Automotive News - December 18, 2017 - Best Practices Supplement - A8

THESE DEALERS DO LOTS
BEYOND THE LOT
T

HEY ARE FOOTBALL COACHES AND CHURCH LEADERS,
military veterans and industry advocates. One is a volunteer
firefighter, another an Eagle Scout. They spearhead campaigns
for animal welfare and child nutrition. Their efforts have
bolstered local schools, built homeless shelters and provided
work-study opportunities for young people.
Meet the 47 auto dealers who have been selected as nominees
for the 2018 TIME Dealer of the Year Award, sponsored by Ally.
These dealers have been nominated by their state or regional
auto trade associations in recognition of their business
leadership and community service. The nominees, including
the four regional finalists and the 2018 TIME Dealer of the
Year recipient, will be honored in March at the NADA Show in
Las Vegas.
As exclusive sponsor for the seventh year, Ally will recognize
the contributions of these dealers by contributing $1,000 to
each dealer's chosen charity. Nominees also will be featured on
AllyDealerHeroes.com, which showcases their volunteer and
charitable efforts.

James Benson Jr.
president and owner
Benson Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram; Greer, S.C.
■ Nominated by E. Sims Floyd Jr., South
Carolina Automobile Dealers Association

James Benson Jr. started in the
transportation business as a 17-yearold truck driver, hauling used cars from Philadelphia to South
Carolina. Fifty-one years ago, he opened a used-car lot in Greer
that eventually grew into a Chrysler dealership-and now is
the center of a family-owned dealership group. Benson spent
eight years as a board member and president of the Greater
Greer Chamber of Commerce and champions a host of local
organizations and charitable efforts, including the current
reconstruction of the city's popular Kids Planet at Century Park.
Greenville Technical College's Greer campus was renamed the
Benson Campus in recognition of his longtime support.

J.P. Bishop
dealer
Bob Bell Ford; Glen Burnie, Md.

Ambrose "Gino" Barbuto
president
East Syracuse Chevrolet; East Syracuse, N.Y.
■ Nominated by Barbara Rothschild,
Syracuse Auto Dealers Association

Gino Barbuto grew up in Syracuse and after
college became a service adviser at East
Syracuse Chevrolet-where he has been ever since, purchasing the
dealership in 2011. Barbuto, a leader in the Syracuse Auto Dealers
Association, was vice chairman of the Syracuse Auto Expo's charity
preview. The event has raised more than $3 million for local charities.
Barbuto also supports efforts to help young people, including The
Kara Fund, where he was a board member; The First Tee of Syracuse;
and the Central New York Family Bicycle Charity.

Michael Basil
president
Basil Toyota; Lockport, N.Y.
■ Nominated by Robert Vancavage, New York
State Automobile Dealers Association

Michael Basil, his father and five brothers
oversee 11 dealerships and 800 employees
throughout New York state. In more than 50 years of operation, his
family business has established a legacy of charitable giving. Basil
currently helps many local and national organizations, including
Save Ontario Shores, the Edward M. Cotter fireboat, the Down
Syndrome Parent Group of Western New York, the Outreach Center at
St. John's Parish in Lockport, the Historic Palace Theatre in Lockport,
John R. Oishei Children's Hospital and the Matt Urban Hope Center.
|8

■ Nominated by Peter Kitzmiller, Maryland
Automobile Dealers Association

J.P. Bishop is following in the footsteps of
his father-in-law, Bob Bell, who was a TIME
Dealer of the Year finalist in 2001. Bishop, a University of Maryland
graduate with a law degree from the University of Baltimore,
started at Bob Bell Automotive as an executive assistant in 1992.
Today Bishop and his wife, Bird, are rebranding the company and
teaching young staff "the Bob Bell Way." The dealership supports
The Red Devils, an organization helping Maryland families
affected by breast cancer. Over the past three years, more than
$70,000 in proceeds from an annual Pink Tag Sales event have
been donated to The Red Devils.

Garry Brayko
president
Archie Cochran Motors Inc.; Billings, Mont.
■ Nominated by Bruce Knudsen, Montana
Automobile Dealers Association

During college, Garry Brayko started
working in the parts department of a
Montana dealership for $1.50 an hour.
After graduation, he became controller for Archie Cochrane
Motors, where he rose to general manager before acquiring the
dealership in 2008. Cochrane Motors participates in the Ford
Global Week of Caring, supporting groups such as the Adult
Resource Alliance of Yellowstone County, Tumbleweed Runaway
Program and HUB Drop-In Center for the homeless. Brayko
contributes to a number of local groups including the Billings
Clinic Foundation, the YMCA and YWCA and his alma mater,
Carroll College.

http://www.AllyDealerHeroes.com

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