HANOVER Md. –

The National Vehicle Leasing Association presented the Clemens-Pender Lessor of the Year Award during its recent national conference held in Tucson, Ariz.

This year’s winner was David Blassingame, who has served as the NVLA president and has been recognized with the President’s Award several times. Blassingame also has been on both the national and state boards for more than 20 years.

The Clemens-Pender Lessor of the Year Award is voted on by the NVLA executive committee. Members select the winner based on four categories of achievement: the number of nominations each candidate receives; service to the association; service to the industry; service to the local community; and the votes of the committee members themselves. 

Current NVLA president Tarry Shebesta gave Blassingame the award.

The Clemens-Pender Lessor of the Year Award was established in 1977 and is the highest honor to be awarded by the association. The award was established to memorialize the two pioneers of the vehicle leasing industry, who were responsible for the formation of the early roots of the NVLA — Jack Clemens in northern California and Frank Pender in southern California.

“Frank Pender and Jack Clemens were dedicated, hard working and highly ethical participants in the vehicle leasing industry,” NVLA officials said. “Each exemplified the highest standards of professional conduct. This award is given annually to the lessor who best exemplifies the principles for which Jack Clemens and Frank Pender, the association’s founders, stood.”