SAN DIEGO -

 Ohio dealer Rhett Ricart will be the 2020 chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association and Minnesota dealer Paul Walser will be vice chairman.

They were elected to these posts Tuesday at the NADA board meeting in San Diego. Their terms start at NADA Show 2020 in February.

Gilchrist Automotive president Charlie Gilchrist is the 2019 NADA chairman.

Ricart is the current vice chairman of NADA and is president of Groveport, Ohio’s Ricart Automotive Group. He represents Ohio franchised dealers on NADA’s board.

“I’m humbled by this opportunity. NADA is an incredible organization,” Ricart said in a news release. “I love cars, I love people, I love this business, and I am blessed to have a wonderful wife and family.”

Ricart added: “We must keep building on what’s been provided to us, and we must take advantage of the opportunity to protect and build upon our legacy,”

Ricart Automotive Group has Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Harley-Davidson, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Nissan franchises. 

Meanwhile, incoming vice chair Walser is partner at Bloomington, Minn.’s Walser Automotive Group and represents Minnesota franchised dealers on NADA’s board.

Re-elected to the post of NADA secretary was Bill Willis, president of Willis Chevrolet-Buick and Willis. Re-elected treasurer was Shuman Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram president Bob Shuman.

 

Updated to correct election date to Tuesday.