UTAH DEALER STEPHEN WADE ELECTED AS VICE CHAIRMAN

WASHINGTON (Sept. 24, 2009) - The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has elected Edward C. Tonkin as chairman for 2010. Tonkin is vice president and general counsel of Ron Tonkin Dealerships in Portland, Ore.

“It's humbling to be elected by your peers to such an important position,” says Tonkin. “It's an honor.”

Tonkin, who earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington, says his knowledge of the law will help lead the association through a myriad of legislative and regulatory challenges in 2010. Tonkin will be the second NADA chairman in as many years to follow his father in the position. Ron Tonkin led the association in 1989.

“I've always liked to be a part of shaping things,” Tonkin says. “I like the idea of being part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

The NADA board of directors also elected Stephen W. Wade as 2010 vice chairman. Wade is president of Stephen Wade Auto Center in St. George, Utah.

The election was held last week at NADA's legislative conference in Washington, D.C. Tonkin and Wade will officially take office at NADA's Convention & Exposition in Orlando, Feb. 13-15.

Edward C. Tonkin

Tonkin became a new-car dealer in 1981 after spending much of his childhood and adolescence helping his father at the family's dealerships in Portland. Tonkin graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. In 1979, he earned a Juris Doctor degree from the university.

Tonkin has represented Oregon's new-car dealers on NADA's board of directors since 2002. He has chaired the association's Legal and Regulatory Affairs and Information Technology committees and served as GM representative on NADA's Industry Relations Committee, and as a member of the Finance and Executive committees. He was a finalist for the TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year and Ward's Dealer of the Year awards, and F&I Management and Technology magazine's Dealer of the Year.

Active in his community, Tonkin has served as a board member of the Temple Beth Israel Congregation, Portland Metropolitan Sports Authority and Metropolitan Family Service. The Tonkin dealerships sell and service Acura, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ferrari, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lotus, Maserati, Mazda, Nissan, Scion and Toyota brand vehicles and Aprilia, Ducati, and MVAgusta motorcycles. He will soon add an Audi franchise, as well.

Stephen W. Wade

Wade became a new car-dealer in 1973. He served as president of the Utah Auto Dealers Association in 1981 and has represented the Utah's new-car dealers on NADA's board of directors since 2002. Currently, he's chairman of NADA's Industry Relations Committee and serves on the association's Dealership Operations Committee.

Active in his community, Wade served on the board of Dixie State College for 11 years was chairman for seven years. He's a charter founder of Sun First Bank of St. George and owns southern Utah's only TV station, KCSG. Wade has chaired special events for Utah's Federation for Drug Free Youth and served as an alumni board member for the University of Utah. He served in the National Guard from 1969-1975. Wade's dealerships sell and service Chevrolet, Cadillac, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Toyota brand vehicles and he owns a power sports store that sells Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, can-am and Polaris products.