2025 TDOY Nominee
Shaun Del Grande
Chairman and Dealer Principal at Del Grande Dealer Group
San Jose, California
“The most rewarding part of leading our organization has been experiencing the personal and professional growth of our team members throughout DGDG. Attracting, guiding, and retaining key employees and leaders has been the focal point and foundation of our success.”
Shaun Del Grande 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. Del Grande was chosen to represent the California New Car Dealers Association in the national competition — one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
“The most rewarding part of leading our organization has been experiencing the personal and professional growth of our team members throughout DGDG (Del Grande Dealer Group),” nominee Del Grande said. “Attracting, guiding, and retaining key employees and leaders has been the focal point and foundation of our success.”
Del Grande earned a B.A. in economics at the University of California Los Angeles in 1988. Then in 1996, he joined his father, Kevan Del Grande, at the dealership his dad originally acquired in 1976.
“It was the greatest decision of my life,” he said. “I had the opportunity to learn from a remarkable businessman, brilliant car dealer, and incredible mentor. Over the past 28 years, the business has scaled from a single rooftop to multiple dealerships in the San Francisco Bay area.”
Today, Del Grande oversees 16 northern California stores in San Jose, Santa Clara, Salinas, Vallejo, Modesto, Fremont, and Concord. These stores represent brands like Audi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Subaru, and Volkswagen.
“I find immense satisfaction and gratitude in the relationships I’ve built with our team, as well as with our great manufacturers and business partners,” he said. “The DGDG culture, which focuses on employee growth and education, a world-class guest experience, and a commitment to new technologies, has established our dealership group as an industry leader.”
Del Grande is proud that the San Francisco Chronicle named DGDG as one of the San Francisco Bay Area Top Workplaces for more than a decade.
Another way Del Grande has shaped his dealership group is through community service. He created DGDG Does Good, known as the charitable arm of his company. DGDG Does Good sponsors local events and partners with many local charities and nonprofits.
“To date, we have donated more than $1 million to worthy recipients throughout our community,” he said. “We also encourage our team members to give back to the causes they care about most.”
Some of the organizations DGDG Does Good has supported include: Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, First Tee Silicon Valley, Special Olympics Northern California, YMCA of Silicon Valley, a dog rescue group called South County Tail Waggers, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, Santa Teresa Little League, San Jose Police Foundation, as well as many area schools and athletic programs.
“Our goal is to make a difference in the communities where we work and live,” Del Grande said.
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.”
Del Grande was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association. Del Grande has three children.
