4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Effective Advocacy Starts with You By Darren Whitehurst, President, TADA 6 2026 Key Leader Honoree Jimmy Bass 9 2026 TADA Board Meeting Washington, D.C., Sept. 13-14 13 2026 TADA Leadership Network Oct. 5-7, 2026 16 Taking the Wheel at the Comptroller’s Office Don Huffines Outlines a New Approach to Texas Tax Administration Contents ©2026 Texas Automobile Dealers Association® (TADA®) | MBR Connect™. All rights reserved. Dealers’ Choice is published four times per year and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of TADA, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Dealers’ Choice is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of TADA. While a first-print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (801) 676-9722. 13 26 Scan for a direct link to the TADA website. 18 Cavender Leadership Development Program 20 Rockin’ Robots “on a Mission” at Mercedes-Benz of Plano By Julie Walker, Assistant Editor, Car Dealership Guy News 22 2026 TADA Leadership 26 Lockhart Motor Company Celebrates Incredible 100-Year Milestone 28 Wage and Hour: The Pocket Guide By Jikku John, Legal Counsel to Chairman Esparza, Texas Workforce Commission 31 Community News On the Cover: Finley Ewing IV, CEO of Ewing Automotive Group and TADA Board Member, at his Mercedes-Benz of Plano location with store technicians and team of robots. 3 DEALERS’ CHOICE
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