AUTOMOTIVE HALL OF FAME HONORS NADA’S PHIL BRADY

NADA’s Phil Brady and Katie

February 10, 2008—“I view this more as recognition of the retail industry and the dealers than as a personal recognition,” said NADA president Phil Brady, as he accepted the Automotive Hall of Fame’s 2007 Industry Leader of the Year Award.

Brady joined a rarified group of individuals who have been similarly honored over the years, including industry legends Lee Iacocca, Carlos Ghosn, and Jim Press. Brady took the opportunity to praise dealers, who have survived “extraordinary challenges” in recent times.

Paraphrasing last year’s winner, Jim Press, Brady said. “It all works best when we all do what we do best—manufacturers produce world-class products, and dealers provide a first-class sales and service experience for customers.”

Hall of Fame chairman Jason Vines also gave Distinguished Service Citations to Susan Cischke, senior vice president, sustainability, environmental, and safety engineering, Ford Motor Co.; Josephine Cooper, group vice president, government and industry affairs, Toyota Motor North America; Ron Gettelfinger, president, UAW; Frederick Henderson, vice chairman and chief financial officer, General Motors Corp.; and Lyn St. James, race car driver, speaker, and author. Citations were also given posthumously to David Hermance, executive director for advanced technology vehicles, Toyota Technical Center U.S.A.; and to David Mungenast Sr., founder, Dave Mungenast Automotive Family.