General News

July 10, 2009

NCADA Elects Board Officers

During NCADA’s June 2009 Annual Convention, members voted in a new slate of association officers. The following leaders will serve NCADA for 2009-2010:

Linda Leith, of Raleigh, was named Chairman. Leith is the President of Auto Park Imports, Inc., and Vice President of Leith, Inc. in Raleigh. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Leith has a BS degree in Business Administration/Accounting. She worked in the Tax Department of Deloitte Haskins & Sells in Raleigh prior to joining her family in the automobile business in 1983. Leith became a franchised dealer in 1986 and now operates 37 franchises in Raleigh, Cary, Wendell and Fayetteville. She continues to maintain her CPA license as well. She formerly served as NCADA Vice Chairman.

Mike Johnson, of Hickory, was named Vice Chairman. Johnson is the President of Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, he spent several years working in the consumer beverage field before making the switch to the automotive business in 1981. He has worked in various aspects of the dealership including sales, business manager, trainer and general manager. In 1999, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to own his own business with the purchase of Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota. He expanded his operation in 2009 with the purchase of a Honda dealership in Danville, VA. He most recently served as NCADA Treasurer.

Thom Dillard, of Salisbury, was named Secretary. Dillard is the President of Team Chevrolet Cadillac in Salisbury which includes Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac and GMC franchises. His career in the automotive industry began with washing cars at Mountaineer Chevrolet while attending Western Carolina University. He later worked at dealerships in Charlotte and Hickory before being named General Sales Manager of Valley Auto World in Fayetteville in 1984. In 1992 Dillard and a business partner purchased Von Byerly Chevrolet in Salisbury. Most recently Dillard purchased the GM franchise from Salisbury Motor Company. An active community and industry leader, Dillard has served on the Chevrolet National Dealer Council, Chevrolet National Car Advisory Board, and Southeast Regional GM Dealer Council. He has also served on the board of Rowan Helping Ministries and Red Cross. He has formerly served as Treasurer for NCADA.

Omnia Fowler, of Winston-Salem, was named Treasurer. Fowler is the Executive Manager and General Manager of Modern Toyota in Winston-Salem. An active community and industry leader, Fowler is an eight-time recipient of Toyota’s President Award. He had served on the Southeast Toyota Dealer Council and Toyota’s Top 50 Customer Service Advisory Board. In 2000, Fowler was recognized among the Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 Years Old in the Triad. Fowler has served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and is Chairman of the Brad Hoover Celebrity Golf Classic benefitting the Arthritis Foundation of the Carolinas. He is a member of Centenary United Methodist Church.

In addition to the officers mentioned above, Ward Williams of Charlotte was elected to the Board of Directors representing the dealers in Cabarrus, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Gaston and Union counties while serving this three- year term. Williams is the President of Folger Automotive, a Kia, Subaru, and Buick dealership in Charlotte, N.C. An active community and industry leader, Williams has been named to the Kia President’s Club twice and serves as a Regional Board Member for Kia. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Dealers Association, Charlotte Merchant’s Foundation and Dowd YMCA.

The following directors will continue to serve on the Board of Directors for the upcoming year:
District 1 Don Smith, Don Smith Ford Subaru
District 2 Barbara Bush, Rooster Bush Chevrolet Buick Pontiac GMC
District 3 Joseph Bertolami, Toyota West
District 6 C. Owen Bertschi, Crescent Ford, Inc.
District 7 David Harris, Welford Harris, Inc.
District 8 J. W. Wyatt, III,Valley Auto World, Inc.
District 9 George Anderson, Sir Walter Chevrolet
District 10 Randall Parker, Parker Pontiac Buick GMC Trucks, Inc.
District 11 Frankie T. Korschun, Frema Motors Inc.
District 12 Trey Bulluck, Don Bulluck Chevrolet Cadillac, Inc.
District 13 Steve Lee, Lee Chevrolet Pontiac Buick

Heavy Duty Truck Dealer Director
John Alexander, Jr., Cardinal International Trucks

RV Dealer Director
Dave Hansing, Terry Labonte Chevrolet

At-Large Member
Tim Ilderton, Ilderton Dodge Chrysler Jeep