Pub. 54 2013-2014 Issue 4

13 2014 SUMMER presenting them with a measure of sup- port. It was an emotional experience to be led through the Warrior Project facility by these American Military Heroes. Our wonderful dealers came through after hearing the message from Matt and Josh Stinson who spoke at our board meeting in Santa Fe, raising over $25,000. Thanks to Brent Brown and his team from Lubbock, Austin and Goldthwaite, to Jeff Wooley’s team in Waco, Randy and Vicky Hiley from Arlington, Ray and Ann Huffines from Plano, John Wiesner from Conroe, Tom Durant and his great team and Jim Snell from Austin and Dallas and others, over $25,000 was raised. Our Association promised a match if we could raise at least $25,000 so we happily presented themwith a big cardboard check for over $50,000! We also had some great celebrations this past year. Suzanne and I really enjoyed our NADA experience in New Orleans. Our Texas Party was a great hit! And it was fun to meet so many great dealers and potential investors. Bill Wolters and I were honored to attend the Northwood University break- fast for its Institute Education Award at NADA in New Orleans. It was great to share time with Jerry Durant and his lovely wife Vickie and to see him honored with Northwood Institute Education Award. Adding to this, he was also one of two TADA members named Time Quality Dealer. Proud also that Austin Dealer Nyle Maxwell shares the Time Quality Dealer Award with Jerry! We are very proud to recognize another prominent Weatherford dealer this year. Charlie Gilchrist brings an impressive legacy of leadership to his new post as North Texas Director of the National Au- tomobile Dealers Association. He replaces Annette Sykora as North Texas Director in 2014. We had great representation with Carroll Smith and Charlie at NADA this year. Carroll, while I have this opportu- nity I want to thank you for the testimony you provided to the Legislative House Committee on Business and Industry. As I understand, it was compelling and well-received. You truly are a remarkable representative of both TADA and NADA and we always appreciate your updates on national issues. We can also thank past chair, John Zwiacher and Paul Tigrett, Dealer Friend from Wichita Falls, who testified before the Senate Transportation Committee. You represented us in a great way at the capitol! In our family dealerships we elevate our services to an important understanding… to an overall purpose. “Make Confidence Happen!” is our ultimate purpose. In Roy Spence’s book “It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For,” he offers up these questions: Can we be more than successful, can we be significant and meaningful? Can we provide an ownership experience to our customers that will make them become “raving fans!” This is really what I see. Our industry has raised the bar. We have to be better than we’ve ever been because we are now scored and compensated based on the voice of our customer on surveys returned. If we don’t make the perfect 10, we just fall into the average stack even if it’s a 9! WE are gunning every day to make the experience memorable for each of our valued customers. This is an interesting time and dealers are certainly facing many new challenges. But there is good news. Business is also in a strong recovery for many of us. Light vehicle sales are expected to surpass 16 million for the first time since 2007. 15.6 million sold in 2013, which is 8% more than 2012. There is pent-up demand, ever-improving selection of vehicles, free- flowing credit and a better sense that the broader economy is a bit on the mend. The challenges we all faced in 2009 and 10 were real. I know because I was part of the Saturn wind down. We’ve lost over 4,000 dealerships since 2007 but the good news is that surviving dealers are selling more. In fact, we are selling an average of 900 per outlets, which is up from the 521 average just five years ago. The most important arm in TADA is our Legislative Committee, and I want to thank all of you who are lending your time and talent to this very important duty. Thanks especially to Mike Smith who now chairs our committee. He’s got great repre- sentation support from participating Deal- ers from all over the state including the voices of Brian Bruckner and Joe Chastang representing our big truck dealers. I assure you that Texas Franchised Dealers will stand strong behind support for existing franchise laws. As we all know the request by Tesla Motors for an exception in our law came under test in the last legislature. With the strong support of our Texas Legislative Delegation, and franchised dealers behind the leadership of our TADA staff (kudos especially to Bill Wolters, Karen Phillips and Rob Braziel along with John Zwiacher, past chair and Milton Greeson, our past Legislative Committee Chair) the request failed. The simple truth is that there are 17,600 new car dealerships in the U.S.,  CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS — CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 Our industry has raised the bar. We have to be better than we’ve ever been because we are now scored and compensated based on the voice of our customer on surveys returned. If we don’t make the perfect 10, we just fall into the average stack even if it’s a 9! WE are gunning every day to make the experience memorable for each of our valued customers.