22 ©2024 Utah Auto Dealer | The newsLINK Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Utah Auto Dealer is published four times each year by The newsLINK Group, LLC for the New Car Dealers of Utah and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and dealer 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 the New Car Dealers of Utah, 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. Utah Auto Dealer is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of the New Car Dealers of Utah. While the New Car Dealers of Utah encourages a first-print policy, 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. 14 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 6 Together, We Make a Difference By Craig Bickmore, Executive Director 8 NCDU Hall of Fame Inductee Kirk Y. Schneider 9 Congratulations NCDU! 2023 MarCom Awards Winner 10 NCDU Hall of Fame Inductee Jeffrey K. Wetzel 12 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee J. Blake Murdock 14 The Utah International Auto Expo Photo Gallery 20 NADA Market Beat: February 2024 New Light-Vehicle Sales Finish Strong By Patrick Manzi, NADA Chief Economist 21 Register Today! NCDU Annual Good Wheels Golf Tournament 22 How to Build a Consumer-Friendly Service Experience That Is Efficient By Sharon Kitzman, Dominion DMS Kirk Schneider 1958 Inducted January 12, 2024 Kirk Y. Schneider was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Cottonwood High School and in 1981 received a BS in Business Management from the University of Utah. In the Spring of 1979 Kirk was lucky to go on a blind date with a beautiful blonde in a yellow Corvette. That decision ultimately changed the course of his life. In March of 1983 Kirk and that beautiful blonde, Nata Wade, married and began their lifelong friendship, partnership, and love affair. They now have 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren. In January of 1984, Kirk was fortunate to have Nata’s father Nate Wade offer him a job at Nate Wade Subaru. Nate had a strong team of lifelong people that accepted Kirk and taught him the car business. Kirk still joke’s that he will never have seniority at Nate Wade Subaru. In 1996, Nate sold Kirk and Nata the dealership which began a whole new adventure. In 1998, they took on the Daewoo Franchise but quickly realized that putting all their effort into the burgeoning Subaru brand was a better strategy and sold Daewoo 18 months later. The team at Nate Wade Subaru has been recognized by Subaru for their excellence in winning the Pinnacle Club, Chairman’s Roundtable and Pleiades Club awards on multiple occasions. Because of the strength of this team, Kirk was able to pursue various service opportunities throughout the industry. He served on the Subaru National Retail Advisory Board for 16 years serving as Chairman on two occasions. He has served on the board of the New Car Dealers of Utah for over 20 years serving as President in 2001-2002. He served on the Utah Motor Vehicle Advisory Board and on the UADA Insurance Trust board. He has chaired the Auto Expo since 1995. Kirk succeeded Stephen Wade as the NADA director from Utah in 2014, a position he continues in today. Kirk served on the boards of The National Ability Center and KUED. With the Nate Wade Team Kirk and Nata have been able to support many Utah Charities including The Huntsman Cancer Foundation, The 4th Street Clinic, Youthlinc, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. They are proud that since 2016 they have granted 35 wishes to Utah kids through Make a Wish and have sent over 300 veterans to Washington DC on the Utah Honor Flight. The New Car Dealers of Utah is proud to welcome Kirk Schneider into the 2024 Hall of Fame and recognizes his contribution to his community and the automotive industry. 8 CONTENTSPUB. 6 2024 ISSUE 1 4 UTAH AUTO DEALER
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