Gary Rome,
Owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, MA, Wins Annual Award at 106th
National Automotive Dealers Association Show
DALLAS, Jan. 27,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of automotive
industry champions who possess a relentless commitment to their
communities, Ally Financial (NYSE: ALLY) and TIME announced
Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome
Hyundai in Holyoke, Mass., as the
2023 TIME Dealer of the Year at the 106th National
Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) show in Dallas.
Now in its 54th year, the TIME Dealer of the Year award is one
of the auto industry's most prestigious and highly coveted honors.
Rome's credo of treating both employees and clients like family,
and his commitment to embracing new energy-efficient technologies
that will move the industry forward helped earn him the top
recognition from a field of more than 16,000 franchised dealers
across the country. His state-of-the-art Hyundai store is fueled by
a solar field that he owns, and he has increased investment in EV
infrastructure and inventory, becoming one of the first dealers in
the U.S. to deliver an electric vehicle from Hyundai. Rome's
commitment to energy-efficient technologies led to his electric
vehicle (EV) sales being up 38% over the last year.
Doug Timmerman, president of Ally
Auto, and Jessica Sibley, CEO of
TIME, announced Rome as the winner at a ceremony that honored all
48 nominees.
"As the auto industry continues to evolve, it is imperative that
auto dealers continue to embrace new technologies that will move
the industry forward," said Timmerman. "Year after year, we see
these auto dealers go above and beyond for their customers,
communities, and employees – and TIME Dealer of the Year nominees
are more than deserving of this special recognition."
"For over 50 years, TIME has recognized the impact of automotive
dealers on their communities with the TIME Dealer of the Year
award," said Sibley. "We are proud to continue the legacy of
honoring these works of service with our partners at Ally."
The TIME Dealer of the Year is chosen by a panel composed of
faculty from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the
University of Michigan, which selects
one finalist from each of the four NADA regions, and, ultimately, a national
winner.
In addition to Rome, three other dealers were recognized as 2023
TIME Dealer of the Year finalists:
- Mark Brickey, Sand Mountain
Toyota, Albertville, Ala.
- Bruce Daniels, Honda Marysville,
Marysville, Ohio
- Tim Hutcherson, Downey Nissan, Downey,
Calif.
As the exclusive sponsor of the TIME Dealer of the Year program
for the 12th year in a row, Ally will provide grants to eligible
501c3 charitable organizations selected by the nominees, finalists,
and winner. For more than a decade, Ally has made donations in
connection with the program, totaling nearly $1 million. This year, Ally will give
$10,000 to the charity of Rome's
choice and $5,000 to each of the
nonprofit organizations selected by the three finalists. In
recognition of their achievements, Ally also will give $1,000 to the charities of choice for each of the
48 nominees.
For more information on the nominees, finalists, and winner,
please visit:
https://www.ally.com/go/allydealerheroes/nominees.
How Rome Became a Legacy in the Automotive Industry
Following in his father's footsteps, Rome became general manager
of his father's Nissan store in 1984, after graduating from
Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and attending the
NADA Academy. Less than a decade
later, in 1997, Rome purchased the original building from his
father and founded his own dealership, Gary Rome Hyundai in
Holyoke. Today, the Gary Rome Auto
Group also includes Gary Rome Kia of
Enfield in Enfield, Connecticut.
Rome's dealerships strive to be welcoming havens for both
employees and customers. Rome engages his team and community by
celebrating milestone events, holding monthly raffles, and hosting
themed luncheons. In addition to his passion for excellent customer
service and employee appreciation, Rome is the president of the
Hyundai Dealers Advertising Association and has served on national
dealer councils for 16 years.
Rome is a stand-out community leader who devotes himself to
helping numerous charitable organizations, including Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, and breast
cancer research organizations. He also hosts the annual Gary Rome
Academic Achievement Award of a Brand New Hyundai Car Giveaway, a
program that rewards one deserving Holyoke
High School senior with a new car.
About TIME
TIME is the 99-year-old global media brand that reaches a
combined audience of more than 100 million around the world through
its iconic magazine and digital platforms. With unparalleled access
to the world's most influential people, the immeasurable trust of
consumers and partners globally, and an unrivaled power to convene,
TIME's mission is to tell the essential stories of the people and
ideas that shape and improve the world. Today, TIME also includes
the Emmy Award®-winning film and television division TIME Studios,
a significantly expanded live events business built on the powerful
TIME100 and Person of the Year franchises, an industry-leading web3
division, an award-winning branded content studio, the
website-building platform TIME Sites, the sustainability and
climate-action platform TIME CO2, and more.
About Ally Financial Inc.
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company
with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading
auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and
be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company
serves more than 10.5 million customers through a full range of
online banking services (including deposits, mortgage,
point-of-sale personal lending, and credit card products) and
securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company
also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers
capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as
auto financing and insurance offerings through more than 22,000
dealers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ally.com
and follow @allyfinancial.
For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit
https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.
For further images and news on Ally, please visit
http://media.ally.com.
About the NADA
Show
The annual NADA Show brings
together more than 20,000 franchised dealers and their employees,
industry leaders, manufacturers, and exhibitors to learn about the
latest auto industry tools, trends, products and technologies.
Contact:
Megan Rivers
Ally Financial
Megan.Rivers@ally.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/time-and-ally-financial-name-2023-dealer-of-the-year-301732874.html
SOURCE Ally Financial