THE 10-SECOND VERSION (AI SUMMARY)
Reviewed by our team
What happened: NADA elected Sandy Fitzgerald Angello as its 2027 chairman and Jeff Weber as vice chairman.
Why it matters: They’ll lead dealers’ biggest advocacy voice through rising regulatory pressure and a push for consumer trust.
What to do: Get to know your new leaders, and make sure NADA hears what your store is facing.
Welcome to your first day, Sandy. How quickly can you make a flying car?
We’re kidding, mostly. But with Tesla’s Roadster flipping through the air last week, it’s fair to say the industry’s new leaders are stepping into a wild stretch. We talked about NADA’s newly elected leadership on today’s episode of the Automotive State of the Union.
New leaders bring fresh eyes, and dealers could use them right now.
Meet NADA’s 2027 Leadership Team
NADA announced its leadership for 2027 on Oct. 20, according to Automotive News.
NADA LEADERSHIP, 2027
Chairman: Sandy Fitzgerald Angello, dealer operator of Pohanka Automotive Group of Salisbury in Maryland and this year’s vice chairman. She’ll be just the second woman to chair NADA, following Annette Sykora in 2008.
Vice chairman: Jeff Weber, dealer principal of Anderson-Weber Toyota in Dubuque and Toyota of Muscatine, both in Iowa. A third-generation dealer, he started as an F&I manager at his family’s store in 1999 and has represented Iowa on NADA’s board since 2018. By tradition, he’s in line to become chairman in 2028.
Secretary: Joe Massarelli of Liberty Auto City in Illinois, re-elected
Treasurer: Kirt Frye of Sunnyside Automotive Group in Ohio, serving another term
Both Angello and Weber begin their terms at the NADA Show in February.
“Given the current challenges facing the auto retail industry, it’s important that we continue building on our advocacy efforts and delivering results for our Main Street businesses and valued customers.” Sandy Fitzgerald Angello
Weber said his focus includes the association’s customer experience project, which promotes transparency and builds consumer trust.
What NADA’s New Leaders Mean for Dealers
There’s something healthy about the way NADA rotates its leadership. Every year or two, a new dealer brings fresh perspective and real-world experience from the showroom floor.
That matters now more than ever. Dealers face pricing rules from the FTC and states like California, pressure on affordability, and automakers rethinking their product plans. Having leaders who still run stores themselves keeps NADA grounded in what dealers actually deal with every day.
And Weber’s focus on transparency and trust lines up with nearly everything we’ve covered this month. The dealers who earn customers’ trust will be the ones best positioned for whatever comes next.
Strong dealers need a strong voice in Washington, and it starts with leaders who know the showroom.
We’ll be cheering them on in February. Hear the full conversation on today’s episode of the Automotive State of the Union.
