Auto dealers in Ohio, Florida and Virginia were recently honored as quality dealers in their state and will be finalists for the National Quality Dealer of the Year at the NIADA Convention in June.
Mike and Shirley Tinkham of Tink’s Auto Trading Post in Millfield, Ohio, was named the Ohio Quality Dealer of the Year at the OIADA Convention Oct. 12 in Lewis Center, Ohio.
The Florida IADA recognized Michael Fernandez of ABC Autos, Inc., in Tampa, Florida, as the Florida Quality Dealer of the Year during its convention Oct. 6-8 in Orlando. Fernandez had to leave early due to the pending landfall of Hurricane Milton.
Fernandez, a third-generation operator of ABC Autos, is the second member of his family to receive the honor. His grandfather Edward Fernandez was named the FIADA Quality Dealer of the Year in 1974.
“It’s very cool for it to come full circle,” Fernandez said.
He will be recognized during the FIADA November board meeting.
The Virginia IADA named M’Lissa Dunn of Dunn Rite Auto Group of Kilmarnock, Virginia, its quality dealer. Dunn and her husband Randy started Dunn Rite Auto 25 years ago and built a loyal following of repeat business.
The winner of the National Quality Dealer of the Year will be announced during the NIADA Convention June 23-26, 2025, at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. Registration will open early in 2025.
Full bios and videos of all the finalists will be released in the spring.
