The 2011 Industry Summit is only two months away and announcements have already been made about two exciting opportunities for Automotive Dealerships and F&I Managers. The first is the F&I Dealer of the Year award which is sponsored by Resource Automotive.

F&I Dealer of the Year

Who is Eligible?

ANY dealership with a highly profitable F&I department that can also demonstrate a commitment to regulatory compliance, ethics and a customer-focused sales and F&I approach to doing business.

Who Can Place a Nomination?

Dealership employees, general agents, and F&I product and service providers.

5 Initial Pacesetter Finalists

F&I Showroom will select five ‘Pacesetters of the Year’ (also sponsored by Resource Automotive) who will each win a two-night stay at the Las Vegas Hilton. They will then be honored during a special ceremony held during the Industry Summit scheduled for September 26th through the 28th.

One Grand Price Winner

One of the five selected Pacesetter Finalists will be named F&I Dealer of the Year and appear on the cover the F&I and Showroom’s October issue.

Nomination Deadline?

Friday, August 12, 2011 – So make sure to get your nominations in soon because mid-August will be here before we know it.

Where to Obtain and Submit your Nomination To download an entry form and obtain information on where to submit your nominations, please visit F&I and Showrooms “2011 F&I Dealer of the Year” webpage at http://www.fi-magazine.com/Content/2011-F-I-Dealer-of-the-Year.aspx

The next competition, called the F&Idol Contest, is new this year and is sponsored by Innovative Aftermarket Solutions (IAS) and powered by SmartEye.

F&Idol

Who is Eligible?

F&I Managers with the best presentations in the following categories: Vehicle Service Contract, GAP, Tire and Wheel, Key Replacement, and Theft Deterrent.

Who Can Enter?

Any F&I Manager with a good video camera and a GREAT closing technique.

One Finalist per Category to be Selected

An esteemed panel of Judges will be selecting one finalist per category, and include:

• Bob Corbin, president and CEO of IAS

• Gregory Arroyo, executive editor of F&I and Showroom

• Marv Eleazer, F&I columnist for F&I and Showroom and F&I professional at Langdale Ford

• Ron Reahard, president of Reahard & Associates, Inc.

• Steve Veldkamp, training director for Great Lakes Companies

• Alan Miller, senior vice president of sales at CNA National

• Robert Harkins, president of RAH Consulting

• Randall R. Crisorio, president and CEO of United Development Systems

Each finalist will be honored in a special ceremony held at the Industry Summit, and receive a $1,000 cash prize, free airfare, hotel accommodations and a free pass to the 2011 Industry Summit. Each Finalist will also appear on F&I Showroom’s website along with their video’s as well as the magazine’s special conference issue in September.

One Grand Price Winner

One of the five finalists will be chosen as the Grand Prize winner and will receive the F&Idol trophy and an additional $2,500 cash prize. Finally, the grand prize winner will be profiled in F&I and Showrooms October 2011 issue.

Entry Deadline?

Friday, August 12, 2011 – So, just like I said for the F&I Dealer of the Year nominations, make sure to get your nominations in soon because mid-August will be here before we know it.

How to Submit your Entry’s Entries can be recorded using an Android Phone, iPhone, Flip video camera, iPad, Webcam or any other video recording device and then uploaded to the contest site. Please visit the following site for details and additional information, https://www.fandidol.com/Default.aspx

So put your thinking caps on to select the best potential dealership candidate for the F&I Dealer of the Year award and release that creativity if you are planning on submitting a video of how well you can present your favorite F&I products.