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Year after year, Washington area new car
dealers distinguish themselves in many ways that reflect positively on the
automobile industry and the community at large. The following dealers are
representative of those efforts. |
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| Washington Area New Auto Dealers Association elects first woman chair, Tamara C. Darvish |
 Marking a first in its 90-year history, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA), has elected a woman chairman--Tamara C. Darvish, vice president of DARCARS Automotive Group. Darvish will be inducted as chair of the venerable regional trade association that represents more than 225 member dealers on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at WANADA's annual meeting and luncheon at the McLean Hilton. [MORE
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 Earth Day the Fitzway
Fitzgerald Auto Malls First in Nation to become EPA "Green Power Partner"
WANADA Chairman Jack Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Auto Malls, who has earned an array of awards for his business innovations and community activism, added another distinction last Friday when he kicked off Earth Day weekend with a special celebration to announce that his Maryland stores will be the first in the U.S. to become “Green Power Partners” with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). [MORE
INFO]
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 Tamara Darvish Profiled in Washington Business Journal
Tamara Darvish, who is increasingly familiar to Washingtonians through her many radio and TV ads for DARCARS and her leadership role in The WAS Congressional Gala and Bobby Mitchell Toyota Hall of Fame Golf Classic, was the subject of a full-page “People & Community” feature in the Washington Business Journal, March 9-15, 2007. Tamara touched on a wide range of subjects from what she is most concerned with (helping kids in need) and proudest of (11-year-old daughter’s recent win in a student speech competition) to her favorite dealership department (the body shop) and her exercise routine (lots of treadmill, some weights…but no golf). A great article about an active woman. See the entire interview at http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2007/03/12/story19.html.
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 Curtis Chevrolet Sponsors Club Lock Giveaway
Curtis Chevrolet-Kia recently sponsored a DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Police Service Area (PSA) 402 Club Lock Giveaway to help fight the growing problem of auto theft in the District. The dealership hosted the event and donated 90 steering wheel club locks, which were offered at no charge to anyone who could show proof of residency and vehicle ownership in PSA 402.
Police officials and neighborhood leaders attending the event (pictured from left) Dudley Dworken, Dexter Straker, MPD Officer Heather Straker, James P. Key, Officer C. D. Joyner, Mary Sandford, Judi Jones and Officer D. Fernandez of the DC Auto Theft Unit.
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 Northwood University Confers Doctor of Laws on John Darvish
Among the many honors he has earned over the years, DARCARS Automotive Group Founder and Chairman John Darvish is now in the Northwood University’s “Gallery of Distinction,” and was this past week presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Northwood President Keith A. Pretty, J.D. [MORE INFO]
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 Charles Stringfellow Nominated for Northwood Education Award
For his longstanding professional commitment to dealership training, WANADA has nominated Charles S. Stringfellow, chief executive officer of Brown Automotive Group, for the Northwood University Dealer Education Award. The award has been given annually since 1972 at the NADA Convention in recognition of individuals who have demonstrated substantial dedication over time to the educational process, inside and outside of the industry.
Recognizing the inherent connection between business success and career training and education, Stringfellow has insisted upon systematic developmental and continuing education for Brown staff. [MORE INFO]
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 WANADA
Nominates Vince Sheehy for TMQDA
For his outstanding leadership role in his industry and community,
Vincent Sheehy IV, president of Sheehy Auto Stores, has been nominated
by WANADA for the 2007 TIME Magazine Quality Dealer of the Year Award (TMQDA).
The award will be conferred at the 2007 NADA Convention in Las Vegas.
[MORE INFO]
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 Jack
Pohanka, Area Salesmen Get Honorable Media Mentions
The media recently featured three very
favorable articles on the people who lead and staff the Washington
area automobile business.
Jack Pohanka of Pohanka Automotive Group
was interviewed in “The Dealer Speaks” feature in the March 20 issue
of Automotive News. A Washington area icon, Pohanka's chain of 14
stores, which was founded in 1919, is the oldest dealership group in
the Washington, DC, area that has remained under the same family
ownership.
[MORE INFO]
(Jack Pohanka's picture courtesy of
Automotive News)
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 Ford
& Lexus Join Forces to Aid Katrina Victim
Battlefield Ford and Lindsay Lexus of
Alexandria teamed up recently and gave away a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee
to a family of victims of hurricane Katrina. The Catholic Diocese of
Arlington had sent out a request and within days the vehicle was
delivered. Pictured from left are: Munye Abdulle and Dawn Kuras with
the Diocese of Arlington, Office of Resettlement & Refugee Services
and Jeff Warner, General Manager of Lindsay Lexus of Alexandria.
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 Danny
Korengold Honored with ’06 TMQDA
For his longtime success as a major
dealer operator at the helm of Ourisman of Virginia as well as
numerous leadership roles in his industry and support of his
community, Danny Korengold was one of a select group nationwide to be
recognized with the prestigious Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award (TMQDA).
The award was presented at the opening session of the 2006 NADA
Convention in Orlando, Florida.
[MORE INFO]
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 Rory
Schick Receives Northwood Dealer Education Award
Because of his extraordinary commitment
to education, Rory Schick, Manassas Chrysler, was one of a number of
dealers from the US and other countries honored by Northwood
University with their Dealer Education Award (DEA) at the NADA
Convention.
Schick is a founder of the Bobby Mitchell
Hall of Fame Classic, a unique and highly visible annual Washington
fundraiser benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
[MORE INFO]
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 Fitzgerald
Receives National Capital Business Ethics Award.
Adding to an impressive
array of honors in recent years, Fitzgerald Auto Malls was one of
three companies to receive the 2005 National Capital Business Ethics
Award last week during a gala awards dinner held at the Ritz Carlton
in Tysons Corner. The awards are presented annually by the National
Capital Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, in
partnership with George Mason University.
[MORE INFO]
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 AutoExec’s August “Cover Man” Daniel Jobe
Daniel Jobe, Capitol Cadillac/Hummer,
Greenbelt, Md., is featured on the cover of this month’s NADA AutoExec
Magazine and in its feature article Streetwise, How dealers are getting
hip to urban marketing. Jobe, who serves on the WANADA Board of Directors,
“customizes a slew of Hummers and Caddys,” reports AutoExec.
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 Morty
Zetlin Presents Ambassadors’ Grant to Washington-Lee High School
On behalf of the American Service Center in
Arlington, VA, Morty Zetlin recently presented a $1,500 grant to the
Washington-Lee High School Educational Foundation, Arlington VA.
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 Geoff
Pohanka Reelected Washington Area NADA Director.
WANADA is pleased to announce that Geoffrey P. Pohanka of the Pohanka
Automotive Group has been reelected as the NADA director for Metropolitan
Washington.“I
appreciate the confidence WANADA members have placed in me, and I commit to
continue working hard to represent the dealer’s views in all matters before
the manufacturers and government policy makers,” said Pohanka.
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Jack Fitzgerald (second from left) of Fitzgerald Auto Malls was honored last week as the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce “Business Leader of the Year.” Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan (left) presented the award, citing Fitzgerald’s many outstanding contributions to his community, particularly his regional leadership in promoting life-saving child safety seat inspections.
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 WANADA Nominates Tammy Darvish for
the 2005 TMQDA
Award. For her leadership role in WANADA and outstanding contributions to her industry and community, Tamara C. Darvish, vice president of DARCARS Toyota, Silver Spring, MD, has been nominated by WANADA for the 2005 TIME Magazine Quality Dealer of the Year Award (TMQDA). The award will be given at the 2005 NADA Convention in New Orleans.
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 Vince Sheehy Nominated for
the 2004 Northwood University Dealer Education Award.
No one better understands the urgency of stemming the technician shortage crisis in America’s automobile industry than Vince Sheehy, president of the Sheehy Auto Stores, a chain of 12 dealerships in Maryland and Virginia.
As WANADA Chairman in 2002 and 2003, Sheehy helped develop and roll out the first-of-its-kind apprentice training program in the Metropolitan Washington, DC market that recruits, employs, and trains young adults for careers in auto technology.
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 Reilly Wins Castrol Travel Award
WANADA Board Member Tony Santy (right), president of Chesapeake Petroleum
and Supply Co., presents Don Reilly (left), president of Fairfax Hyundai
and Alexandria Hyundai, with a Castrol Travel Award certificate good for
an all expenses paid trip for two to his choice of exotic destinations,
including several in Europe and the Caribbean.
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Martens Cars
of Washington Receives First NADA Century Award
Congratulations go to Martens Cars of Washington for being the very first
recipient of NADA’s newly created Century Award, which recognizes NADA
member dealerships that have been run by the same family for 100 years or
more.
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Criswell, Koons & Lindsay Honored As GM Dealers of the Year
Three area WANADA dealer members were among only 108 GM dealers nationwide
to be recognized as “GM Dealer Of The Year” at a special ceremony in New
York City on June 17.
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 Lindsay is “Good Scout.”
Charles T. “Terry” Lindsay, Jr.
(left), CEO of Lindsay Automotive Group, was recently honored by the
Alexandria Boy Scouts with the “Good Scout” award, given annually to
“outstanding community leaders” for their support of the Boy Scouts of
America. A former Boy Scout and long time supporter, Lindsay is seen here
giving a hug to scout Hamilton Dittrick.
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 John Darvish Honored by Parkinson’s
Action Group. DARCARS President John Darvish was honored
recently with the “Buddy Award for Enduring Spirit” at the 11th annual Morris K.
Udall Awards ceremony to benefit Parkinson’s Action Networks.
The
Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) is an educational and advocacy voice for the
Parkinson’s community. The group is fighting to find a cure within five years
through lobbying for increased investment of public resources to bring a cure to
the more than one million Americans who suffer from Parkinson’s disease.
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Fitzgerald Wins Regional NADA - USA Today Innovation Award.
Congratulations again go to Jack Fitzgerald of
Fitzgerald Auto Malls who received the NADA/USA Today Dealer Innovation Award
for Region II at a special ceremony at the New York International Auto Show
early this month. Fitzgerald won for a comprehensive program of child safety
seat inspections, which is ISO certified and transferable to dealerships across
the country.
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Tuesday, March 30, 2004 was a
day of giving and receiving for Chevy Chase Cars in Bethesda.
Ashby Chamberlain of Kenwood Country Club was the winning bidder of the SSR Auction, benefiting the Children’s Inn @ NIH was presented a red hot
Chevrolet SSR by John Bowis and Sam Weaver, Jr. of Chevy Chase Cars.
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 Steuart-Martens Family Celebrates
100th Anniversary in DC It All Started with a Mule and a Cart.
Martens Cars of Washington is having a very special celebration this
year – 100 years of continuous operation in the Washington Metropolitan
Area. It is a family business history that parallels the evolution of
the American auto industry itself. And like many of the auto dealer
family dynasties that became icons in our region, it is a rags to riches
success story built on energy, ambition and vision.
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 WANADA Salutes 2004 TMQDA John Darvish.
For his clear success as a multi-franchised
dealer and longstanding commitment to his industry and community, John
Darvish, president and founder of DARCARS, was named for the prestigious
Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award at the 2004 NADA convention in Las
Vegas.
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 Fitzgerald
Group Wins ISO Certification For “Process Based” Management.
Looking for a better CSI program than those offered by automakers, Jack
Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Auto Malls was at the 2004 NADA Convention to
receive official ISO 9001:2000 Certification for his 12 stores and 35
franchises.
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 Redden Receives Northwood Education
Award. Harold C. Redden of Fitzgerald Auto Malls was recognized
with the Northwood Dealer Education Award for his significant
contributions to the WANADA-sponsored Montgomery Technologies Foundation (ACT).
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 Fitzgerald Auto Malls Child Safety Seat Program and Child Id Program.
In Partnership with State and Local Government Agencies, Fitzgerald
Auto Malls offer a
Child Safety Seat Program and a
Child Id Program.
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Fitzgerald Is Montgomery County Business Leader of the Year