©2026 West Virginia Automobile Dealers Association (WVADA) | MBR Connect DBA The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. WVADA News is published four times per year by The newsLINK Group LLC for WVADA 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 WVADA, 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. WVADA News is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of WVADA. 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 (855) 747-4003. Contents PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 Off to a Strong Start By Jared Wyrick, President, WVADA 6 Congratulations to Ginger Fato, WVADA’s 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee 8 TIME Dealer of the Year Past Nominees 11 WVADA VIP Charity Gala Wrap-Up BY THE NUMBERS 14 Managing the Departure of an Office Manager A Step-by-Step Guide for Dealers By Steve Williams, CPA/ABV, Tetrick & Bartlett PLLC COUNSELOR’S CORNER 16 Navigating Vehicle Recalls A Straightforward Guide for West Virginia Dealers By Johnnie Brown, Esq., Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe PLLC 18 Here’s How Employers Can Get Smarter About AI Use in 2026 By Fisher Phillips 20 WVADA 93rd Dealer Family Convention 21 Modern Payment Strategies for Automotive Dealerships Leveraging Surcharging for Efficiency and Profitability By Amberly Allen, Dealer Merchant Services 23 In the Community 25 WVADA Preferred Partner Programs 26 Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Directors at Large 2026 ISSUE 1 11 JARED WYRICK President HALEY JUSTICE Communications & Events Director WEST VIRGINIA AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION 1618 Kanawha Blvd. E. Charleston, WV 25311 Phone: (304) 343-4158 wvcar.com MEET OUR TEAM ELAINE JUSTICE Office Administrator 6 WVADA NEWS 2
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