Pub 61 2020-2021 Issue 3

26 ARDEN HETLAND Twenty Years in Partnership with TADA T omy Hamon is one of the most signif icant volunteer leaders in the history of TADA. Long- time CEO of Gene Hamon Ford in Texas City and several other Gulf Coast dealerships, Tomy served in industry leadership positions for decades, culminating with a term as TADA Chairman of the Board in 1994-1995. Tomy and Sue Hamon did as much for the industry and their fellow dealers as anyone in TADA history. One of the most important contri- butions that Tomy Hamon made to the association was his sharing with us about his dealerships’ full-service F&I provider, American Financial and Automotive Services and its founder, Arden Hetland. AFAS was an emerging company in the ’90s as a full-service finance and insurance provider for franchised dealers based south of Houston. In 2001, when TADA needed to find a strategic partner providing F&I ser- vices to its members, the first call was to Arden Hetland. Tomy Hamon’s supreme confidence in AFAS paid off for Texas dealers as we now celebrate 20 years of partnership with Arden Hetland and American Financial. Today, now based in The Woodlands, Texas, AFAS is much larger and even more supportive of dealers’ F&I needs. The partnership with Texas dealers mirrors the AFAS footprint in 40 states in the U.S. Arden’s daughter, Laura, became COO of the company several years ago and has been instrumental in the growth of the company and the improvement of services to dealers in every category, starting with their state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and training center where they have twice hosted the Texas Dealer Academy to train our young dealers. Arden Hetland began his life in the small North Dakota town of Glen- burn. Hard work on the farm from an early age with his three brothers prepared Arden with a constitution that prepared him for any chal- lenge that life would offer. One of 28 in his high school graduating class, Arden excelled in the class- room and on the athletic field but most especially in the band hall. Inspired by a high school music teacher, Arden became so proficient in playing the saxophone that he traveled to Europe playing in inter- national concerts by his sophomore year. Smitten with a high school classmate, Arden used his musical proficiency to get close to his future wife, Donna, by accompanying her piano playing on his saxophone. To- day this musical duo spends much of their time with the families of their two daughters, Laura and Kristen, and their six grandchildren.