MILES OF CONNECTION Chairman’s Message By Jeff Smith, Chairman, MADA I recently had the privilege of traveling across Mississippi with MADA President Marty Milstead for our 2025 Regional Meetings. It was a full and fast-paced week — seven meetings in just four days — but what an incredible experience it was. We enjoyed strong participation at every stop from dealers, dealership employees and our valued industry partners. Since my dealership is about as far north as you can go while still being in Mississippi, the tour gave me the opportunity to visit parts of our state I had never seen before. It reminded me just how beautiful Mississippi truly is — and how proud I am to serve this association. Connecting with dealers across the state and making new relationships was the highlight of the tour. The one-on-one interviews with legislators offered a new perspective on the men and women working so hard to make the “Mississippi momentum” a reality. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our sponsors for their generous support in making each meeting such a success. In September, I had the honor of representing MADA at the annual NADA Washington Conference. This event brings automobile dealers from across the country to meet with members of Congress and discuss the key issues that affect our industry. For Mississippi, it was also an opportunity to express our appreciation to Mississippi’s congressional delegation for their support of House Resolution 88, which seeks to revoke California’s waiver for its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule — a rule that would effectively ban the sale of gas and hybrid vehicles. Eliminating this EV mandate will benefit both our industry and, more importantly, the consumer. These experiences serve as a powerful reminder of how critical it is for our industry to stay engaged politically — both in Jackson and in Washington. The laws and regulations being debated today directly impact our dealerships, our employees and our customers. That’s why I encourage every dealer to support MADA’s Auto PAC and NADA PAC. Your contributions help ensure that the voice of Mississippi’s automobile dealers is heard loud and clear, protecting our ability to operate and thrive in a constantly evolving political environment. I firmly believe there is no small business that gives back to its community more than automobile dealerships. You’ll read later in this publication about some of our members — such as the Herrin-Gear Automotive Group — who exemplify that spirit through their community involvement and generosity. Finally, I want to congratulate Jonathan Allen, Mississippi’s 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year nominee. This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor, and I know Jonathan will represent MADA with distinction when he is recognized at the NADA Show in February. As I said during the meetings, serving as MADA chairman has been the highlight of my career. Thank you for the opportunity to represent Mississippi’s dealers. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance. 4
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