2025 TDOY Nominee

Randy Fusz 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. Fusz was chosen to represent the Missouri 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.

“The ability to seamlessly transition a prosperous second-generation business into an even more robust and dynamic third-generation enterprise, with the customer's needs at the heart of its operations, is most rewarding to me,” nominee Fusz said.

Fusz is a 2003 graduate of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, where he studied business leadership. Fusz was uncertain whether to follow in the footsteps of his father, Lou Fusz Jr., and his grandfather, Louis Fusz Sr., and pursue a career in the retail automotive industry.

In 1952 Fusz’s grandfather purchased a Dodge and Plymouth store outside of St. Louis, eventually adding dealerships and forming the Lou Fusz Motor Company. His father joined the company in 1969 and oversaw its substantial expansion.

“At a young age, I would accompany my father on visits to the dealerships and work as a porter, vacuuming vehicles,” he said. “In high school, I began to immerse myself in the inner workings of the different departments.”

When Fusz finished college, he was at a crossroads, but his father gently persuaded him to return to the dealership group and try sales. He dedicated himself to this new role and developed a strong passion for the car business.

Fusz attended the NADA Academy in 2004 and took over leadership roles at various dealerships in the Lou Fusz Automotive Network. He was eventually name named president and CEO in 2014 after his grandfather’s death. His three brothers, Lou, Peter, and Patrick are all vice presidents of the dealership group that now encompasses multiple stores in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.

“At Lou Fusz, we believe employees are our greatest asset, and we create an environment where our team feels valued, empowered, and supported,” he said. “I was taught that every position in the organization matters — and each person contributes to the company’s success.”

Fusz is an active member of the St. Louis Auto Dealers Association and has served as president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer.

“The greatest impact I made during my tenure at the association was bringing a youthful mindset to the table,” he said. “I encouraged members to embrace new technologies that make the workplace more efficient and improve the customer experience.”

In the area of community service, Fusz is deeply committed to the Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, where he is currently a board member. The group inspires and prepares young people through programs that explore financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship.

“The long-standing partnership between Lou Fusz and Junior Achievement, dating back generations in our company's history, has fostered ongoing sponsorships and employee engagement that now extends to my leadership,” he said.

The organization’s JA BizTown, a simulated learning lab, features a Lou Fusz Automotive storefront where children can learn the process of purchasing a vehicle for personal transportation. In addition, his employees volunteer to teach Junior Achievement programs in local schools.

Another major civic initiative is Lou Fusz Athletic, a soccer, lacrosse, and football club that features a state-of-the-art training center and outdoor field complex. Fusz has served as secretary of the board since 2014.

“We cultivate an environment where children can partake in a multitude of athletic pursuits, catering to those seeking recreational enjoyment as well as those aspiring to elite-level performance,” he said. “We are immensely proud that Lou Fusz Athletic has provided the local St. Louis community a safe haven for youth to have fun and acquire essential life skills.”

Other groups he supports include Toys for Tots, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lake of the Ozarks, Five Acres Animal Shelter, CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, Ranken Technical College, and many others.

Fusz was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Doug Smith, president and CEO of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association. Fusz and his wife, Claire, have three children.