Greg Taylor receives nomination for auto Dealer of the Year

Greg Taylor, dealer principal at Taylor and Sons Chevrolet in Ponderay, Idaho, has been nominated for the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year award, TIME announced on Oct. 24.

Taylor is a 1966 Ritzville High School graduate who grew up on a wheat farm. He attended Washington State University (WSU) where he earned a Bachelor’s of Art in business in 1970.

After graduating from WSU, he interviewed for a job as a field representative at General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC). During his employment at GMAC, Taylor developed a passion for the automobile industry and decided to begin his own dealership.

In 1988, Taylor founded his dealership then Taylor-Parker Motor Company with his wife Laurel.

Taylor eventually renamed the dealership Taylor and Sons Chevrolet where his son Brett is currently the financial partner, general manager and successor of the business.

“This industry has made it possible for me to provide quality education and opportunities for our two sons, one who has joined us in our dealership operation and the other who is a successful structural engineer,” Taylor told TIME.

Taylor is one of 49 dealer nominees for the award from 16,000 nationwide. The nominees will be honored at the 100th annual National Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Exposition in New Orleans on Jan. 27.

Kevin Hanigan, vice president and executive director of the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association nominated Taylor for the award.

He has been selected to represent the Idaho Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition.

During the convention, a panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four National Automobile Dealer Association regions along with one national Dealer of the Year.

Ally Financial Inc. has been an exclusive sponsor of the award for six years and they show their appreciation by donating $1,000 to each nominee’s charity of choice.

They will also be recognized for their community contributions and achievements on http://AllyDealerHeroes.com.

TIME describes the TIME Dealer of the Year award as, “one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors.

Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.”

Taylor has showcased community support by building an athletic field at Sandpoint High School and conducting a fundraiser drive for an adjoining athletic field house in honor of his oldest son, Tucker, who died at the age of 17.

Taylor said the field took two years to build but the community participation in the project proved to be an inspiration. With the help of 400 volunteers, Taylor said they were able to lay 18 semi truckloads of sod and create a beneficial addition to the school district while honoring his son.

Along with the field and field house, Taylor supports multiple other community organizations in Sandpoint such as a the community cancer service called Heather’s House, a resource center for cancer patients and their families.

He also supports a group foster home and emergency shelter for children in crisis called Kinderhaven.