F&I and Showroom, NADA 2021

16 F I and Showroom NADA 2021 What is your role within the Walser Foundation and what does the organization do for local communities I currently serve on the Walser Foundation board of directors alongside my brother and some of our employees My sister Nancy serves as the head of the Foundation and she is great in this role The Walser Foundation has been around for a long time going back to when my father was still involved in the organization 20 plus years ago and focuses primarily on enhancing education and workforce development We donate 5 of all pre tax earnings to organizations focused on those areas Can you tell us about Drive with Pride and Project Halo Both of these are relatively new initiatives that were started by Walser Automotives Chief Human Resources Officer Sherry Schultz who is not only head of our HR team but is also a senior leader in the company Drive with Pride is an LGBT employee resource group that aims to extend diversity and inclusion across Walser Automotive and ensure that our team members feel connected and belonging across our company Project Halo is part of our Women of Walser employee resource group The program creates outreach and volunteer opportunities for our employees in the local community Project Halo participants have been involved in a number of philanthropic events and volunteer initiatives ranging from work at hospitals and with schools as well as providing donations of supplies and food One is ensuring that we have a smooth shift from Peter Welch as NADA President and CEO to Mike Stanton Secondly I want to amplify the number of dealers engaged with NADA as well as enhance the level of engagement from dealers who are already involved with the organization NADA is vitally important to protecting dealers interest and preserving the franchise system I think there are many dealers who are laser focused on their own businesses and I want to help educate them on the important work that NADA does If NADA is going to be really great at doing the work of this industry we need engagement My third priority is offering dealers robust solutions related to the challenges that dealers face with diversity Despite strong efforts by OEMs dealers and other industry stakeholders racial and gender diversity remain relatively stagnant I want to offer dealers tools to ensure a more diverse population into our businesses and enhance our mentoring and training so when folks are given the opportunity to become dealers they will be successful This is not only a moral priority but it is good for our industry and our entire franchise system My final priority is improving our dealer OEM relations I want to look at the relationship through a different lens through the lens of the customer I want dealers and OEMs to collaborate and create the experience customers want and that is the best way to strengthen the franchise system I see Walser Auto Group was recognized as one of the Top 25 Family Owned Business What does this award mean to you and your family We are very honored I love this industry more now than the day I got involved and to be able to do this alongside my family and our team members is an incredible blessing COVER STORY DEALERS HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS AND IT IS VITAL TO LEVERAGE THEIR EXPERTISE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR FRANCHISE SYSTEM NADA Walser left with his brother and business partner Andrew Walser