AUSTIN, Texas -

The Texas Automobile Dealers Association revealed late last week that it has strengthened its partnership with NADA University to create a program designed to prepare the next generation of dealers for success, as well as make educational material more accessible.

The program — Texas Dealer Academy — utilizes the online resources provided by NADA University to "provide future dealers in the state with 24/7 access to the industry’s most comprehensive online professional development training programs,” officials noted.

TADA, a subscriber to NADA University’s online content option NADAvt, will be utilizing the tool that offers online training, including courses, convention workshops and educational Webinars, by enrolling all its dealer successors and key managers in the online program, giving them access to all it has to offer. 

NADA University’s online training and education programs cover aspects of dealership operations, ranging from business and financial management to advertising and marketing, to name a few.

Moreover, the officials noted the new Texas Dealer Academy offers aspiring dealership professionals "networking opportunities and active engagement in its grassroots legislative and regulatory activities on issues impacting the industry."

“Information is power, and this is the most powerful education and training program ever offered to the next generation of dealers in our state,” said TADA president Bill Wolters.

“No one does education better than NADA U, and access to all that information will give our dealers what they need to succeed for the long term,” he continued.

Spearheading the efforts to partner with NADA University on this new TADA initiviate was dealer Tim Crenwelge, of Crenwelge Motors in Kerrville, Texas.

Stressing the impact of the new program, Crenwelge said, “This is the one-stop resource for our young future dealers.”

“Here they have access to courses taught by a ‘Who’s Who’ of subject matter experts. With that, and all the new networking opportunities offered by the program, they’ll become the best dealers in Texas,” he continued.

Other veteran dealers also offered their take on the program that aims to make NADA’s educational offerings available to more entrepreneurs.

One dealer even stressed the importance of preparing the next generation to take over today’s dealerships.

“It’s crucial for our industry that young dealers are ready to take the wheel when their time comes,” said David Westcott, a 30-year North Carolina new-car dealer and chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Dealership Operations Committee, which oversees NADA University.

Also, W. Carroll Smith, longtime Houston-area auto dealer and chairman of NADA’s Industry Relations Committee, knows the value of preparing the next generation first-hand.

Smith’s two sons, both graduates of NADA Dealer Candidate Academy, are now managers in the family business, Monument Chevrolet.

“NADA’s initiatives to engage and educate the next generation could not be more timely,” Smith said. “The last few years have been a clear reminder that we always need to be at the top of our games to succeed in any market conditions."

Smith also noted that the NADA will also include a group of young dealers in its annual Washington Conference this September for the very first time, also an effort to prepare up-and-coming dealership management.

Lastly, NADA officials stressed that the new Texas Dealer Academy initiative “could serve as the national template for other states to prepare their future dealers.”