EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Your Association at Work BY JASON BICKMORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NCDU As the temperatures drop and the colors change, there’s plenty to look forward to in the holiday season and beyond, but there’s also plenty to reflect on and be grateful for. I’d like to thank each of our dealer members, as well as the various strategic partners and associate members who do so much to make the New Car Dealers of Utah one of the best organizations in the state. I would like to extend a special thank-you to Cory Watson for his outstanding leadership and dedication as the president of the New Car Dealers of Utah for 2026. Anyone who has spent time with Cory knows the tremendous passion he has for the automotive industry. Throughout his tenure, Cory has been an invaluable resource and a strong advocate for our association, generously sharing his time and expertise during visits with dealer members, and meetings and talks on Capitol Hill. We are truly grateful for his countless hours of service and the lasting contributions he has made to our association. We are also pleased to welcome Chip Hawkes as our incoming president and look forward to working alongside him in 2027 as we continue to strengthen and advocate for Utah’s auto retail industry. Of special note, the New Car Dealers of Utah Good Wheels Charitable Foundation recently partnered with L&L Auto Group to provide financial assistance to a young man from the Uinta Basin who underwent a heart transplant. This donation was made to help support his family with expenses during his hospital stay and recovery. In addition, the Good Wheels Charitable Foundation continues its longstanding tradition of supporting the Utah Highway Patrol through donations that help fund overtime shifts to combat impaired driving statewide. With nearly $400,000 contributed to the Utah Highway Patrol to date, the Foundation remains committed to making Utah’s roads safer and giving back to the communities we serve. Over the past several months, we have personally met with and contributed to the campaigns of many of our state and congressional lawmakers. These face-to-face meetings were invaluable in building and maintaining strong relationships based on mutual respect and trust. Through your generous support of both the state UCAR PAC and the national NADA PAC, you ensure we can effectively advocate for the interests of Utah’s automotive industry. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with our elected officials and lend our perspective on issues that impact Utah’s auto dealers. It is truly a pleasure to work with the wonderful staff and members of this association, and to represent an industry that invests in our communities and drives Utah’s economy forward. As always, if you have questions or need a hand with something, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any member of our staff. 4 UTAH AUTO DEALER
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==