Michael Alford is Time Dealer of the Year
 | Michael Alford |
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ORLANDO -- Michael Alford is the 2013 Time Dealer of the Year.
Alford, 48, was scheduled to receive the honor Saturday, Feb. 9, at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here. He is president of Marine Chevrolet-Cadillac in Jacksonville, N.C.
Fifty-seven auto dealers were nominated.
The program, sponsored by Time magazine in association with Ally Financial and in cooperation with NADA, honors franchised new-vehicle dealers for exceptional performance in their dealerships and distinguished community service. A panel of faculty members from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan selected four finalists and then a national winner.
After college, Alford worked in real estate finance until his father-in-law offered him the chance to join the family business in 1992. He bought Marine Chevrolet-Cadillac in 1997.
Jacksonville is near the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base. One of Alford's proudest accomplishments was creating the Military Growth Task Force in 2007, assembling leaders to address social and infrastructure needs after a Marine Corps expansion that resulted in 83,000 new residents in the region. To date, 76 percent of the group's recommendations have been accomplished or are being addressed.
In 2010, Alford was appointed to the North Carolina Board of Transportation. He has held leadership and advisory roles in many organizations, including Jacksonville/Onslow Committee of 100 (economic development), Jacksonville/Onslow Chamber of Commerce, Job Ready Steering Committee and the United Way.
The other finalists were:
• Dominick Carbone, 75, of Carbone Auto Group in Utica, N.Y.
• Sam Mansker, 64, of Olathe Ford-Lincoln in Olathe, Kan.
• Bill McCurley, 61, of McCurley Integrity Dealerships in Pasco, Wash.
