2025 TDOY Nominee

Jim Casey is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 108^th 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. Casey was chosen to represent the Wyoming Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56^th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.

“We take immense pride in cultivating long-lasting relationships with customers built on trust, loyalty, and exceptional service, spanning generations,” nominee Casey said. “And our dealership’s culture is a true testament to these values as demonstrated by the longevity of our dedicated employees who have become the backbone of our success over the decades.”

A 1979 graduate of Central High School in Cheyenne, Casey left the University of Wyoming in Laramie in 1982 to pursue a career in retail automotive.

“At the time, I thought I would sell cars for a semester and return to school,” he said. “I fell in love with the business and decided to steer my ambitions into the auto industry.”

Casey started out as a finance manager at a Ford store in Cheyenne and then moved to Halladay Motors in 1990, where he would remain for 10 years before taking a general sales manager position at the Fremont Motor Company in Sheridan, Wyoming.

“The experience inspired me to want more from my career,” Casey said. In 2007, he returned to Halladay Motors as general sales manager, attended the NADA Academy, and worked his way from general manager to vice president to eventually buying the dealership.

“The NADA Academy gave me the tools to excel in the auto business, and I am thankful to have had managers and others in my life who saw my potential and helped mentor me,” he said. “I find it rewarding to do the same with my current employees and watch them grow and advance in their careers.”

Casey offers employees scholarships to support higher education and technical training, as well as paid training opportunities to foster professional advancement. He currently has three team members attending NADA programs with others preparing for digital training.

“Investing in our team’s success is at the heart of everything we do,” he said.

Casey also sees the advantages of advocating for the auto industry, has served the Wyoming Automobile Dealers Association board as both director and vice president, and currently serves as president.

“During my tenure with the association, I’ve had the privilege of connecting with fellow dealers and collaborating on shaping the policies and legislative initiatives that matter most to our industry,” he said. “This experience has not only deepened my understanding of key industry issues on a state and national level but has also allowed me to play a role in guiding the future direction of the automotive industry in Wyoming.”

In the area of community service, Casey donates to many area charities and galvanizes his team to help those in need.

“Over the years, we have contributed more than $4 million in financial support to various local organizations,” he said. “Our employees actively engage in a wide range of volunteer activities, such as delivering meals with Meals on Wheels of Cheyenne and devoting countless hours to youth programs.”

Casey contributes his own time and talent to various boards, including the St. Mary’s School Foundation and the Parish Pastoral Council for the Cathedral of St. Mary, both in Cheyenne. He has helped raise funds for the school by sponsoring events and has assisted the parish council in advancing technology to better serve parishioners.

Casey also served on the boards of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and COMEA, which provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and resources for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness.

“We have given more than $100,000 in monetary donations to COMEA, including the purchase of a new industrial oven and sponsoring their model of a low-barrier apartment so homeless individuals have a safe space to live while getting back on their feet,” he said.

Other groups he supports include the United Way of Laramie County, Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne, Climb Wyoming, Youth Alternatives, and many others.

“The impact we have been able to make through these programs on the youth of Cheyenne and the community at large has been profoundly gratifying,” Casey said.

Casey was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Marsha Allen, executive vice president of the Wyoming Automobile Dealers Association. Casey and his wife, Heidi, have three children.