You can feel it on the NADA show floor. The noise, the handshakes, the quick hallway huddles, the “good to see you” conversations that turn into real problem-solving. Dealers are here to talk tech, fixed ops, inventory, EVs, compliance, the whole mix.
And then you hear what a lot of people outside this business miss: dealers talking about their towns. Their schools. Their nonprofits. Their people.
That is why the TIME Dealer of the Year award still carries weight. It puts a spotlight on the dealers who run strong operations and stay deeply involved where they live and work.
This year, David Wright, president of Dave Wright Nissan Subaru in Hiawatha, Iowa, was named the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year at the 109th NADA Show in Las Vegas. The award is in its 57th year, and it recognizes leadership in the industry along with long-term community service.
Wright’s operation has earned Automotive News’ Best Dealerships to Work For recognition 12 times. That kind of consistency tells you a lot about how the store is run day to day: hiring with care, building a team culture that sticks, and taking employee experience seriously.
That same approach shows up in what the dealership does outside its walls. Wright and his team support organizations including Goodwill of the Heartland, To The Rescue, the Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor, Heritage Area Agency on Aging, and the Iowa Giving Crew. They give in ways that are steady and specific, including annual contributions over $50,000, program sponsorships, and hands-on involvement that supports children, educators, seniors, and neighbors who need help.
If you spend any time around high-performing dealerships, you notice a pattern. The best stores do not separate “business success” from “community responsibility.” They understand that trust is built across years, not quarters. They show up when a local organization needs support. They use their reach to help others get attention and resources. They give their teams a reason to feel proud about where they work.
The TIME Dealer of the Year recognition is deserved for David Wright, and it also points to something bigger: dealers and dealer teams across the U.S. are doing real work for their communities every day. Some of it is visible, a lot of it is not, and most of it is carried by people who are already busy running a business.
On a show floor packed with new ideas, this is still one of the strongest reminders of what retail auto can be when it is led well: a dealership that takes care of its people, earns trust locally, and makes the community stronger year after year.
