Aspiring automotive executives can secure a new academic foundation as they embark on careers at dealerships, finance companies and other industry service providers.

This week, the Richard DeVos Graduate School of Management at Northwood University, in collaboration with Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals executive director David Robertson, has announced it will be accepting students for a specialized master of business administration program to start in January.

Officials highlighted the retail automotive executive MBA is a two-year, forward-looking curriculum that combines proven MBA techniques with the specific needs of retail automotive executives.

“For the past 60 years, Northwood has conferred industry-related degrees on men and women who have made significant contributions to all phases of the automotive manufacturing, marketing and support industries,” said Keith Pretty, Northwood University president and chief executive officer. “We are proud to bring to the industry a program that will enhance the careers of dealer contact personnel, aftermarket product providers, and independent general agents.”

A unique aspect of the program draws on the seasoned knowledge of recognized automobile industry leaders — executives, upper echelon managers and field experts — to augment the classroom learning with videotaped lectures. The Industry Icon Lecture Series, coordinated by AFIP, will provide actual “been there, done that” essential information that supports classroom instruction.

“A focus for us in developing the curriculum was the accelerating rate of change in both consumer preferences and marketing techniques,” said Lisa Fairbairn, dean of the DeVos Graduate School. “It was important to us to provide a full complement of proven MBA philosophical constructs and practical application skills.”

Interested students are encouraged to apply now for the completely online program, and classes begin in January. The program is optimized for automotive retailers, including current or future dealer principals, in-store sales and finance and insurance personnel, and those who support marketing.

For more information or to apply to the retail automotive executive MBA, contact admissions representative Michele Martin at (616) 432-6095 or martinml@northwood.edu.