On the Dash:
- TIME announced 47 nominees for the 2026 Dealer of the Year award, honoring exceptional franchised dealers for business performance and community service.
- Ally Financial, the award’s sponsor, will donate a total of $31,000 to the charities of nominees, regional finalists, and the national winner.
- Finalists are selected by a University of Michigan panel, with the national winner to be announced Feb. 5 at the NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas.
TIME has announced the 47 nominees for the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year award, celebrating franchised new-car dealers for exceptional business performance and community involvement. Sponsored by Ally Financial, the award highlights dealers who demonstrate both operational excellence and a commitment to their communities.
While dealers are nominated by members of the Automotive Trade Association Executives, a panel from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select finalists from each of the four NADA regions. The national winner will be selected from the regional finalists and announced on Thursday, Feb. 5, on the Main Stage at the NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas.
As the award’s exclusive sponsor, Ally Financial will contribute $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)(3) charity of choice. The four regional finalists will receive $5,000 donations to their preferred charities, while the national winner’s charity will receive $10,000.
The award emphasizes both business and philanthropic achievements. Nominees are carefully selected by local and state franchised-dealer associations, highlighting their leadership in the automotive industry and their impact on local communities.
The list of 2026 nominees includes:
- Jonathan Allen, J. Allen Toyota (Gulfport, Miss.)
- Steve Beck, Beck Motor Company (Pierre, S.D.)
- Emily Marlow Beck, Marlow Motor Company (Front Royal, Va.)
- James Bernstein, Milton Ruben Chevrolet (Augusta, Ga.)
- James Buzzetta, Jr., Competition Subaru of Smithtown (Smithtown, Long Island, N.Y.)
- Nolan Campbell, Bell Motors, Inc. DBA Bell Ford (Arlington, Wis.)
- Robert M. Cavender, Cavender Buick GMC North (San Antonio, Texas)
- Jamie Cobb, Gwatney Buick GMC (North Little Rock, Ark.)
- Carla Cosenzi Zayac, Country Nissan (Hadley, Mass.)
- Rusty Drewing, Rusty Drewing Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac (Jefferson City, Mo.), among others across the U.S.
Other nominees span all regions of the country and represent a wide range of brands and markets, including:
- Lee Edwards, Edwards Chevrolet (Birmingham, Ala.)
- Ben Faricy, The Faricy Boys (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
- Johnny Wayne Farris, Farris Motor Company (Jefferson City, Tenn.)
- Martha Fato, Straub Honda (Triadelphia, W.Va.)
- Melanie Funkhouser, Fair Oaks Motors, Inc. (Chantilly, Va.)
- Anthony Gordon, Jarrett Gordon Ford (Davenport, Fla.)
- Everett Hellmuth, Passport BMW (Suitland, Md.)
- Matthew Helmkamp, Gates Chevy World (Mishawaka, Ind.)
- Mario Hernandez, Teton Toyota (Idaho Falls, Idaho)
- Marshall Jespersen, Dover Honda (Dover, Mass.)
- Kate Keith, Lundeen Brothers Ford of Annandale, Inc. (Annandale, Minn.)
- Alycia Kellum, Don Williamson Nissan (Jacksonville, N.C.)
- Stephen Kissee, Jack Kissee Ford (Claremore, Okla.)
- David Kull, Burns Honda (Marlton, N.J.)
- Bert Lindsay, Lindsay Honda (Columbus, Ohio)
- Mike Mahalak, Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram FIAT of Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.)
- Jim Marsh, Jim Marsh Kia (Las Vegas, Nev.)
- Bill McDaniels, McDaniels Acura (Columbia, S.C.)
- Thomas McMath, Arceneaux Ford, Inc. (New Iberia, La.)
- Steve Melloy, Advantage Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep Fiat (Farmington, N.M.)
- David Moore, Moore Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram (Hartford, Ky.)
- Michael Mullaney, Hudson Buick GMC Cadillac (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
- Russ Newby, Newby Buick GMC (St. George, Utah)
- Clint Newell, Clint Newell Toyota (Roseburg, Ore.)
- Tom Price, Price Family Dealerships (Larkspur, Calif.)
- Wade Rehbein, Rehbein Ford (Plains, Mont.)
- Duke Scott, Scott Honda of West Chester (West Chester, Pa.)
- Pat Shields, Shields Motor Co., Inc. (Chanute, Kan.)
- Alison Spitzer, Spitzer Auto World Amherst, Inc. (Amherst, Ohio)
- Todd Szott, Szott Ford (Holly, Mich.)
- Doug Weisz, Evergreen Subaru (Auburn, Maine)
- Dan Wilder Jr., Wilder Toyota (Port Angeles, Wash.)
- Rod Wilhelm, Don Wilhelm Inc. (Jamestown, N.D.)
- David Wright, Dave Wright Nissan Subaru (Hiawatha, Iowa)
- Rick Yemm, Yemm Automotive (Galesburg, Ill.)
- Anthony Young, Young Chevrolet Cadillac (Owosso, Mich.)
- Jason Zoellner, Zoellner Ford of Beatrice (Beatrice, Neb.)
The TIME Dealer of the Year award, now in its 57th year, continues to recognize franchised dealers who excel in business operations while making a tangible difference in their communities. Dealers, suppliers, and industry professionals can learn more about the nominees, their philanthropic work, and their achievements at www.timedealeroftheyear.com.
