LAS VEGAS -

A North Carolina franchised dealer executive and a store solution provider left last week’s DrivingSales Executive Summit in Las Vegas as award winners.

Chosen as the winner of the 2011 DrivingSales Dealer ‘Best Idea’ Award, sponsored by ADP Cobalt was Mary Catherine Curry, marketing manager of Rice Toyota Scion in Greensboro, N.C.

DrivingSales founder and chief executive officer Jared Hamilton and John Holt, senior vice president of ADP Digital Marketing Group, presented Curry the honor.

The presenters recapped Curry received the highest score for her strategy of a sales and service alliance with a local hospital group.

Finalists included Dan Boismier, Internet director at Suburban Collection; Bryan Armstrong, e-commerce director at VW SouthTowne; Eric Miltsch, Internet director at Auction Direct USA; and Gary Sanders, Internet director at Stevinson Lexus of Lakewood, Colo.

“Our mission was to find the year’s smartest, best and most innovative dealership strategies for 2011 — and we were inspired by each and every dealer entry,” Hamilton shared.

“Mary Catherine Curry, along with the four finalists, epitomizes the kind of visionary thinking that continues to drive our industry forward,” Hamilton continued.

“These dealers continue to pave the way for innovation and creativity in the auto industry with strategies that translate into real results. Congratulations to our winner and finalists,” he added.

The 2011 DrivingSales Dealer Best Idea Award sponsored by ADP Cobalt recognizes the most innovative dealership strategies of 2011 whose original approaches have produced significant results in the dealership.

Officials recapped dealership personnel submitted applications online and a panel of dealers assessed each one.

Five finalists were selected to present onstage at the Third Annual DrivingSales Executive Summit where a panel of dealers scored each strategy.

More than $10,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to the winner and finalists.

Also given out during the event, the DrivingSales Innovation Cup Award for the most innovative dealership solution of 2011 went to Dominion Dealer Solutions’ CarBinder.

Officials highlighted Dominion Dealer Solutions’ CarBinder received the highest score. AdVantageTec AV11, Cars.com Dealer Reviews, cDemo Mobile Solutions Mobile Inspector (Mi), DealerTrend CarDealerPress.com and MotorLot eSignature were named as finalists.

“The Innovation Cup Award raises awareness of the solutions that are moving the needle forward in the auto industry,” Hamilton stated.

“CarBinder stood out in an amazing field of competitors. Congratulations to Dominion Dealer Solutions and each of our finalists who are providing winning solutions for dealerships across the country,” Hamilton continued.

Hamilton went on to reiterate the second annual DrivingSales Innovation Cup Awards were created to recognize solutions introduced or enhanced in 2011.

Dealership solution providers submitted applications online, vendor names were blanked out, and a panel of dealers assessed each application. Six were selected from dozens of online applicants to present onstage at the third annual DrivingSales Executive Summit where a panel of dealers scored each solution.

Both award winners and all finalists will be profiled at DrivingSales.com, the organization’s newsletter and featured in a video interview at DrivingSalesTV.

For more information about the DrivingSales Innovation Cup Awards, go to http://www.drivingsalesinnovationcup.com.