Getting to Know Incoming LADA Chairman PATTON FRITZE As he steps into the role of chairman of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, Patton Fritze brings a leadership approach shaped by a lifetime inside his family’s nearly century-old dealership, Red River Chevrolet. Growing up immersed in the business and later working closely with his grandfather, Jim Fritze, he gained an early understanding of how relationships and community ties form the backbone of a successful dealership. Now the general manager of fixed operations, Patton carries that foundation into a forward-looking mindset — honoring tradition while pushing for continuous improvement and a better customer experience. As chairman, he aims to blend those values with practical advocacy, helping dealers navigate industry pressures, seize emerging opportunities and keep Louisiana’s dealer network strong for future generations. Tell us a little about your background and your experience growing up in the Red River Chevrolet family. From a very young age, I want to say 6-7 (for my kids ), I was invited to attend dealership functions like Christmas parties and Salesman of the Year banquets. One long-standing Red River tradition is celebrating sales and service goals by hosting “camp parties” at our camp on Lake Bistineau, and I got to know many of our employees on a personal level through those events. Believe it or not, several of them are still here! My favorite memories, however, came a little later. After working my way through parts and the body shop, I landed across the hall from my grandfather, Jim Fritze. For a little over two years, I worked closely with him and got to know my grandfather not just as a grandchild on his knee, but as a man. He was a class act. I will always be grateful for that experience, and I try my best to channel his wisdom in every decision I make. How are you balancing tradition with new ideas in the dealership? Because we are a 94-year-old business, I think it’s important to honor traditions and be true to our core principles. But nostalgia can turn into neglect, and distinguishing between the two can be challenging when you work in that space every day. I think the best approach is to see your dealership through your customers’ eyes, then do your best to improve every touchpoint. What do you believe are the biggest opportunities for dealers right now? I believe there is a lot of pent-up demand stemming from persistent supply issues, which have pushed the average age of the American fleet from 11.8 to 12.8 years in just five years. Couple that with product improvements and new innovations, and we’re in the position of having exciting new products at the right time for customers who are coming back into the market. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our industry, and how can LADA help members navigate them? We have challenges coming from everywhere. Some challenges are obvious, like those threatening our state franchise laws; others are more nuanced while still directly affecting our businesses, such as insurance reform or tax law changes. But for every issue affecting our dealers, LADA helps mobilize its membership with the right advocacy messaging. The easiest way to stay on top of it all is to pay attention to LADA Dealer Alerts! What excites you most about being part of the next generation of leadership in our industry? It’s an opportunity for me to give back to the industry that has given me so much, and at the same time, pay it forward to 8
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