While running her own accounting consulting business, Melanie Wilson took a call about a new client in 2017, not knowing where it would lead.
Previous NIADA CEO Steve Jordan reached out to Wilson about consulting with the association.
“NIADA had seen tremendous growth in a short period of time. I was brought in to evaluate specifically the accounting department and help streamline processes and put procedures into place,” Wilson recalled. “I worked on that for about a year, and then came on as their CFO in 2018. Next thing I knew, I was not just over accounting. I had HR, administration, general operations and facilities.”
The roles kept growing until earlier this month, as she took over as interim CEO. She’s the first woman to lead NIADA in its 75-year history.
I’m incredibly humbled by the opportunity.
Melanie Wilson, NIADA interim CEO
“I’m incredibly humbled by the opportunity,” Wilson said.
Throughout her tenures as CFO, Wilson did far more than crunch numbers. She was involved in the operations and developing the overall strategy of the association.
Taking on multiple roles is nothing new for the Texas native.
“I’ve been in nonprofits my entire career, and that’s just what happens. Everyone wears five or six different hats,” Wilson said. “It’s what I’m used to. You all pitch in and help where you can help…It comes natural to me. I was raised by entrepreneurs who owned their own businesses.”
Working her way through college, Wilson took an office job and quickly found a knack and love for accounting. She earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting and fast-tracked to earning her Certified Public Accountant certification.
She found a need for small businesses and nonprofits for accounting expertise and opened her own consulting firm prior to coming to NIADA.
“I started my own business to provide good accounting at a reasonable price for nonprofits, which led me to NIADA,” Wilson said.
Starting as the CEO, Wilson recognizes the mission of NIADA to utilize all its resources to help members.
“The members are our purpose and the industry partners are how we fulfill our purpose,” Wilson explained. “When all those pieces are working together and efficiently, then everybody wins.
“What I’m most excited about going into 2023 is leveraging all of our resources to help our members build really strong, stable businesses and legacies.”
Of the resources, Wilson points to a staff of committed and talented NIADA personnel, which includes executive staff Vice President of Dealer Development Jeremy Beck and Vice President of Government Affairs Brett Scott.
I don’t think the smartest person in the room is ever the person that knows everything. It’s the person that knows where to go to find the answer.
Melanie Wilson, NIADA Interim CEO
“We have an incredible staff at NIADA with lots of special skills and expertise. I helped build a lot of this team and create this dynamic pool of resources,” Wilson said. “I don’t think the smartest person in the room is ever the person that knows everything. It’s the person that knows where to go to find the answer. We’ve built a team. We have those resources internally, but also with industry partners and members. I want to focus on tapping our resources and leveraging them so that NIADA and our industry can be better.”
NIADA in 2023 will continue to work with dealers and connect them with the products and services to help them in their dealerships. NIADA is also launching a CPO program to help independent dealers compete against the franchise CPO programs.
“The CPO provides an incredible opportunity for dealerships to really compete in the market,” Wilson said.
NIADA will also be expanding its 20 Groups and educational training for dealers.
After an unpredictable 2022, forecasting 2023 is like guessing the weather.
“In 2022, we had a lot of people telling us what they thought the market was going to do. By the year’s end, it was not doing anything we thought was going to do,” Wilson said. “If I have to look at 2023, I think the trend will carry forward – unpredictable.”
She can predict NIADA will continue to work on behalf of members and partners to make the industry stronger.
“We want to bring our teams, which have such strong expertise in what they do, to meet the members and industry partners where they are and bring everyone to the table to really make the industry flourish,” Wilson said.
