Tracy Myers, owner of a Winston-Salem used car dealership, responds to the 2010 National Quality Dealer of the Year awards winner.
The 2010 Quality Dealer of the Year was unveiled last Thursday night at The National Independent Automobile Dealers Associations 64th Annual Convention and Expo in Las Vegas.
Paul Warren Claborn won the award, who was recognized during the ceremony with what is considered to be the most prestigious NIADA honor.
Claborn, who owns WholesaleCars.com in Albertville, Ala., has worked in the industry almost three decades during a career that started with him detailing cars as a high school student.
After earning the same honors from his state’s dealer association, Claborn was chosen from a group of 21 candidates for NIADA’s national honors.
To determine the winner, Northwood University provides a judge panel, which looks at various factors including how candidates have contributed to the industry and been involved with their respective communities.
“Since its inception, the National Quality Dealer of the Year Award has been the golden ring that all used car dealers strived to obtain,” stated 2006 NIADA National Quality Dealer of the Year, Tracy Myers.
“There’s no doubt that Paul and his family are as excited to have earned the right to be called NIADA’s Quality Dealer of the Year as much as me, my family, and my Team at Frank Myers Auto Maxx was back in 2006,” he added.
Looking at Claborn’s career in more detail, after detailing cars in his school days, he was able to open a home equity line of credit by working two jobs. He used this credit to purchase and sell vehicles via classified.
Claborn said he “was forced to start my automotive business” when the manufacturing plant where he was employed shut down.
And that he did, launching a wholesale business in 1981. At the time, he had just two employees, but would gradually build up his store.
These days, his company’s two locations — one of which just specializes as a Buy-Here, Pay-Here store — employ 22 people. Moreover, his membership in the Alabama IADA dates back to 1983.
Looking at his community involvement, Claborn gave Stepping Ahead — an addiction recovery program — a van, and has provided three local high schools with personal scholarships.
Claborn also takes part in jail and prison ministries. For the last three years, he has mentored a young fatherless boy.
“We live in the most wonderful country on the face of this earth. This country, like no other, affords us one guarantee, the pursuit of happiness,” Claborn stated. “It’s up to us as individuals as to how much effort we want to put into this pursuit.”
For more information on the 2006 NIADA National Quality Dealer of the Year, Tracy Myers, please visit https://www.frankmyersauto.com
