HARRISBURG, N.C. -

A new organization that is designed to offer a myriad of compliance, regulatory, educational and legislative tools to dealers has been formed.

The Professional Dealers Institute was founded by Jim Edwards — who has expertise in risk management, undisclosed prior damage and diminished value — and Kathryn Messenger, who has expertise in dealer compliance.

What makes the Professional Dealers Institute different, organizers say, is that it will revolve solely around education, legislation and information.

Messenger and Edwards both have deep backgrounds in dealer training and have worked with dealers throughout North and South Carolina, organizers said.

“Both are very experienced automotive trainers and the vast majority of new dealers in the Carolinas over the past nine years have become licensed upon completion of courses conducted by Jim and Kat,” officials noted.

Edwards has extensive experience working as a lobbyist throughout state legislatures throughout the entire Southeast and in the U.S. Congress.

Additionally, Messenger has been training hundreds of dealers under the Carolina Dealer Training LLC umbrella for three months now. She has been working with them in pre-licensing and continuing education.

Carolina Dealer Training will serve as a sister organization to the new institute.

The new institute will be formally rolled out at Manheim North Carolina, where several industry chief executive officers and Tom Hudson, of Hudson Cook, LLP — the institute’s legal counsel — are slated to attend. Organizers also expect to see Jack Tracy — who is with the National Auto Finance Association and the National Association of Dealer Counsel — at the official launch.

Furthermore, Carolina Dealer Training and the Professional Dealers Institute have teamed up with the Reynolds and Reynolds Co. to help independent dealers. They will provide these dealers with "the industry’s most compliant forms."

“Additionally, the institute has partnered with the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina’s full-service insurance agency to provide the entire gamut of insurance and bond requirements any dealer may need in North and South Carolina,” officials noted.

“Lastly, the institute has chosen John Donaldson, CPA, of Potter & Co., as their accounting firm and endorsed provider of specialty accounting services to dealers,” they added.

The membership “investment” for the institute is $225. Included for free with the first year’s investment is a one-year subscription to Spot Delivery monthly legal newsletter designed for dealers and finance companies.

For more information, contact Edwards at (704) 654-5400 or visit www.professionaldealers.org.