TADA Dealers - Media Communication Group

on TADA Board MembersTom DurantClassic ChevroletGrapevineTom Durant, TADA Director, At-LargeTom Durant now has eight dealership locations, selling Chevrolet, Hummer, Buick, GMC, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge,Jeep, and Mazda and employs a total of 905 people. He originally got into the automobile business because hisfather Julian Durant acquired a small Chevrolet dealership in Granbury Texas in 1960.“After buying the Granbury dealership from my father, I purchased a struggling downtown Fort Worth dealershipand named it Classic Chevrolet. Thereafter, I relocated Classic Chevrolet to an empty stretch of highway NorthEast of Fort Worth in a small town named Grapevine at a time when there had been little growth and development,”explains Tom.Since then the town has grown to a major suburban city, and Classic Chevrolet has grown to be the top sellingChevrolet dealership in the United States. “This has given me confidence that if I work hard, and do honest business,I can succeed even when others are failing.”Tom was born in Rustin, Louisana. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Texas Tech University in 1972.Tom expressed gratitude for his affiliation with TADA:, ” Without the protection that that the TADA has securedfor franchised auto dealers, the industry would be controlled by manufacturer owned dealerships and national bigbox store conglomerates”.“Because of my membership in TADA my stores are able to stay current with the ever changing matrix ofState and Federal regulations. TADA effectively manages outside threats to the family-owned auto dealer suchas excessive regulation, predatory litigation, and manufacturer discrimination. This leaves me free to do what Ienjoy: selling cars and trucks,” Tom said.David BrinsonBrinson FordLincoln MercuryCorsicanaDavid Brinson, TADA Director, Central Region, District 12Selling cars inspired David Brinson to buy his own dealership. He now has Ford Lincoln Mercury in 2 locations--Corsicana and Athens, Texas. Currently the dealerships employ 80-90 people.“I got into the business as a salesperson thinking it would be short term job and found out that I loved it. I decidedthen that I wanted to get my own store before I was 30 years old. I bought out the Lincoln Mercury store in 2002and bought a second Ford Lincoln Mercury store in 2004,” David explained.“Having the knowledge that TADA can provide being just a phone call or email away has been a life saver. Thegoldmine of knowledge that Karen Phillips has and her patience in working through complicated matters is a truetestament to the importance of having an organization like TADA, and we all should support it,” said David.“We must all realize the importance of giving back to the organizations and the people who can carry our message.TADA is the Dealer’s voice. I wish I had been more active in the past” he added.The best advice to dealers according to David is, “Control your expenses!!! You never know what is coming nextbut you can survive if you keep your cash up and your expenses down.”In addition to the dealership, David enjoys collecting wine, jumping out of airplanes, and spending time onhis ranch.10