To AADA Members,

Each year, we are thrilled for the opportunity to release our annual directory as a resource for our members and partners to keep up with AADA. This year is a very special edition for us, however, as it is going to be a part of a larger communications initiative.

No industry understands the critical role of customer service and marketing to ensure the success of your businesses better than automobile and truck dealers. You work tirelessly to get that message out to your customers, and your association must take a similar focus in ensuring this message is spread across the state.

With that in mind, we are rolling out a new quarterly publication, in addition to this annual directory, that will highlight all the things happening in our industry. This publication will be available to each dealer, as well as political leaders, to promote automobile and truck dealers across the state.

For AADA and each dealer, it is important that we clearly explain and emphasize all the positive aspects of the Arkansas dealer network. This begins with emphasizing the fact that Arkansas new car dealers created over 21,000 jobs with average annual earnings by dealership employees of almost $74,000 and total payroll of $685 million. Dealers accounted for $9.5 billion in total sales and $614 million in state sales tax paid. Dealers also invest millions of dollars each year into the local Arkansas communities they serve. And finally, it’s important to note that dealers provide tremendous consumer service to Arkansans every day.

I truly love this industry and am so thankful for all you do to make AADA strong.

Greg Kirkpatrick