Automotive News - February 11, 2008 - (Page 26) 26 • FEBRUARY 11, 2008 Tim Smith is Time’s dealer of the year SAN FRANCISCO — Tim Smith has won the 2008 Time Magazine Dealer of the Year award. Smith, president of Bob Smith BMW-Mini, of Calabasas, Calif., was scheduled to receive the award Saturday, Feb. 9, at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here. Fifty-one auto dealers were nominated. The Time Magazine Dealer of the Year award honors new-vehicle dealers for exceptional performance in their dealerships and distinguished community service. In the past, the honor was called the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. The award is sponsored by Time in association with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Smith is a third-generation car dealer: His grandfather, R.A. Smith, became a Chevrolet distributor in 1917 in San Francisco. Tim’s father, Bob Smith, owned a dealership where Tim began working after eighth grade. After graduating from Santa Clara University, Tim began selling new cars at Bob Smith Volkswagen-Porsche in Hollywood. Bob Smith BMW opened in 1973. Tim Smith’s two daughters now work at the dealership. Tim Smith was chairman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association in 2003 and has been a major benefactor of schools and organizations that support church and child welfare. He says being a trustee for the Catholic Education Foundation is his most meaningful civic contribution. The other finalists for the Time Dealer of the Year Award were: Harry Brown, dealer principal and president of National Dodge (Dodge-Volkswagen-Subaru) in Jacksonville, N.C. Franklin Downing Jr., CEO of Towne BMW in Williamsville, N.Y. Mark Olinyk, president of Mark Motors Automotive Inc. (Toyota-Scion) in Plover, Wis. c Gettelfinger: Pessimistic about the UAW legislative agenda this year. Smith Brown Gettelfinger: Bush plan is little help Harry Stoffer hstoffer@crain.com Downing Olinyk WASHINGTON — A pending economic stimulus plan won’t do much for U.S. manufacturers, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says. Putting cash in the pockets of working people is good for the country, Gettelfinger told about 1,000 UAW activists at a conference here last week. But the modest rebates the plan offers most taxpayers will have limited effect, he said. Family incomes have stagnated, and most of what people can buy with their rebate checks is made overseas, he said. UAW activists who attended the conference met with lawmakers and talked politics. Union leaders concede that their legislative agenda stands little chance this year, with the Bush administration still in power and most members of Congress focused on re-election. A UAW priority — a bill that would allow unions to organize workers with signature cards instead of secret ballots — was approved by the House last year. A majority of senators favors it, but Senate Republicans have blocked the measure with a filibuster threat. “Let’s not forget in November,” Gettelfinger exhorted the UAW audience. He vowed that the UAW will work to derail new free-trade agreements, including one with South Korea. The Asian nation exports about 700,000 vehicles a year to the United States. Gettelfinger said the UAW and its allies may not be able to outspend opponents in this year’s election campaigns. “But we can outwork them, and that’s what we intend to do,” he said. The union has taken a no-endorsement position in presidential primaries. But the UAW considers both top Democratic contenders, U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, to be friends, Gettelfinger said. The union considers Republican presidential front-runner John McCain unacceptable, Gettelfinger said, even though some members of his party call him too liberal. In his remarks, Gettelfinger lashed out at GOP members of the National Labor Relations Board. He accused them of thwarting union gains. Gettelfinger also told reporters: The UAW has made progress in negotiating additional buyouts for workers at Chrysler LLC. A federal Bankruptcy Court’s decision to roll back compensation for executives of Delphi Corp. is “a victory, but not much of a victory.” He doesn’t know whether unionized U.S. automakers and suppliers have hit bottom. But he expressed confidence that a rebound is possible if government cooperates on trade, health care and other issues important to the industry. c http://www.usemafs.com http://www.usemafs.com
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