Patrick Preston, dealer principal at Preston Superstore, a Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford and Kia dealer in Burton has been nominated for the 2021 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
Patrick Preston, dealer principal at Preston Superstore, a Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford and Kia dealer in Burton has been nominated for the 2021 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
Preston is one of a select group of 41 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 104th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show being held virtually Feb. 9-11, 2021.
The announcement of this year’s annual award was made by Viktoria Degtar, global chief revenue officer at TIME USA LLC, and Doug Timmerman, president of auto finance for Ally Financial.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.
Preston, 65, was chosen to represent the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association in the national competition – one of only 41 auto dealers nominated for the 52nd annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide.
“I have so many great relationships with my guests and my employees,” Preston said. “I live in a little town where everyone knows my name and feels comfortable to ask me for help when the need arises.”
Preston took a different road on his way to the retail automotive industry. After earning an associate of science degree in 1976 from Penn State Berks in Reading, Pa., and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1978, he spent 15 years in hospitality for the Marriott Corporation.
“I started in the automobile business in 1993 with absolutely no dealership experience,” Preston said. “In my job at Marriott, over time, I managed thousands of employees. When I bought the dealership, I applied the same process management techniques I learned at Marriott to increase efficiencies, encourage employee empowerment and reduce bottlenecks.”
And to make up for his lack of experience in the industry, Preston surrounded himself with exceptional people and considered frontline employees his greatest asset.
“We focused on empowerment and development,” he said. “When employees are allowed to wow the guest, they just build on those successes.”
Preston also works closely with auto manufacturers to be their best partner in the marketplace. To that end, he has served as vice president of the Chevy Local Marketing Association since 2008 and he lends his time and talent to the Cleveland Auto Show, an annual showcase of the latest vehicles and concept cars, organized by the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association.
“I like to see each of my manufacturers excel,” Preston said. “And I like to help other dealerships as well, because when there is excitement around a new car model, everyone wins.”
Preston’s dealership also is a partner in the community. Recently, during the COVID-19 shutdown in May and June, Preston offered free service to first responders, grocery store employees, veterans, essential workers and the recently unemployed.
“We spent more than $250,000 helping people under this program, and we still offered the service through September for those who need help,” he said.
He also has donated money to three area schools to help them in their back-to-school preparations due to COVID-19, as well as supporting area Catholic schools. Other groups Preston supports include Geauga Park District, where he currently serves as board vice president; The Great Geauga County Fair; Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buckeye Chapter; Lake-Geauga Habitat for Humanity; University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center; as well as local chambers of commerce, youth sports and many other organizations.
“There are so many aspects of owning a dealership that feel rewarding to me,” Preston said. “Having my children following in my footsteps and watching their dedication to our family business is one of the greatest.”
Joining Preston in the family business — he and his wife, Diane, have three children — are his son, Bill, general manager of Chevrolet and Kia stores; daughter, Jackie, who works on marketing and advertising, and her husband Andy Franck, general manager of the Ford dealership; nephew James Preston, sales/finance manager at Kia; and brother-in-law, Bill Lane, new car manager.
Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. The award is sponsored by TIME in association with Ally Financial, and in cooperation with NADA. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity.
Lou Vitantonio, president of the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association, nominated
Preston for the TIME Dealer of the Year award.
In its 10th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“The TIME Dealer of the Year award celebrates the country’s top dealers who understand that their businesses thrive when they give back and help their communities grow,” Timmerman said. “In short, the award recognizes dealers who do it right in their businesses and in their communities.”
