if he couldn’t see them, but his father assured him he didn’t need to.
“His exact words,” Pollak later recalled, “were, ‘It’s about the money, honey.’ ”
That got him thinking of vehicles as investments, which, with the help of then-newly developed technology, launched a career in bringing data — and new ways to use it — to car dealers.
Pollak founded vAuto in 2005 to bring visibility to pricing and values in a way that had never before existed. The company was acquired by Autotrader in 2010 and soon after, both companies were incorporated into Cox Automotive.
Pollak, who graduated at the top of his class from DePaul University’s law school, is a best-selling author with six books to his credit. He’s also a four-time winner of the American Jurisprudence Award, the 2010 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year and a member of the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.
In 2014, he was named as Poling Chair at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and currently serves as a transportation advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Even with all those accolades, Pollak said the Ring of Honor is something special.
First, he said in accepting the award, it’s a sign of the “symbiotic relationship” between franchised dealers and independents, whom he called “the foundation of this industry.”
“It serves as affirmation that we’re all in this together,” he said, “and that the fortune and the future of independent and franchise dealers are inextricably tied.”
But, he added, there’s a more personal reason for the Ring of Honor’s importance — and it goes back to Len Pollak, “a true-blue car guy.”
“It addresses a longstanding insecurity,” Pollak told the dealers in attendance, according to the news release. “You see, I was never a 'car guy' like my dad, or like many of you. I was the son of a successful car dealer who cast a long shadow. Sure, I had a love for the business and a knack for the business, but I wasn’t a car guy in the classic sense.
“So here I am today receiving the Ring of Honor award. I think this is the highest recognition I ever possibly could have hoped for in the industry. It signifies that I’ve been accepted as a true car guy by the real car guys and gals of our industry. And for that reason, I'll cherish this moment and cherish this award forever.”
Also honored during the ceremony were NIADA Association Executive of the Year Wendy Rinehart, recipients of the annual NIADA Foundation scholarships and winners of NIADA’s Crystal Eagle award for their efforts in increasing association membership.
NIADA highlighted that Rinehart — Ohio’s state executive since 2013 — has taken an extremely active role in leading her association’s successful legislative advocacy efforts, events and education program, which has been used as a model by other state associations.
The association mentioned Rinehart also makes it a point to learn from other states, attending their conventions to keep up with the latest ideas and resources — and to support her fellow state executives.
“We have the best dealers in the United States,” said Rinehart, a past chair of NIADA’s Association Executives Council. “The best thing about Ohio is our dealers.”
The Carolinas again dominated the Crystal Eagle awards, producing nine of the 12 winners, who were recognized for their outstanding efforts in generating new members for NIADA.
Crystal Eagle awards went to:
—Dale Matthews of Matthews Motors
—Kevin Pendergrass of Carolinas Auto Sales of Myrtle Beach
—Steve Wetmore of McAdenville Motors
—Jerry Padrick of M&M Auto Sales
—Michael Threadgill of Triple T Motors
—Dean Cantey of Automotive Experts
—Wendy Pisor of Northside Auto Sales
—Dan Haight of Dealer Financial
—Sammy Bernardo of ProGuard Warranty
—Jason Reaves of Wayne Reaves Computer Systems
—Chris Maher of Car Credit Nation
—Bryan Daugherty of ACV Auctions and the Mid-Atlantic Regional IADA.
The scholarship recipients included Grace Haynes of Grosse Point, Mich., who earned the $10,000 NIADA Foundation/Manheim Scholarship to Northwood University.
A rising senior currently working toward both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in Northwood’s automotive marketing and management department, Haynes was captain of the Kia OEM team for the 2021 Northwood International Auto Show. She serves as education director for the automotive department’s Enthusiasts Club and serves as a student ambassador for the university’s admissions office.
Haynes has interned for General Motors’ GMC marketing business team, and returned to GM this summer as an intern for the global marketing team, assisting with emerging media.
The NIADA Foundation also awarded scholarships to deserving students from each of the association’s four regions. The recipients included:
—Layla Zaidi of McLean, Va. (Region I)
—Declan Robert of Kodak, Tenn. (Region II)
—Jackson Wittenberg of Sugar Grove, Ill. (Region III)
—Ethan Maughan of Salt Lake City (Region IV)
A dozen operators are in the running for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s highest honor for its member dealers.
On Monday, NIADA announced the finalists for the 2022 National Quality Dealer Award. The 12 finalists have all been selected as their state’s Quality Dealer by an NIADA-affiliated state independent dealers association. They are:
—Alabama: Todd Oden, MTO Motor Leasing Inc.
—Arkansas: Dare Saul, D3 Auto Sales
—Carolinas: Kelly Midgett, Kelly’s Automotive
—Colorado: Tim Gaylord, Gaylord Sales & Leasing
—Georgia: Jeffrey Wilkinson, Wilkinson Used Cars, LLC
—Maryland: James Makia, Exclusive Motorcars LLC
—New Jersey: Michael Graubart, Michael’s Motorcars Inc. and Car Cash of New Jersey LLC
—New York: Joel Osserman, Select EuroCars Inc.
—Ohio: Shawn Evans, The Carriage Company
—Pennsylvania: Robert Straub, 1st Choice Auto LLC
—Texas: Tommy Gregory, Abilene Used Car Sales
—Virginia: Andrew Wiley, Consumer Auto Warehouse, Inc.
One of those finalists will be named National Quality Dealer of the Year on June 23 in a ceremony that serves as the climactic event of the NIADA Convention and Expo, coming up at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“The experience of representing yourself and your state at the National Quality Dealer Awards during the convention leading up the big night is one you will never forget,” 2011 National Quality Dealer and NIADA president-elect Scott Allen said in a news release.
“Congratulations to each of the nominees this year for their great accomplishment. I wish you all the very best of luck and look forward to meeting you and hearing your stories,” Allen continued.
NIADA president Joe McCloskey, the 2013 National Quality Dealer, said the 2022 finalists “are now nationally recognized as a Quality Dealer and are embarking on the journey of a lifetime.”
The association recapped the National Quality Dealer Award was created in 1976 to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of NIADA’s independent dealers.
NIADA said nominees are judged by a distinguished panel of judges using a rigorous scoring metric that considers contributions to the automotive industry and the association, outstanding business operations and community involvement and service.
Nominations are supported by the dealer’s reputation in the community, repeat business, customer service, ethical business practices and corporate/employee relationships.
This year’s judges include:
—Elgie Bright, chairman of Northwood University’s Department of Automotive Marketing and Management
—Harry Dombroski, dean of the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Business
—2019 National Quality Dealer Otto Hahne of City of Cars in Troy, Mich.
—Auto retail expert and acclaimed dealer educator Joe Lescota
—Ken Shilson, president of Subprime Analytics and noted buy-here, pay-here expert
—Mike Temple, founder of Temple Executive Coaching.
NIADA chief executive officer Robert Voltmann said the National Quality Dealer award represents everything it means to be a dealer who is committed to quality, excellence and outstanding service, and who makes it a priority to give back to his or her community to make it a better place for everyone.
“The National Quality Dealer of the Year finalists represent the best of their state’s independent automobile dealers and the best of the national industry,” Voltmann said. “Each is an exemplary example of the quality NIADA dealers bring to their customers, communities, businesses and the industry.”
Byrider recently inducted two more operators into its Hall of Fame, which recognizes contributions to the growth and culture of the buy-here, pay-here dealership chain.
Bringing the Byrider Hall of Fame to 18 members, the newest inductees are Winston Sleeth and Steve Petersen.
“Winston and Steve have been so important to the growth of Byrider in their own ways,” Byrider president of franchising Chris Hadley said in a news release.
“Winston’s perspective as a former corporate associate who grew to become a top franchise owner should be inspiring for all. He continues to be a passionate owner who gives back his time and insight to collaborate on innovation for our system. This contribution to Byrider is invaluable,” Hadley continued.
“Steve’s work ethic, throughout his career has figuratively and even literally laid the groundwork for expansion. Dealerships don’t thrive if they’re not built in the right location. Everyone in Byrider owes Steve a debt of gratitude for his insight and experience in this and other roles he’s held in our company,” Hadley went on to say.
Sleeth owns and operates three Byrider locations in Missouri — Columbia, Joplin and Springfield. In fact, the Springfield store has been awarded Byrider’s top dealership award the last four years in a row.
An Indianapolis native, Sleeth began his employment in Byrider’s corporate office as a part-time associate in 1999. Following continued success and advancement, Sleeth earned additional responsibilities as a zone manager over several territories before being offered the opportunity to invest as a franchisee.
Petersen, originally hired by company founder James DeVoe Sr. has served in a variety of positions, including regional managing partner, franchise consultant – team leader, director of real estate, and director of procurement.
Byrider said Petersen and his wife, Terri, are looking forward to his upcoming retirement later this year.
Byrider recently honored the top performers within its network of buy-here, pay-here dealerships and franchisees.
During the company’s annual convention on Nov. 13 in Scottsdale, Ariz., Byrider chief executive officer Craig Peters said, “We’re proud to recognize our franchisees and their teams each year at our annual convention. Their commitment to helping their customers move forward, as well as expertly operating their stores is truly commendable.”
Byrider vice president of franchising Chris Hadley added, “I am excited to recognize the owners and operators who have been key drivers of the Byrider franchise business in 2021. These franchisees and operators demonstrated their ability to set high standards of customer service and grow its business.”
Franchise of the Year
The franchise of the year award recognizes the best overall performance by a franchise group based on internal store rankings and a measure of how the business has contributed to the Byrider franchise community.
• Franchise of the Year with four or more locations
Russ Larson, Winston Sleeth and Jeff Lee with seven total locations, with four in Iowa (Burlington, Davenport, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids) and three in Missouri (Columbia, Joplin and Springfield)
• Franchise of the Year with two to three locations
Bill Marsh Auto Group and Jeff Chevalier with three locations in Michigan (Saginaw, Traverse City and Wyoming).
• Franchise of the Year with single location
Keith Kocourek and Jennifer Freiboth in Wausau, Wisc.
President’s Award
The president’s awards recognize dealership locations included in the top 10% of stores as defined by Byrider’s store ranking system. Winners, in order, included:
• Springfield, Mo. – Russ Larson, Winston Sleeth (top store nationwide
• Burlington, Iowa – Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Wausau, Wisc. – Keith Kocourek , Jennifer Freiboth
• Davenport, Iowa – Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Joplin, Mo. – Russ Larson, Winston Sleeth
• Palmyra, Pa. – Doug Lewis
• Ashtabula, Ohio – Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Des Moines, Iowa – Russ Larson, Jeff Lee
• Mansfield, Ohio – Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Akron, Ohio – Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Springdale, Ark. – Dave Hanson
• Canton, Ohio – Chris McPhie, Greg Barrett
• Bloomington, Ind. – Roy Wagner, Terry Gerhart
• Traverse City, Mich. – Bill Marsh Auto Group, Jeff Chevalier
• Anderson, Ind. – Roy Wagner, Terry Gerhart
Most Improved
The most improved award was given to stores that demonstrated the most improvement from 2020 to 2021 based on store rankings (earnings, customer advancement, service comebacks, reputation management, portfolio performance, etc.), organized by franchise size.
• Most Improved with four or more locations
Jeff Williams with four locations in Opelika, Ala., Tuscaloosa, Ala., Panama City, Fla., and Pensacola, Fla.
• Most Improved with two or three locations
Jonathan Gandolfo with locations in South Carolina (Columbia, Greenville and North Charleston)
• Most Improved with a single point
Steve Walden with a location in Tucson, Ariz.
Also honored with a Commitment to Excellence Award was Chris Thomas, who owns stores in Raleigh, N.C. and Durham, N.C. The award recognizes Thomas and his team’s dedication and high-performing stores for their contributions to the larger Byrider network.
“Thomas has piloted a new and innovative franchise model which prioritizes sales and service and partners with Byrider’s corporate finance team for account management, known as Byrider Direct,” the company said.
Among other awards given, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association welcomed the newest member of its prestigious Ring of Honor.
During Tuesday’s Leadership Awards, part of the 75th annual NIADA Convention and Expo at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, NIADA added Tony Long, executive director of the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance and longtime leader and innovator in the remarketing industry, to this group.
Long became the 32nd auto industry leader to be inducted into the Ring of Honor, which is NIADA’s highest award for non-dealers.
NIADA’s Ring of Honor recognizes allied industry leaders who have contributed to the professionalism and growth of the automobile industry through outstanding performance and leadership.
The son of an dealer, Long began his career in the used-vehicle industry selling used cars for Twin City Buick in Alcoa, Tenn., but he and his parents shifted gears and went into the auction business as founders of Airport Auto Auction in Alcoa.
That partnership lasted 20 years, and in that span Long became an industry leader, highlighted by serving as president of the National Auto Auction Association in 2004.
Long was also the first president of NAAA’s Warren Young Scholastic Foundation — he was later named a Fellow of that foundation — and was chairman of the search committee that hired NAAA chief executive officer Frank Hackett, who retired this year after 17 years of distinguished service.
Long moved on from the auction business after his father, Paul, passed away in 2009, but four years later he returned to remarketing as IARA’s executive director.
During his tenure, Long has overseen the automation and growth of IARA’s Certified Automotive Remarketer program, which is widely used by IARA’s corporate members and is part of the curriculum of Auction Academy.
“I lost my dad 12 years ago,” Long told NIADA members in accepting the award, “but he would be so proud and so honored to see me getting an award from dealers. You were his buddies.
“I can truly say the most important lessons I’ve learned in this business are from my dad and from dealers just like you. I am so honored to be included in your family,” Long added
Also honored during the ceremony were NIADA Association Executive of the Year John Brown, recipients of the annual NIADA Foundation scholarships and winners of NIADA’s Crystal Eagle award for their efforts in increasing association membership.
In his 12 years as executive director of the Carolinas IADA, Brown has taken the association from more than $1 million in debt to a surplus of $1 million, as well as record attendance at CIADA’s past five annual conventions, with record vendor participation.
In addition, Brown launched CIADA’s Political Action Committees in North and South Carolina, leading to multiple legislative successes, and built strong relationships with both states’ Department of Motor Vehicles.
Brown also launched BetterDealers.TV, a successful continuing education platform that has hit record dealer participation the past two years. And he’s written three dealer books, including two Amazon best sellers.
The Carolinas also produced eight of the 10 winners of this year's Crystal Eagle award in recognition of outstanding efforts in generating new members for NIADA.
The Crystal Eagle recipients also included:
—Kim Bradshaw of 1st Nations Auto Sales
—Darryl Jackson of Crown Auto Sales & Finance
—Dale Matthews of Matthews Motors 2 Inc.
—Kevin Pendergrass of Carolinas Auto Sales of Myrtle Beach
—Steve Wetmore of McAdenville Motors
—Jerry Padrick of M&M Auto Sales
—Michael Threadgill of Triple T Motors
—Dean Cantey of Automotive Experts
—Jason Reaves of Wayne Reaves Computer Systems and Georgia IADA
—Michael Frazer of Frazer DMS and Texas IADA
NIADA went on to highlight the scholarship winners included Blake Holland of Sterling Heights, Mich., who won the $10,000 NIADA Foundation/Manheim Scholarship to Northwood University.
A rising senior studying automotive marketing and management at Northwood, NIADA said Holland is passionate about the auto industry. He’s been involved with the Northwood International Auto Show, currently serving as chief operating officer, and helped start a new campus organization called NU Auto, which focuses on accelerating and improving the university’s automotive curriculum and overall experience.
In addition, Holland has interned with Sellers Auto Group in Farmington Hills, Mich., working in every department at the dealership.
The NIADA Foundation also awarded scholarships to deserving students from each of the association’s four regions. The recipients included:
—Lauren O’Connell of Elmhurst, N.Y. (Region I)
—Victoria Shown of McMinnville, Tenn. (Region II)
—Cassandra Martinez of Albert Lea, Minn. (Region III)
—Serena Turner of Phoenix (Region IV)
The series of awards given by the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association began on Tuesday.
Henry Mullinax, who served almost 40 years as a leader of national and state independent dealers associations, received the Michael R. Linn NIADA Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to a news release from NIADA, the award was created to honor individuals who have contributed a career of exceptional and selfless service to the association. It is named for NIADA CEO emeritus Michael Linn, who became the first recipient in 2013 on his retirement from his longtime role as NIADA’s chief executive.
Mullinax was recommended for the award by Linn himself, which, he said, made the honor especially meaningful.
“I am so thankful that he lent his talents to independent dealers,” Mullinax said in accepting the award during the 75th annual NIADA Convention and Expo at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. “He made a difference for and in our industry. And to think that he believes I have also is very overwhelming. I am truly humbled.”
Mullinax has been a member of NIADA and Alabama IADA since he joined as a franchise dealer in 1978. He rejoined as an independent dealer in 1981, after he founded Mullinax Auto Sales in Oxford, Ala.
He became president of his local AIADA chapter in 1984 and has since served in every leadership position at the local, state and national level. He was AIADA president in 2006-07 and NIADA president from 2019-2020.
He’s also served on numerous committees and has chaired the NIADA Services Board, the Legislative and Regulatory Committee and the NIADA Foundation Board of Trustees, among others.
Mullinax completed his term as chairman of the NIADA board of directors this week when the new slate of officers was sworn in — the first time he has not held an association leadership post in 38 years.
He has been named Alabama’s State Quality Dealer and presented with AIADA’s distinguished service award, and was inducted into AIADA’s Hall of Fame in 2008.
In his acceptance remarks, Mullinax said he did some “soul-searching” about what brought him to this point.
“The main reason,” he said, “was my answering the call to provide service to others.”
NIADA highlighted that Mullinax’s service goes beyond the independent dealers associations.
His dealership awarded college scholarships to local high school graduates. He’s been a member of the Jaycees and the Chamber of Commerce, for which he’s served on the public affairs committee.
He’s also served on the Oxford school board and was president of the career tech program advisory board. And in 2018-19, he was a member of the governor’s task force on curbstoning.
The Indianapolis Business Journal named Byrider’s Steve Mark as one of the publication’s Chief Financial Officer of the Year honorees this week, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated outstanding performance as financial leaders of their organizations.
During his time at Byrider as CFO, the buy-here, pay-here franchise network highlighted that Mark made preparedness and transparency top initiatives for his team, which paid significant dividends during the pandemic.
The company said Mark worked diligently to document processes and procedures in order to be ready for almost any unexpected situation and equipped his team with all of the necessary resources to make a smooth transition to working from home.
Additionally, Byrider mentioned Mark opened up communication across all teams and improved reporting in order to create a holistic view of the company’s operations that allows ownership and leadership teams to make well-informed business decisions.
“We are so proud of Steve and this acknowledgment from the Indianapolis business community,” Byrider chief executive officer Craig Peters said in a news release.
“Steve has really elevated Byrider's credibility and reputation with our investor community. The enthusiasm and expertise that he brings to his role make our entire team better,” Peters continued.
Reacting to the accolade, Mark said, “I am honored to receive this recognition. This has been a challenging year, but I am so proud of the team I work with and their hard work and dedication.
“We put in a lot of effort to be ready for unprecedented situations like we faced in 2020, and it is rewarding to see that preparation paid off,” he went on to say.
