Celebrating a Lifetime of Leadership
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor NCADA gives. It is presented when the association believes a career has genuinely earned it, recognizing decades of leadership, dedication and service to North Carolina’s franchised dealer community. This year, NCADA honored two recipients: Senator Harry Brown and Linda J. Leith.
Senator Harry Brown
Harry Brown is a longtime North Carolina business leader, public servant and community advocate whose career spans nearly five decades in the automotive industry and state government. He began his automotive career in 1976 and became dealer principal of National Dodge in 1987, a position he continues to hold today. Throughout his career, he has also owned or served as dealer principal for several dealerships across North Carolina. A respected industry leader, Brown served on the Chrysler Dealer Council, was elected president of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association in 2000 and was named one of four national finalists for the 2008 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
Beyond the automotive industry, Brown has dedicated his career to public service and community leadership. He served in the North Carolina State Senate from 2005 to 2020, including as Senate majority leader and chief budget writer, and currently serves on the UNC Board of Governors. His leadership has earned numerous honors, including the Golden Eagle Man of the Year award, the Fabric of Our Community Award and the dedication of Senator Harry Brown Highway in 2023.
Brown earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business management from Campbell University. He and his wife, Lisa, have a blended family, including his son, Ryan, who works alongside him in the automotive business, two stepdaughters and seven grandchildren.
Linda J. Leith
Linda J. Leith graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in accounting, and passed the CPA exam that same year. After beginning her career with Deloitte Haskins & Sells, she returned to her family’s business, Leith Inc., where she helped strengthen the company’s accounting systems, financial reporting and operational performance.
Her leadership responsibilities steadily expanded, and in 1997, she became president and dealer principal of Leith Inc., later serving as president and CEO beginning in 2003. Over a career spanning more than 41 years, Linda led the growth of the dealership group while building a strong culture and leadership team. In 2024, she guided the successful transition of ownership of Leith’s 39-franchise dealership group to the Holman family, ensuring the company’s continued success.
Beyond business, Linda has been a dedicated supporter of charitable, cultural and youth-focused organizations, including the American Heart Association, Veterans Life Center, Hope Reins, Haven House Services and Foundation for Hope. She established the Linda J. Leith Family Foundation to continue supporting these organizations and community initiatives for generations to come.
2026 TIME Ally Dealer of the Year
Each year, NCADA has the opportunity to recognize a dealer who represents everything the franchised dealer community stands for. This year that dealer is Alycia Kellum of Don Williamson Nissan in Jacksonville, recognized during the dealer recognition ceremony as North Carolina’s 2026 TIME Ally Dealer of the Year nominee.
She was introduced by Neill Nelson, last year’s nominee, who spoke about her leadership and her effect on the franchised dealer community. Kellum was presented with the #1DEALER frame in recognition of the honor.
A second-generation dealer and a former NCADA Chair, Kellum has spent her career on the things that don’t show up on a monthly statement: developing the people who work for her, backing up her fellow dealers and investing in the communities her stores reside in. Her record of advocacy and service within the association runs long enough that a fair number of members have benefited from it without knowing whose work it was.
Leadership, community and leaving the industry better positioned for the people who come next; that’s what the TIME Ally award is for, and that’s why her name is on it.
NCADA congratulates Alycia and is proud to have her represent North Carolina.
AutoPAC Superheroes and NCADA Champions
The association also honored the 2025 NCADA Champions, members who made a personal contribution to the NCADA AutoPAC at the Superhero level, a contribution to the NADA PAC at the President’s Club level, and whose dealership or group supported the NCADA Victory Fund.
NCADA Golf Classic, Sporting Clays and Pickleball Champions
The annual NCADA Golf Classic gave members a chance for some friendly competition and camaraderie during the Family Convention, and this year’s field also took on sporting clays and pickleball. Congratulations to this year’s winners and runners-up for their outstanding performances.
Golf Classic Winners:
- Dane Northcutt
- Todd Zullo
- Garrett Feduke
- Daniel Fagan
The names of the Golf Classic winners will be engraved on the NCADA Golf Classic Trophy.
Golf Classic Runners-Up:
- Amar Elassar
- Brandon Walters
- Mitch Walters
- Hunter Houck
Golf Classic Individual Awards:
- Longest Drive: Ben Fowler
- Closest to Pin: Daniel Day
- Longest Putt Holed: Mike Hellebro
Sporting Clays Winner:
- Heath McIntire
Sporting Clays Runner-Up:
- Sport Durst
Pickleball Winners:
- Mike Hellebro
- Mitch Walters
Largest Contributors to Victory Fund
During the convention, NCADA recognized the dealer groups and members whose significant contributions to the NCADA Victory Fund continue to strengthen the association’s advocacy efforts. The Victory Fund exists to protect North Carolina’s franchise laws and the dealers who depend on them.
Special recognition went to the Fayetteville New Car Dealers Association, Modern Automotive Network, Flow Automotive and Hendrick Automotive, who were the largest contributors to the Victory Fund in 2025.
Their support helps ensure North Carolina’s franchised dealers have a strong, unified voice on the issues that matter most.
Thank You to Our Convention Sponsors
Fifty associate members and industry partners supported this convention, and NCADA is thankful for every one of them. Our Titanium, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors made this year’s convention possible, and NCADA is grateful for their continued commitment to this association and to the dealers we represent across North Carolina. We hope every one of them felt like part of the NCADA family, because that is exactly how our members regard them.
Titanium
- Ally
- Capital Dealer Services Group
- CVR
- DLRdmv
- Executive Tag & Title Services Inc.
- Gallagher
- MOC Products Company
- Reynolds & Reynolds
- Reynolds Law
- Vitu
Gold
- Cross-Sell
- Dynatron
- KPA
- Spectrum Reach Automotive
Silver
- ACV
- Alliant
- Assurant
- Brightline Dealer Advisors
- Brown & Brown
- CarNow
- Crandall Strategic Compliance
- Cox Automotive
- Dave Cantin Group
- Dealerslink
- DSMA
- EasyCare
- Grow Financial Credit Union
- Imperial Supplies
- JM&A Group
- OPENLANE
- Penny Design Group
- Pinnacle Financial Partners
- PNC Bank
- Porter & Company
- Priority Payments Local
- Tekion
- United Bank
- Zurich Insurance
Bronze
- Bass Sox Mercer
- Capital Automotive Real Estate Services
- ComplyAuto
- Forvis Mazars
- HHM CPAs
- NADA Retirement
- Phelps Digital
- Priority Commerce Automotive
- Sentinel Risk Advisors
- TASA Holdings
- Vinegar Law PLLC
- Wells Fargo Dealer Services
Thank You to Our Convention Sponsors
Fifty associate members and industry partners supported this convention, and NCADA is thankful for every one of them. Our Titanium, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors made this year’s convention possible, and NCADA is grateful for their continued commitment to this association and to the dealers we represent across North Carolina. We hope every one of them felt like part of the NCADA family, because that is exactly how our members regard them.
Titanium
- Ally
- Capital Dealer Services Group
- CVR
- DLRdmv
- Executive Tag & Title Services Inc.
- Gallagher
- MOC Products Company
- Reynolds & Reynolds
- Reynolds Law
- Vitu
Gold
- Cross-Sell
- Dynatron
- KPA
- Spectrum Reach Automotive
Silver
- ACV
- Alliant
- Assurant
- Brightline Dealer Advisors
- Brown & Brown
- CarNow
- Crandall Strategic Compliance
- Cox Automotive
- Dave Cantin Group
- Dealerslink
- DSMA
- EasyCare
- Grow Financial Credit Union
- Imperial Supplies
- JM&A Group
- OPENLANE
- Penny Design Group
- Pinnacle Financial Partners
- PNC Bank
- Porter & Company
- Priority Payments Local
- Tekion
- United Bank
- Zurich Insurance
Bronze
- Bass Sox Mercer
- Capital Automotive Real Estate Services
- ComplyAuto
- Forvis Mazars
- HHM CPAs
- NADA Retirement
- Phelps Digital
- Priority Commerce Automotive
- Sentinel Risk Advisors
- TASA Holdings
- Vinegar Law PLLC
- Wells Fargo Dealer Services
Recognizing Brad & Traci Tyson
During the convention, NCADA paused to honor a few individuals who have shown hard work and dedication to the association. Outgoing Vice Chairman Brad Tyson with his wife, Traci, were celebrated for their service to the board and were presented with gifts in appreciation of everything they have done for NCADA and its members.
