Mississippi Dealer Jonathan Allen Named 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee One of the biggest honors a Mississippi automobile dealer can receive is to be nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award, and this year’s nominee is Jonathan Allen, dealer principal of J. Allen Toyota in Gulfport. He is also the owner of J. Allen Ford and J. Allen Mazda. Allen was recognized for this accomplishment during the 109th annual NADA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 5, 2026. Widely regarded as the automobile industry’s most prestigious honor, the TIME Dealer of the Year award recognizes auto dealers who have achieved outstanding business success while demonstrating a long-standing commitment to community service. Allen was selected to represent the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) in the national competition — one of only 47 nominees chosen from more than 20,000 franchised dealers across the country for the award’s 57th year. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Bert Allen, Jonathan believes in the mission of MADA, serving on the Board and as the chairman in 2021-2022. At just 43 years old, Allen is a third-generation dealer who has spent his career honoring a proud family legacy while reshaping the dealership’s mission for a modern era. He earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive management and marketing from Northwood University in 2007 and began his career working in sales and 8
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