TIME Dealer of the Year
We were proud to recognize our NCADA 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year nominee, Neill Nelson. John Hiester, the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year nominee, presented Neill with the #1DEALER frame during the event.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious honors, recognizing top dealers nationwide for their business success and long-standing commitment to community service. And to that point, Neill has a long history of giving back, from the C12 nonprofit organization he joined in 2017 to being an active member of the Rotary Club and creating Davenport Autopark’s Community for Life program to give back to local charities on a regular basis.
Neill was humbled by the recognition his fellow dealers bestowed upon him and gave a heartfelt speech after receiving the award. Neill embodies all that it means to be a TIME Dealer of the Year. Congratulations, Neill!
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Each year at our Family Convention, we take time to recognize individuals who have made a lasting impact on North Carolina’s automotive industry — and this year was no exception. During a special presentation, we honored the recipients of our prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA), the highest honor our association bestows. This award celebrates a career marked by dedication, leadership and service to community.
As part of the ceremony, we shared touching tribute videos that captured the stories, relationships and milestones that shaped their journeys. Surrounded by peers, family and friends, recipients were presented with a commemorative award in recognition of their decades of commitment to their dealerships, their communities and the continued strength of our association.
Congratulations to Pete Deichmann, the late Mike Deichmann of Trent Cadillac Buick GMC and Cyndie Mynatt of Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships on receiving this well-deserved honor.
Their legacies continue to inspire the next generation of dealers across North Carolina.
Recognizing AutoPAC Superheroes and NCADA Champions
The 2024 AutoPAC contributors were recognized during the convention, including a special presentation of plaques to our 2024 NCADA Champions in appreciation for their outstanding support.
NCADA Golf Classic Winners
We teed up for a day of friendly competition and fun on the beautiful Canyons Golf Course. The NCADA Golf Classic Winners and runners-up were:
Winners with a score of 54: Charles Williamson, Tripp Williamson, Stony Baker, Tyler Parker. Their names will be engraved on our NCADA Golf Classic Trophy.
Runners-up with a score of 57: Matt Birckhead, Anderson Birckhead, Nathan Griffen and Nick Moyes.
Mike Alford Recognition
Mike Alford was elected as North Carolina’s NADA Director in 2017, beginning his service on the national board, just as he was wrapping up his term as NCADA Chairman. As Mike is concluding his service on both the NADA Board and the NCADA Executive Committee, we took a few minutes to recognize and thank him for his outstanding contributions — not only to NCADA, but to dealers throughout North Carolina and across the country.
Mike has truly done it all. In addition to serving as our chairman and holding every officer position leading up to that role, Mike has dedicated the past 12 years to serving on the NADA Board.
His service to North Carolina includes his 2010 appointment to the North Carolina Board of Transportation. And in 2023, Mike was honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine — our state’s highest civilian award. Mike’s achievements received national recognition in 2013 when he was named the national winner of the TIME Ally Dealer of the Year award.
Mike has set the bar high for those who come after him. Thank you for your unwavering example of what it means to be a car dealer, Mike!
Sponsor Recognition
The convention would not have been possible without the support of our incredible associate member sponsors. We want to take this opportunity to once again thank them for all that they do. This year, 42 convention sponsors played an essential role in the success of NCADA through their ongoing participation in our sponsorship program. They help make events like this possible.
NCADA presented each sponsor with a gift to take home as a token of appreciation and a keepsake from the convention.
Diamond
Assurant Dealer Services
Titanium
Ally
Capital Dealer Services
Cox Automotive
CVR
Dealer Merchant Services (DMS)
Executive Tag & Title Services
Gallagher
MOC Mid Atlantic
Reynolds and Reynolds
Reynolds Law
Spectrum Reach Automotive
Vitu
Platinum
DLRdmv
Gold
CDK Global
Dynatron
KPA
Silver
ACV
Brightline Dealer Services
Brown & Brown
Capital Automotive Real Estate Services
ComplyAuto
Crandall Corporation
Cross-Sell
Dominion DMS
EasyCare
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
LotLinx
MetroTech Automotive
StrategicSource
Truist
Bronze
Bass Sox Mercer
Bowtie Solutions
Champ Titles
Forvis Mazars
Haig Partners
HHM
NADA Retirement
Phelps Digital
Porter and Company
Vinegar Law
Zurich
