ARLINGTON, Texas -

Auto Data Direct founder and president Jim Taylor recently received the highest National Independent Automobile Dealers Association award for non-dealers at the 72nd annual NIADA Convention and Expo in Orlando, Fla.

Taylor is the newest and 30th auto industry leader to be inducted into NIADA’s Ring of Honor, the association announced Wednesday.

Taylor was honored during the convention’s National Leadership Awards Banquet in recognition of being an allied industry leader who has helped to advance the professionalism and growth of the automobile industry.

“As an entrepreneur at heart, Jim has a passion for public-private business ventures that bring a common-sense small business approach to complex bureaucratic processes,” NIADA chief executive officer Steve Jordan said in a news release. “His positive relationship with both government and industry leaders has bridged that gap seamlessly and provided dealers with faster, more accurate access to information and services.”

In 1999, when Taylor founded Auto Data Direct he wanted to give Florida dealers access to the state’s motor vehicle database in real-time, according to NIADA.

About 10 years later, NIADA said the company became the first U.S. Department of Justice-approved provider of consumer and corporate access to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System database in 2009.

Auto Data Direct currently has contracts with 35 states to provide real-time motor vehicle information, according to the association.

“Dealers are not just our customers,” said Taylor when accepting his award, according to the new release. “Dealers have truly been our partners. We might have an idea to build something and put it out in the industry, but it’s been the input — sometimes the criticism — and the suggestions and ideas our customers give us that help us improve that product.

“We could not provide a good product for the industry without our customer-partners. I can’t thank them enough for all the confidence and business they’ve given us over the years,” he continued.

Additionally, the special banquet also honored recipients of NIADA scholarships and winners of the Crystal Eagle award, such as Chelsea Mallams of Livonia, Mich., and four students from each of the association’s four regions.

Mallams was recognized at the banquet for winning the $10,000 NIADA/Cox Automotive Scholarship to Northwood University and 13 NIADA members were presented with the Crystal Eagle award in recognition of bringing in new members.