Dean Sides was one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who were honored at the 107th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 3, 2024. The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Sides was chosen to represent the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 55th annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide. “Coming from a humble beginning, I always felt I wanted to do something to help people in similar situations,” nominee Sides said. “The auto industry has given me that opportunity, and it has been rewarding to help our employees and their families enjoy better lives.” Sides grew up in southeastern Missouri and learned the importance of hard work and perseverance while helping his parents on their family farm. In 1981, he earned a B.S. in agriculture from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, where he also minored in business and achieved a 3.7 GPA. His first job out of school was at the McDonald Equipment Company in Newport, which encompassed a farm equipment business, Chevrolet Buick dealership and a working farm that produced rice, soybeans and wheat. “I managed the farming operation and sold equipment before I was asked to be general manager of McDonald Chevrolet Buick in 1986,” Sides said, “This began my lifelong career in the automotive industry.” For four years, Sides oversaw strong growth at the dealership, winning numerous awards from Chevrolet. In 1990, he was asked by George Kell Sr., the Hall of Fame baseball player and owner of George Kell Motors, to join his team and become a managing partner with a 50% stake. Sides accepted the offer and became the sole owner of the dealership in 2005. Sides moved the dealership from its original downtown location to a larger, newly built facility on the interstate in 2016 to increase access, showroom space and service capabilities. His son, Elliot, runs that store as general manager. In 2023, he added to his portfolio by acquiring the Ford dealership next to his current store, now called George Kell Ford. “Our employees are our most important asset, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without the loyal and dedicated team at George Kell Motors,” he said. “They share our unwavering commitment to going the extra mile for customers and the community.” Sides has held leadership positions on the boards of several local groups and currently serves the Newport Economic Development 19 Arkansas Auto Dealer
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