Pub. 1 2019 Issue 1

What is the biggest importance of being a CFADA member, what makes it beneficial? Giving back to the community on behalf of the Central Florida Auto Dealers. Do you have past experiences in that will help your leadership in CFADA? I have been on the CFADA board for a number of years, first as treasurer, then vice chairman. I also serve on the board at the state level, FADA. What inspired you to serve as a leader within the association? I was asked by another board member, Randy Parks. I have benefited from others in the past. It was my turn to participate and try to add value. What are your priorities and goals as the new CFADA Chairman? What’s in store for CFADA in the short term and/or long term? Continued commitment to the community with a re- newed emphasis on helping dealers with big issues like technician recruitment. Are you involved in any civic or charitable organizations? Giving back to the community is a big part of the culture of our dealership. One of my favorite community-oriented projects is our program to honor a veteran each quarter on Facebook. It’s an opportunity for us and our more than 7,000 Face- book followers to thank them for their service. We invite the honoree to our quarterly team lunch and we donate $500 in the veteran’s name to the Horses & Heroes program at McCormick Research Institute in Saint Cloud, which provides equine-assisted therapies to wounded warriors. My wife, Sherri, and our Labrador Retriever, Joie, par- ticipate in special community programs, as volunteers in comforting children dealing with illness at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. Joie is a therapy dog, and I think what Sherri and Joie are doing is wonderful. The therapeutic value of petting or being with Joie is extraor- dinary. Sherri and Joie also take part in reading programs at local schools and libraries, where kids can read to Joie. She’s a great listener! We’re committed to educational initiatives. We donate school supplies each year during an annual drive for A Gift for Teaching in Osceola County. We also participate in Ford’s Drive 4 UR School program, donating dollars for every test drive. continued from page 9 10 Issue 1 2019