2025 TDOY Nominee
Dave Wilson
Chairman of Preston Ford, Inc.
Hurlock, Maryland
“I wear a wrist band that says, ‘show the love daily. To me this means showing ‘the love’ to our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve. I am so proud that our entire family shares this philosophy and will take our legacy of caring and giving long into the future.”
Dave Wilson is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 108th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 25, 2025.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Wilson was chosen to represent the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
“I wear a wrist band that says, ‘show the love daily,’” nominee Wilson said. “To me this means showing ‘the love’ to our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve. I am so proud that our entire family shares this philosophy and will take our legacy of caring and giving long into the future.”
Wilson intended to go to college and law school after high school, but fate intervened. He met a sales associate at Preston Ford who suggested he sell cars, so he gave it a try. By age 22, he was a partner in the dealership and by age 33 in 1992, the sole owner.
Today, his Preston Automotive Group encompasses 20 dealership locations representing multiple brands across Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, employing 900 and selling nearly 16,000 retail units annually.
“I bet on myself and the automotive industry and 47 years later, I am still thriving,” Wilson said. “I take nothing for granted and am proud of everything the automotive industry has brought to me. With a lot of hard work, surrounding myself with the right people, and a supportive community, our story isn’t finished yet.”
Wilson’s son, David Jr., is now president and CEO. And numerous other family members are part of the company, poised to carry on Wilson’s legacy. “We continue to push the boundaries every day and strive to be one of the best automotive groups around,” he said.
A top-volume Ford dealer, Wilson was selected to chair the Ford National Dealer Council in 2024, after serving for 12 years. He has received numerous honors from Ford for sales, customer satisfaction, and overall operational excellence.
“When I took over as chair, my goal was to simplify the relationship between the manufacturer and dealer for the benefit of the customer,” he said. “I laid the groundwork for executive leadership to be more visible and to listen to dealer concerns directly.”
Wilson considers community outreach to be one of the core values of his company.
“Our growth in sales has led us to be able to give more than $25 million back to our community since I took over completely in 1992,” he said. “While donations are financially important, we also strive to give our time by volunteering and doing what we can to help those in need.”
One such initiative is Preston Cares, a program that identifies a charity each month to receive $50 to $100 for each vehicle sold. Each month the program gives away a different colored frog with its colors representing a different charity category. Why frogs? The frog is a company mascot, first launched during a Leap Year promotion in 1984.
“We’re extremely proud of this program,” Wilson said. “In August, we give out tie-dyed frogs to spotlight childhood cancer awareness and raised money for Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware and Hope for Hunter, which supports a local child fighting cancer.”
Preston Automotive Group also hosts an annual Frog’s Fairway Golf Tournament in October to support breast cancer research. Last year, the company raised more than $70,000 for Women Supporting Women and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Other community organizations and events that Wilson supports include Heacook Fest, which raises funds for nonprofits that aid first responders, an Amphibian Day partnership with the Salisbury Zoo, the Salvation Army, the Bears that Care Bike Drive at Christmastime for children in need, local humane societies, test drive events to raise money for area schools and local sports programs. He also offers free oil changes to veterans and active service members on Veterans Day, and to healthcare workers during the month of May.
Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. 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 NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.
In its 14th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on ally.com/go/tdoy , which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“At TIME, our commitment to recognizing the exceptional contributions of automotive dealers remains as strong as ever,” said Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME. “The TIME Dealer of the Year award continues to celebrate those who not only excel in their profession but also make a meaningful impact in their communities. We are thrilled to continue this legacy in partnership with Ally.”
Doug Timmerman, Ally president of Dealer Financial Services, said, “Auto dealers are the backbones of their communities, providing civic support and significant business leadership. Ally is proud to recognize the unwavering commitment these TIME Dealer of the Year nominees are living every day through their volunteerism, sponsorships, and support of charitable causes. They are the epitome of community heroes, making important and positive impacts in the lives of the people they serve.”
Wilson was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Peter Kitzmiller, president of the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association. Wilson and his wife, Peg, have five children.
