Three nominees seized opportunities to enter the industry when dealerships came up for sale. And they have flourished ever since.

In the final group of profiles of nominees for TIME Dealer of the Year Award, these store executives all share what’s important to them — in and out of the showroom.

The awards program, which is produced in cooperation with the National Automobile Dealers Association and sponsored by Ally Financial, aims to recognize the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.

Auto Remarketing published these nominee profiles in advance of the winner being announced during the NADA Convention and Expo that runs this weekend in Las Vegas. Previous installments can be found here.

Michael Weseloh, dealer operator, Weseloh Chevrolet Co., Carlsbad, Calif.

“It is rewarding to participate in the phenomenal growth of a small, Main Street auto dealer into a regional dealership, serving many communities in an established auto park on a major interstate freeway,” Weseloh emphasized.

A 1971 graduate of University of San Diego High School, Weseloh went on to study business administration and economics at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. He was on the academic dean’s list many times and was on the varsity rugby and crew teams. “In summers through high school and college, I worked many different jobs, including parts counter, lube rack, body shop metal man — even one summer in the business office,” he recollected.

After college, he entered the family business fulltime, joining Weseloh Chevrolet in 1975 as a service consultant, working his way up to general manager in 1988. Today, the company also owns Honda and Nissan dealerships in San Juan Capistrano and a Kia dealership in Carlsbad. “The family has been successful in the automobile business for almost 100 years,” he added. “I am a third-generation automobile dealer, and I have two sons (potential fourth-generation dealers!) currently working at the dealership.”

One of Weseloh’s most meaningful philanthropic endeavors is supporting the Oceanside Boys & Girls Club. He’s organized fundraisers, led committees and facilitated the building of an outdoor soccer court for the kids. He’s proud of the group’s Steak and Burger event, where children mix with celebrities and businessmen at a gala dinner. “The Club is in a tough part of town,” he pointed out. “How many lives have been steered in the right direction through the efforts of the Club? It’s very gratifying to know you have helped in some way.”

Another way he gives back is by serving on the boards of the Tri-City Hospital Foundation, MiraCosta College Foundation, Armed Services YMCA and Oceanside Jaycees. Weseloh also works with several associations for football officials.

Turner Whitson, dealer principal, Whitson-Morgan Motor Co., Clarksville, Ark.

Whitson graduated from Clarksville High School in Arkansas in 1962 and in 1969, received a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Arkansas, where he was on the dean’s list and in the Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity. After high school, he joined the Arkansas National Guard and served for seven years. He worked at Ralston Purina before joining his father in the family automotive business in Clarksville, buying his uncle’s share of the company.

In 1999, he brought in three young cousins as partners and credits them with moving the company into the digital age of dealership operations. “During these trying economic times in the automotive industry, Whitson-Morgan has not only survived but thrived due to progressive management staying ahead of the challenges,” he said. “By taking advantage of Internet marketing, 2010 and 2011 are the best years in our history.”

On the civic front, Whitson is proud to have worked with a young Bill Clinton on his first campaign for U.S. Congress and continued to serve as campaign manager in Johnson County during Clinton’s successful bids for governor and president. In 1984, he founded and chaired the Johnson County Development Corporation, which was responsible for bringing in new industries and lowering the unemployment of Johnson County from 17 percent in 1986 to 3.6 percent in 1994. In 2008, he worked with the Chamber of Commerce to again come up with a plan for economic development. He also served on the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Commission and worked to pass the Arkansas Lemon Law.

Whitson has won numerous awards recognizing his community involvement, including the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce’s Pillar of Progress Award and Lee White Legacy Award, the most prestigious honor given by the chamber. “These awards are most meaningful because they recognize that I had an integral part in bringing more than 3,000 jobs to my county,” he noted.

Mark Wiggins, owner and operator, Mark’s Casa Auto Group Albuquerque, N.M.

“As a customer- and service-oriented industry, the satisfaction of our customers is the most significant measure of employee knowledge and expertise,” Wiggins stressed.

A 1978 graduate of Roswell High School in Roswell, N.M., Wiggins attended the New Mexico Military Institute, also in Roswell, and Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, where he earned a degree in marketing and administration in 1984. After working as a district sales manager for the Pepsi Co., he found his calling in auto sales. “In September of 1990, I entered a Gene Messer dealership in Lubbock, Texas, and applied for a service writer position,” he remembered. “But Greg Wessels, the owner/operator, and Mr. Messer persuaded me to sell cars.”

Over the next few years, he broke sales records, which motivated him to experience other areas of the dealership structure. In 2005, he was promoted to chief operating officer and moved to Albuquerque to oversee four stores in New Mexico and Colorado. Shortly thereafter, his longtime associates became his partners in Mark’s Casa Auto Group, which owns three dealerships in Albuquerque and has achieved much success and growth despite a troubled economy.

In the area of community service, Wiggins is a strong supporter of the Special Olympics. As a parent volunteer, he donated time, materials and labor to prepare land and build a horse arena for the New Mexico Special Olympics Equestrian program. He is also involved with the Christina Kent Early Childhood Center and helps with the organization’s annual auction to raise funds for operation and maintenance of the daycare center serving Albuquerque’s underprivileged communities.

A winner of the Chevrolet Dealers Mark of Excellence Award, Wiggins is proud of the growth of his business and the high level of customer satisfaction in regards to service and sales. He stated, “I have the unique opportunity to inspire those who have a drive and desire to excel. Through weekly sales trainings, I attempt to reach the individuals who aspire to go further in this industry. I am truly in a position to become the kind of teacher and mentor that I had benefited from.”

DeWalt Willard, chairman, Ideal Buick GMC Hyundai, Frederick, Md.

When it came to Willard’s entry into the car business, you could say that the cart came before the horse. In 1981, he had the opportunity to purchase the land and buildings of a dealership that went bankrupt six months after being built. Later that same year, Willard was presented with an opportunity to become a 50-percent owner of Ideal Buick, Inc. He accepted the offer and then relocated the dealership to the property that he had recently acquired.

Now more than 30 years later, Willard owns four dealerships in three states and are all financially sound. He considers his employees his most important asset and treats them as such.

Willard is also a big believer in proper training. “It is especially gratifying to be able to promote employees from within our own companies,” Willard explained. “I greatly admire those who have utilized opportunities for continuing education and who have worked smart and hard to advance themselves.”

Over the course of his career, Willard has received numerous civic awards.  In September 2009, he was recognized by the Maryland Maryland Secretary of Agriculture for his lifetime commitment to improving agriculture production and conservation throughout Maryland. He also served on the boards of Frederick Memorial Hospital, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Frederick Country Chamber of Commerce and Frederick County National Bank.

Randy Wise, dealer, Randy Wise Chevrolet, Flint, Mich.

“Having spent more than 41 years in this business, the biggest reward is the success of my 200 employees,” Wise declared. “Every day presents new challenges and the ability to deal with them keeps me going.”

Wise graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he wrote for the student newspaper, The Michigan Daily, and was a member of the athletic board. He broke into the automotive business in 1970 after graduation, learning the ropes at Cauley-Serra Chevrolet while serving as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve until 1976.

He purchased his first dealership in 1989 and, in addition to Randy Wise Chevrolet, he also owns Randy Wise Buick-GMC in Fenton, Randy Wise Ford in Ortonville, Randy Wise Auto Mall in Flint and Randy Wise Chevrolet-Buick in Milan. His son Christopher is a vice-president in the organization. “Through the cyclical times of the automobile industry, I never questioned the decision I made in 1970 to get in this business,” Wise noted. “I keep a positive attitude with employees, especially some of the younger ones, convincing them that this is a great business and if we consistently do the right things, it can be very rewarding.”

In the area of community service, Wise is the vice chairman of the board of directors for the United Way and is proud of his work in helping to transform the organization to function more effectively in today’s environment. He is also a member of the United Way’s Tocqueville Society, which recognizes local philanthropic leaders, and was a past board member of the Easter Seals. Wise has been a member of the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association for 22 years and served as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer for the Greater Flint Auto Dealers Association.

Each year, Wise is the title sponsor of the Randy Wise Junior Open, a golf tournament that benefits a local and national charity. A strong supporter of local schools, Wise helped an area high school purchase a new scoreboard for the gym. “Every day there is a new need to help in the community,” Wise pointed out. “And as someone who lives and works in Flint, the need never stops.” That’s why last year he donated a van to help a family through Priority Children, a group that works to improve the lives of children — random acts of good will that add up and make a significant difference in the community.

More nominee profiles can be found at allybizhero.com.