TIME and Ally Financial Name 2023 Dealer of the Year

Gary Rome, Owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, MA, Wins Annual Award at 106th National Automotive Dealers Association Show

DALLAS, Jan. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of automotive industry champions who possess a relentless commitment to their communities, Ally Financial (NYSE: ALLY) and TIME announced Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, Mass., as the 2023 TIME Dealer of the Year at the 106^th National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) show in Dallas.

Now in its 54th year, the TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the auto industry's most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Rome's credo of treating both employees and clients like family, and his commitment to embracing new energy-efficient technologies that will move the industry forward helped earn him the top recognition from a field of more than 16,000 franchised dealers across the country. His state-of-the-art Hyundai store is fueled by a solar field that he owns, and he has increased investment in EV infrastructure and inventory, becoming one of the first dealers in the U.S. to deliver an electric vehicle from Hyundai. Rome's commitment to energy-efficient technologies led to his electric vehicle (EV) sales being up 38% over the last year.

Doug Timmerman, president of Ally Auto, and Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, announced Rome as the winner at a ceremony that honored all 48 nominees.

"As the auto industry continues to evolve, it is imperative that auto dealers continue to embrace new technologies that will move the industry forward," said Timmerman. "Year after year, we see these auto dealers go above and beyond for their customers, communities, and employees – and TIME Dealer of the Year nominees are more than deserving of this special recognition."

"For over 50 years, TIME has recognized the impact of automotive dealers on their communities with the TIME Dealer of the Year award," said Sibley. "We are proud to continue the legacy of honoring these works of service with our partners at Ally."

The TIME Dealer of the Year is chosen by a panel composed of faculty from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan, which selects one finalist from each of the four NADA regions, and, ultimately, a national winner.

In addition to Rome, three other dealers were recognized as 2023 TIME Dealer of the Year finalists:

• Mark Brickey, Sand Mountain Toyota, Albertville, Ala.
• Bruce Daniels, Honda Marysville, Marysville, Ohio
• Tim Hutcherson, Downey Nissan, Downey, Calif.

As the exclusive sponsor of the TIME Dealer of the Year program for the 12th year in a row, Ally will provide grants to eligible 501c3 charitable organizations selected by the nominees, finalists, and winner. For more than a decade, Ally has made donations in connection with the program, totaling nearly $1 million. This year, Ally will give $10,000 to the charity of Rome's choice and $5,000 to each of the nonprofit organizations selected by the three finalists. In recognition of their achievements, Ally also will give $1,000 to the charities of choice for each of the 48 nominees.

For more information on the nominees, finalists, and winner, please visit:  https://www.ally.com/go/allydealerheroes/nominees.

How Rome Became a Legacy in the Automotive Industry

Following in his father's footsteps, Rome became general manager of his father's Nissan store in 1984, after graduating from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and attending the NADA Academy. Less than a decade later, in 1997, Rome purchased the original building from his father and founded his own dealership, Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke. Today, the Gary Rome Auto Group also includes Gary Rome Kia of Enfield in Enfield, Connecticut.

Rome's dealerships strive to be welcoming havens for both employees and customers. Rome engages his team and community by celebrating milestone events, holding monthly raffles, and hosting themed luncheons. In addition to his passion for excellent customer service and employee appreciation, Rome is the president of the Hyundai Dealers Advertising Association and has served on national dealer councils for 16 years.

Rome is a stand-out community leader who devotes himself to helping numerous charitable organizations, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, and breast cancer research organizations. He also hosts the annual Gary Rome Academic Achievement Award of a Brand New Hyundai Car Giveaway, a program that rewards one deserving Holyoke High School senior with a new car.

About TIME 

TIME is the 99-year-old global media brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 100 million around the world through its iconic magazine and digital platforms. With unparalleled access to the world's most influential people, the immeasurable trust of consumers and partners globally, and an unrivaled power to convene, TIME's mission is to tell the essential stories of the people and ideas that shape and improve the world. Today, TIME also includes the Emmy Award®-winning film and television division TIME Studios, a significantly expanded live events business built on the powerful TIME100 and Person of the Year franchises, an industry-leading web3 division, an award-winning branded content studio, the website-building platform TIME Sites, the sustainability and climate-action platform TIME CO2, and more.

About Ally Financial Inc.

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves more than 10.5 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, point-of-sale personal lending, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings through more than 22,000 dealers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.

For further images and news on Ally, please visit https://media.ally.com. 

About the NADA Show 

The annual NADA Show brings together more than 20,000 franchised dealers and their employees, industry leaders, manufacturers, and exhibitors to learn about the latest auto industry tools, trends, products and technologies.

Contact:

Megan Rivers
Ally Financial
Megan.Rivers@ally.com

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SOURCE Ally Financial