The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association is hosting its biggest event of the year this week in Las Vegas and is making a significant personnel move.

On Tuesday, NIADA announced the addition of veteran industry expert Brent Carmichael to its roster of 20 Group moderators.

Carmichael, who has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, including nearly 20 years of training and leading 20 Groups, will start at NIADA on Jan. 1.

“I am honored for the opportunity to join the amazing team at NIADA,” Carmichael said in a news release. “I look forward to working with everyone at NIADA to help continue the incredible work they have done for the independent dealer community.”

Carmichael has spent the past 17 years with NCM Associates leading several 20 Groups across a broad spectrum of the industry.

Before entering training, moderating and consulting full time, Carmichael worked in dealerships for nearly 20 years in several roles. He rose to vice president of Automaster Buy-Here Pay-Here in Arkansas, helping the dealership expand its operations and portfolio before its sale in 2006.

NIADA CEO Jeff Martin announced Carmichael’s hiring Tuesday. He will be joining NIADA as the director of education.

“We could not be more excited about Brent joining the NIADA team,” Martin said in the news release. “Not only is he a fantastic trainer, moderator and educator, he has been an outspoken advocate for the industry for years. This is just another step toward bringing the independent automobile industry together to make sure we are speaking with one voice. We look forward to welcoming Brent in January.”

At the 2024 BHPH United Summit in Las Vegas this spring, Carmichael sat down with Auto Remarketing associate editor Andrew Friedlander on the Auto Remarketing Podcast, sharing his thoughts on why dealers should take a hard look at their business model, how to recruit and retain service technicians and how dealers have improved during his long automotive career.

Listen to the conversation in the window below.