MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, July 15, 2014 – Manheim and AutoTrader.com presented the first-ever National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) Innovation Award to Steve Ewing, president and CEO of Wade Ford of Smyrna, Georgia. The 2014 NAMAD Innovation Award honors a leader in the industry who has positively impacted their organizations and the industry. The award was presented to Ewing during a reception on July 11 as part of the 2014 NAMAD Conference, held at the Fontainebleau from July 9-12, 2014.
“I am humbled by this award,” Ewing said. “It is very rewarding to be honored by NAMAD, but I must take a moment to credit my talented team at Wade Ford for their dedication to our customers, the dealership and the Ford brand.”
Ewing was selected as the first recipient of this award for the leadership he demonstrated through implementation and adoption of new technology and improvement of processes at Wade Ford. Under Ewing’s leadership, the 40,000 square-foot dealership recently underwent a $2 million renovation to help provide an enhanced customer experience at all the franchises’ touch points. Ewing is also a multi-year recipient of the Ford Motor Company President’s Award, as well as a member of the Ford Dealership Advisory Board.
“We are grateful to Manheim and AutoTrader.com for the sponsorship of the conference and for the partnership on this award,” said Damon Lester, president of NAMAD. We are pleased to honor Steve Ewing for his contributions to the automobile industry.”
During the selection process, the NAMAD Board recommended members who embodied this award, and representatives from Manheim, AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book, vAuto and VinSolutions voted on a recipient based on the following criteria:
“We are proud to not only sponsor this award but to be an important part of this conference,” said Bruce Jackson, Division Vice President of Sales, Southeast, at AutoTrader.com. “It’s a privilege to honor Steve Ewing for the leadership he has shown at Wade Ford.”
A Detroit native, Ewing has held various positions in his 20-year career in the automotive industry, including salesman, sales manager, general manager and operator. He purchased Wade Ford, which started in Atlanta in the 1930s before moving to Smyrna in the 1980s, 12 years ago after selling his Ford dealership in Pennsylvania.
Wade Ford, located off South Cobb Drive near King Springs Road in Smyrna, was the first Motor Trend Dealership, which ensures buyers of previously-owned Ford vehicles that they are fully inspected and under warranty. The dealership averages 1,500 pre-owned and 1,400 new vehicle sales annually.
About National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (www.namad.org/)
The National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. Founded in 1980, NAMAD is committed to increasing opportunities for ethnic minorities in all aspects of the automotive industry. NAMAD seeks to ensure the presence of a meaningful, representative number of minority entrepreneurs and employees in the retail sales, supplier and service sectors, and the manufacturing ranks
NAMAD is committed to working closely with domestic and international nameplate manufacturers to achieve win/win, sound business arrangements designed to create reciprocal trading partnerships. Over the past year, astute automobile manufacturers have joined forces with NAMAD to work together to advance the nation's efforts to promote equal opportunity and access for all Americans. These partnerships have uncovered new markets, new ideas, new talent and new capital - all to the benefit of automobile manufacturers, entrepreneurs and consumers.
About AutoTrader.com (www.autotrader.com)
Created in 1997, Atlanta-based AutoTrader.com is the Internet's ultimate automotive marketplace. As a leading resource for car shoppers and sellers, AutoTrader.com aggregates millions of new, used and certified pre-owned cars from thousands of dealers and private sellers and provides expert articles and reviews. AutoTrader.com, which also operates the AutoTraderClassics.com auto marketing brand, is wholly owned by Cox Automotive. Additionally, Cox Automotive owns Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com®), Manheim Auctions as well as companies that provide a full suite of software tools that help dealers and manufacturers manage their inventory and advertising online: vAuto®, HomeNet Automotive®, VinSolutions®, AIS Rebates™, Genius Labs® and Haystak™. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.
About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim is the leading global provider of vehicle remarketing services, connecting buyers and sellers of used vehicles to the largest wholesale used-vehicle marketplace. The company helps dealer and commercial customers achieve results by providing physical and digital auction channels, data analysis, financing, transportation and mobile products and solutions.
Manheim pioneered in-lane vehicle auctions and has been an innovator in both digital and mobile auction platforms. Manheim registers nearly 8 million used vehicles annually, facilitating transactions representing more than $50 billion in value. Manheim’s research and consulting arm, Manheim Consulting, provides industry-leading market intelligence and publishes the widely recognized annual Used Car Market Report. The company offers dealer financing though NextGear Capital, Inc., and transportation services through Ready Auto Transport.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim has more than 20,000 employees in 106 worldwide sites and generates annual revenues of more than $2.5 billion. A subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Manheim participates in “Go Green with Manheim,” the company’s sustainability program.