Pub. 1 2019 Issue 2

President’s Message Evelyn Cardenas President/CEO Central Florida Auto Dealers Association In this volume, you are going to learn about George Nahas and Randy Parks, two of our longtime board members and seasoned dealers in our communities. W ith the end of 2019, there are many things to be proud of and many things we may want to forget. This is true for personal life events, professional developments, and economic change. If you follow the financial news, we are either nearing the end of a bull market or at the beginning of a recession. To add to the mystery of economic hardship, the Fed cut interest rates several times this year. Also, if you are a boomer, Fidelity wants you to divest from stocks to lower your risk and exposure. With respect to macro-economic factors, we began the year with the threat of import tariffs that we hoped would be a distant memory today. The reality is that we are still very much in the middle of it. Other headlines that keep reverberating throughout the industry include the dying personal car and the new mobility of the future. Despite new mobility options, the reality is that people love their cars. Personal vehicle sales may have faced a decline for the first 10 months of the year, but the industry remains strong. What that means for us is that we have to keep an eye on the market and an ear to the ground. Sensing the market is crucial to effectively navigate the tough waters and serve customers better than we have before. Our business has always been a people business,and that focus is more im- portant today. As your local association, we are here to help you navigate the tough economic waters. We keep our eyes and ears open for anything that can interfere with our business. We lob- by in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. We meet with local govern- ment officials planning transpor - tation initiatives that impact car ownership by making roadways more or less vehicle friendly. We attend council meetings that aim to change zoning laws to limit dealership presence in our commu- nities. We provide education and networking opportunities. And we work with our schools to recruit, train, and empower the next gen- eration of automotive technicians. As we head into 2020, I encourage you to ask yourself, “What can I do to improve my industry?” You may not realize this, but there is noth- ing more powerful than a govern- ment official hearing from you, our dealers. You are in the trenches ev- ery day keeping our communities vi- brant and moving. So, when you ask for their help, they listen. Your voice matters. Your business matters! In this volume, you are going to learn about George Nahas and Randy Parks, two of our longtime board members and seasoned dealers in our communities. You are going to read about things that impact our industry and get a pictorial tour of our auto show. For the first time in 40 years, we had our auto show at a different time in November than Thanks- giving. The move was risky, but we had an amazing turnout. Thank you to all of you who helped make this a success! If there is an issue that you would like addressed in our magazine or in our website, please let us know. We are here to serve your needs. So, as the year draws to a close, I want to wish you a very grateful Thanksgiving, a prosperous Black Friday, and a super Merry Christ- mas. Through all the headwinds, we have made it to the end of the year with much success. Here’s to 2020 and beyond! Sincerely, Evelyn Cardenas President/CEO Central Florida Auto Dealers Association 2 Issue 2 2019