wanada luncheon keynoter, ed henry, fox news discusses ... · 11/29/2018 · the wanada bulletin...
TRANSCRIPT
The WANADA Bulletin is a membership publication published weekly by the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association
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WANADA Bulletin # 32 -18 Annual Meeting Report November 29, 2018
WANADA Luncheon keynoter, Ed Henry, Fox News discusses nation’s extremism
Speaking at the WANADA Annual Meeting and Luncheon
on November 14, 2018 at the Ritz/Tysons Corner, Fox News Chief
National Correspondent Ed Henry expressed some of the same
uncertainty about the future national political scene that the rest of
us have. Much of Henry’s speech naturally had a Washington
focus centering on President Trump.
“He has a real opportunity to get things done,” Henry said of the
president. “The question is, is he going to take that opportunity?”
Because Trump is so anxious to win, in Henry’s view, he might
well work to achieve legislative victories. Assuming that Nancy
Pelosi is elected Speaker of the House, she and Trump will need to
work together if they want to get anything done.
“I think he’s going to try to cut some deals,” Henry said. “I don’t
think he can get re-elected without the wall [on the Mexican
border].
“Trump is appealing to 45 percent of the people,” he said. “That may not be a good way to
govern.”
For the nation as a whole, Trump has a lot to boast about, Henry said. The most recent weekly
jobs report as Henry spoke showed unexpectedly high job growth, with 250,000 new jobs. “He
has practically put the economy on steroids,” said Henry. He has done a great deal to cut
regulations.
As for the political climate in the nation, “people on both sides are going to have to tone it
down,” he said.
Headlines… WANADA Luncheon keynoter, Ed Henry of Fox News discusses nation’s extremism WANADA Chairman John Bowis reviews 2018, from CFPB to Auto Show Two new members elected, three re-elected to WANADA Board Dr. Skip Trump tells WANADA members about the new Inova cancer center Kindred-line Board member Tony Santy recognized for service WANADA thanks its Annual Meeting and Luncheon sponsors Staying Ahead…
Ed Henry, Fox News chief national correspondent, at
WANADA Annual Luncheon
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 2
But extremism is succeeding. In answer to a question about the right/left divide, Henry said, “It’s
going to be hard to get traction as a moderate in 2020. Right now, it’s a race to the right and a
race to the left.”
Still, Henry remains optimistic. The newsman said he developed a strong faith in the nation’s
resilience, in part from, writing his book, 42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story.
“Even at our lowest points, when all you hear about is crime and division, we can come together
because this is America, the greatest country on earth,” Henry said.
In a fireside chat segment with a small group
after the Luncheon, Henry talked about the
future political landscape.
“I don’t think there’s anything Democrats
can do to win rural areas, or anything
Republicans can do to win the cities,” Henry
said. “The fight is in the suburbs.
“I don’t know who the Democrats will put
up in 2020. They have a chance to beat
Trump, but it’ll have to be someone like
Beto [O’Rourke, U.S. congressman from
Texas, who lost a close race with Ted Cruz
for senator] who’s outside the machine.”
An important arena to watch next year is the Supreme Court, Henry said. Justice Clarence
Thomas, who is 70 now, could retire in 2019, giving Trump a chance to put a third justice on the
highest court.
WANADA Chairman John Bowis reviews 2018, from CFPB to Auto Show
In his Chairman’s Report, John Bowis of Chevy Chase
Acura spoke of WANADA’s many activities and
accomplishments in the past year, in the public policy arena,
with The Washington Auto Show, and with services provided
to dealer members.
Much of WANADA’s work on the legislative and regulatory
front was achieved in concert with NADA, AIADA, and locally
with MADA and VADA. One of the top national issues was the
CFPB.
“We have kept a close eye on the Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau…to take care that its broad regulatory
oversight of auto loans doesn’t constrain the vital service
dealers provide consumers in acquiring auto financing,” Bowis
said. NADA successfully persuaded Congress to “dial back the
WANADA Chairman John Bowis, Chevy Chase Acura, gives his chairman’s report at the WANADA
Annual Meeting & Luncheon
John O’Donnell, WANADA CEO moderated the Fireside Chat with Ed Henry, Fox News, with a select group after the Annual Luncheon.
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 3
initial regulatory direction CFPB had on auto loans that would have been problematic for
dealers.”
NADA and AIADA also took care to
ensure that the tax bill that passed
Congress preserved important dealer
protections, to include, the floor plan
interest deduction and LIFO and no
Border Adjustment Tax. Especially
important to Washington area dealers,
NADA and AIADA made sure that
proposed changes to the Military
Lending Act did not affect dealers’
ability to arrange auto loans for military
personnel who are a strong
demographic group here.
The U.S. Supreme Court does not normally affect auto dealer business, Bowis said, but this year
the Court handed dealers two helpful decisions. The high court upheld the rule that service
writers are exempt from overtime pay, and it affirmed the right of businesses to ban class action
lawsuits in arbitration agreements with consumers.
Bowis also talked about one of WANADA’s finest annual events.
“In the realm of promoting the automobile business, which is central to WANADA’s mission,
The Washington Auto Show delivered a bell ringer of an industry event earlier this year at the
Washington, DC, Convention Center,” Bowis said. He singled out John Ourisman, Ourisman
Automotive, and the Auto Show Committee that he headed up, for producing MobilityTalks
International, which preceded the Auto Show and focused on autonomous vehicle technology
and where it is taking the auto industry.
This year’s MobilityTalks saw a first, as the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee conducted a
field hearing on the floor of The Washington Auto Show! The topic was “Driving Automotive
Innovation and Federal Public Policy.” Speakers at MobilityTalks included Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder and U.S. EPA Director of Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum.
As for the public response to the Auto Show, this year was one of the four best attended shows in
Washington’s history!
Bowis touched on the many dealer services WANADA offers, including employee benefits
coverage, dealer management seminars and leadership sessions. WANADA supports career
education through its Auto Dealer Education Institute, which trains the next generation of auto
technicians and sales representatives. And WANADA is active in the community through such
things as its longstanding support of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, which dealers
help found here 40 years ago.
Attendees at WANADA’s 2018 Annual Meeting & Luncheon
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 4
Two new members elected, three re-elected to WANADA Board WANADA Nominating Committee Chairman
Charlie Stringfellow presented the membership at the
Annual Meeting with a slate of directors for Board service,
and they were approved by a vote by acclamation. Two
members were newly elected and three members were re-
elected for three-year terms.
The two new Board members are Joe Sanchez, Bomnin
Manassas Chevrolet, and Tom Parsons, B&R Associates,
for the Kindred-line seat. They will replace Alex Perdikis,
Koons of Silver Spring, and Tony Santy, WANADA’s
Kindred-line member from Chesapeake Petroleum, who
retired this year.
The dealers who were re-elected to the 18-member
WANADA Board were: John Altman, Beyer Automotive
Group; Lou Cohen, BMW of Rockville, and Melanie
Funkhouser, Fair Oaks Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Ram.
The 2019 Executive Committee of the Board will remain
the same as last year: John Bowis, Chevy Chase Acura,
chairman; Kevin Reilly, Alexandria Hyundai, vice
chairman; Chip Doetsch, Apple Ford/Lincoln, secretary;
Jamie Darvish, DARCARS, treasurer; Charlie
Stringfellow, immediate past chairman; Dick Patterson,
RRR Automotive, Chairman Emeritus; Ralph
Mastantuono, Mercedes Benz Alexandria, chairman, Insurance Committee; John Ourisman,
Ourisman Automotive, chairman, Washington Auto Show; and John O’Donnell, president/CEO,
WANADA.
The other directors on the WANADA Board are Robert Farrell, Penske Automotive; Dottie
Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald, Auto Malls; Robert Fogarty, Jr., Sport Automotive; James Gramm,
Safford Automotive; Robert Hager, Ourisman Automotive, VA; and Daniel Jobe, Capitol
Cadillac, who is also the NADA director for Maryland.
Geoff Pohanka, Pohanka Automotive, continues his term as the NADA director for Metropolitan
Washington. In that capacity, Pohanka’s role is to keep the WANADA Board informed of
NADA business while keeping WANADA supportive of NADA leadership initiatives and
programs. NADA has 58 geographic director districts plus several at-large seats. In addition to
WANADA’s Metro Washington area represented on the NADA Board, there are several other
major metro areas and all 50 U.S. states with NADA director positions.
The WANADA organization itself consists of the trade association, a business services
corporation, the Auto Dealers Education Institute (ADEI) and the WANADA Community
Support Foundation. Among other of its functions, WANADA produces The Washington Auto
Show; WANADA Business Services administers the insurance agency, F.B.O. WANADA
employer members; and ADEI oversees the Technician Development Program.
WANADA’s Bob Storin (left) with newly elected Board member Joe Sanchez, Bomnin Manassas Chevrolet
New Kindred-line Board member, Tom Parsons, B&R Associates (right) with Scott Addison, Fitzgerald Auto Malls
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 5
Dr. Skip Trump tells WANADA members about the new Inova cancer center
In a special report to WANADA members at the
Annual Luncheon, Donald “Skip” Trump, M.D., CEO of the
Inova Schar Cancer Institute, said Inova Schar is building a
state-of-the-art facility at the Inova Center for Personalized
Health on the Capital Beltway.
“There has never been a better time for cancer research and
treatment,” he said. “There are declining deaths in every
type of cancer.”
Twelve thousand people a year get cancer in the
Washington DC area, Trump said. In response to that, Inova
launched its cancer institute five years ago.
“It will be the only place in Northern Virginia where doctors can study all types of cancer,” said
Trump.
Donald “Skip” Trump, M.D., CEO of the
Inova Schar Cancer Institute
2019 WANADA Board of Directors (Seated from left to right) Jim Gramm, Safford Automotive Group; Ralph Mastantuono, Mercedes Benz of Alexandria, Insurance Committee chairman; Charlie Stringfellow, WANADA immediate past chairman; John Ourisman, Ourisman Automotive, chairman of Washington Auto Show; John O’Donnell, WANADA president/CEO; John Bowis, Chevy Chase Acura, chairman; Lou Cohen, BMW of Rockville; Dick Patterson, RRR Automotive. (2nd Row, standing from left to right) Tim Lynch, Offit & Kurman, WANADA Board Counsel; Melanie Funkhouser, Fair Oaks Chrysler Jeep Dodge; Tom Parsons, B&R Associates, Kindred-Line member; Chip Doetsch, Apple Ford/Lincoln, secretary; Robert Farrell, Penske Automotive; Dottie Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Auto Malls; Joe Koch, WANADA, vice president; Geoff Pohanka, Pohanka Automotive, NADA director for Metro Washington; Bob Hager, Ourisman Automotive of VA; Joe Sanchez, Bomnin Manassas Chevrolet; Daniel Jobe, Capitol Cadillac, NADA director for MD; and John Altman, Beyer Automotive Group. Not pictured, Jamie Darvish, DARCARS, treasurer; Robert Fogarty, Jr., Sport Honda; Kevin Reilly, Alexandria Hyundai, vice chairman
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 6
Kindred-line Board member Tony Santy recognized for service
Tony Santy stepped off the WANADA Board this year as its sole Kindred-line member
for 18 years, after retiring earlier this year from 28 years as president of Chesapeake Petroleum.
“We remember Tony fondly for his many contributions to WANADA and its Washington area
new car dealer membership, not the least of which included the face he gave to the WANADA
Annual Open as its golf tournament chairman for 16 consecutive years,” said WANADA
President John O’Donnell at the WANADA Annual Meeting.
“WANADA and its entire membership here assembled remember and appreciate Tony Santy for
all he did for all of us year over year.”
In the past 28 years, under Tony Santy’s direction, Chesapeake sold lubricants, equipment,
aftermarket and automotive products to over 700 car dealers in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“The best part of my job was getting out of the office to visit dealers,” Tony said. “They
challenged me to look for new ideas, and beyond our business relationships, we became friends.”
What Follows is a Collage of the 2018 Annual Meeting & Luncheon
Christina Shepard & Michelle Nichols of BSC America/Bel
Air Auto Auction, with Chip Doetsch, Apple Ford/Lincoln
Melanie Funkhouser, and Kristyn King of FCA
Bill Colgate and John Altman, Beyer Automotive Group
WANADA Chairman John Bowis (left) with wife Cheray and Ed Henry, Fox News
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 7
From left, Lou King Breault and Bob Hager of Ourisman Automotive, VA; and John Ourisman, Ourisman Companies
(From left) Dick Patterson, Melody Lasane and Sean Magaha of
RRR Automotive with Ed Henry, Fox News (2nd from right)
Robert Farrell, Penske Automotive (front) with Jason Hoover Mercedes-Benz of Tysons Corner, and Chip Lindsay, Lindsay Cadillac Company.
(From left) Mark Jankowski and Ryan Hammer from Armatus Dealer Uplift, with Terry Pompey, Chesapeake Bay Trust
From left, George Doetsch, Apple Ford/Lincoln, former chairman; Dick Snyder, former WANADA chairman; and Paul Janaske, Rosenthal Automotive
Fitzgerald Auto Malls (From left) Rob Smith, Dottie Fitzgerald, Gregg Steinbarth, Janet Klinger, Lynn Murphy, and Charlie Evans
Continued… WANADA Annual
Luncheon Collage
WANADA Bulletin # 32-18 November 29, 2018 Page 8
WANADA thanks its Annual Meeting and Luncheon sponsors
WANADA CEO John O’Donnell thanked the generous sponsors of the 2018 Annual
Meeting and Luncheon: ACV Auctions, Armatus DealerUplift, BG Products and Services,
SunTrust Bank, and WellNet Healthcare. All sponsors are WANADA Kindred-Line members,
which, in toto, were well represented at the Annual Luncheon.
Staying Ahead… We’ve got to get back in this country to the idea that there’s a cause greater than yourself and greater than your party. --Fox News Chief National Correspondent Ed Henry speaking at the WANADA Annual Meeting & Luncheon
From left: Roger Clore, SunTrust, Louie Galbraith, Dixon Hughes Goodman, and Josh Silverston, SunTrust
Frank McCarthy and Roger Keller, Sheehy
Auto Stores
Shireen Gerhold, Architects Group Practices with
John Darvish, DARCARS
Tom Layden, BG Products and Services with John O’Donnell, WANADA
Continued… WANADA Annual
Luncheon Collage