McLEAN, Va. -

Inspired by something she picked up during NADA University training, Catherine Curry’s program to service the vehicles for a local hospital’s employees has helped Rice Toyota achieve stronger sales, service business and community standing.

Curry — the marketing director at the Greensboro, N.C. dealership — was also given the 2011 Driving Sales Executive Summit’s “best idea” award for this program, and is one of several dealers who have shared their success stories through the “NADA U All-Stars” video series.

And when the NADA/ATD Convention & Exposition gets rolling this weekend, other dealers can share their ideas and skills they have picked up from NADA U training and be recognized as a “NADA U All-Star.”

NADA University is inviting dealers to stop by its booth during the convention and have NADA staff record a brief video on ideas or best practices they have learned from attending such training.

Or, they can choose to upload their video through the Web. Dealers are asked to share how the skill/idea is connected to NADA U training, explain its implementation, any obstacles they faced and how things turned out.

“Every day, dealerships are putting creative ideas into successful practice based on what they learned from NADA U programs, and we want to pay special tribute to those individuals who are taking charge and leading those efforts,” said John Lyboldt, vice president of dealership operations for NADA.

“We also hope this series will spark new ideas, even simple ones, that will help dealerships across the country grow their business,” Lyboldt added.

Officials noted that anyone who has participated in the NADA U programs (Academy, 20 Group, Learning Hub and Resource Toolbox) can be a NADA U All-Star. Examples of what NADA U is looking for include ideas that improve productivity, cut costs or bolster a dealership’s image in the community, officials explained.

More information can be found at www.NADAUAllStars.com.