Northwood University will honor ten automobile dealers from across the United States and The Netherlands with its annual Dealer Education Awards. The dealers are recognized for their individual contributions and efforts to improve education at all levels.Since 1972, Northwood has recognized individuals in the automotive marketing field who have made noteworthy contributions to public or private education inside or outside of the industry. The ceremony is held in conjunction with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention to be held this year in New Orleans, LA.
The awards will be presented at a special breakfast at 8 a.m. on Sunday, January 26, 2014, in the Westin New Orleans Canal Place in New Orleans, LA, for students, alumni and friends of the University.
“We have been recognizing outstanding dealers for 43 years and there has never been a time when their contributions have meant more to their communities than they do today,” said Keith A. Pretty, president and CEO of Northwood University. “These leaders have made outstanding sacrifices of time and resources. We are proud of all the Dealer Education Award winners and commend them for their leadership.”
Those being honored are: Thomas J. Cole, general manager/vice president, Cole Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac, Bluefield, WV; Frank L. DeLuca, president/owner, DeLuca Toyota, Ocala, FL; Jerry V. Durant, owner/principal, Jerry Durant Auto Group, Weatherford, TX; Bryan M. Gault, president, Wind Gap Chevrolet-Buick, Wind Gap, PA; Scott LaRiche, executive manager/vice president, Lou LaRiche Chevrolet, Plymouth, MI; Frank J. McCarthy, general manager, Sheehy Ford-Nissan-Subaru, Springfield, VA; Brett A. Morgan, dealer principal, Toyota of Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL; Alan J. Wildstein, president, Alan Jay Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac, Sebring, FL; Ina Willekes-van Maren, Willekes Ophemert Car Company Ophemert, The Netherlands; Harold Zeigler, chairman, Zeigler Auto Group, Kalamazoo, MI.
