build relationships is there in everyday life. The manufacturer isn’t a part of the local community; they can’t give that level of attention. Dealers don’t want to sell you one car; they want to sell you every car. They’re going to take care of you and treat you differently. That’s why I love the car business; it’s all about building good relationships. What goals do you have as chair to address these and other issues and lead the association forward? In the state of Texas, our state legislature has a session every other year, which is kind of unique. A lot of states do it every year, and 2024 is going to be a year without a session for us. My number one goal is to ensure that TADA is in a position to be successful in the 2025 legislative session. I intend to do this by meeting with and educating as many lawmakers as possible — focusing on the positive role that Texas dealers play in the state and their local markets. If you live in a certain market and you represent that market as a legislator, you most likely know at least one car dealer, if not more. It’s easy to understand the impact that dealers make in the local markets. As employers, auto dealers help families keep a roof over their heads and food on their table. According to NADA, in 2022, our industry employed 216,000 Texans. Dealers are pillars of their communities. Without them, many needs would go unfulfilled. As someone who contributes to local charities and is involved in different activities in my local market, I can see how important it is to support the local community. Dealers unfailingly go above and beyond to assist nonprofits, schools, teachers, sports, veterans, humane societies, the homeless and so many more! These efforts are not just financial; many volunteer hours are given by dealerships and their employees. The financial impact that car dealers contribute towards state coffers as far as the amount of taxes we collect helps legislators. In 2022 alone, $7.2 billion of state tax revenue was collected. By educating legislators about all the good we do, I hope to find commonality and build strong relationships that will position our industry well into the future. What help do you need from members to accomplish those goals? I am asking individual dealers across the state to reach out to their local and state representatives as well as their local senators. It’s not enough just to have a voice; you’ve got to actually go out and make contact and build a relationship with these people and talk to them. I’m not a person who’s really outgoing, but I have found that most legislators want to talk to you; they want to hear what you think and what’s on your mind. They are very receptive, particularly when you can explain your position and give them reasons why supporting our industry is in their best interest. One of the things I’ve found as a past Legislative Chair and then also on being on the Legislative Committee is that it is immensely easier to talk to legislators in an off year in their markets. If you try to talk to them during a session at the Capitol, they’ll certainly talk to you, but they’re busy; they’ve got a million things going on. Whereas if you can catch them back at home and sit down with them over a cup of coffee and take them through your store, it is much easier to build a relationship. What do you see as the benefit of being a TADA member? I think that one of the benefits of being a TADA member is it gives dealers a platform where we have a unified voice that can be heard in the state legislative process. Membership also gives you access to a wealth of knowledge. The staff and their years of experience in our industry are unmatched. They are always happy to help when asked. How did you get into the auto industry? I was born in Austin and grew up just outside of Austin, in Elgin. My family had a ranch; we raised cattle and horses and did some farming as 11 DEALERS’ CHOICE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==