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Ricart Elected 2020 NADA Chair, Walser Named Vice Chair

Ohio dealer Rhett Ricart and Minnesota dealer Paul Walser will take the reins as chairman and vice chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association at NADA 2020.

October 16, 2019
Ricart Elected 2020 NADA Chair, Walser Named Vice Chair

Rhett Ricart and (left) Paul Walser will serve as NADA chairman and vice chairman next year.

Photo courtesy NADA

2 min to read


SAN DIEGO — The National Automobile Dealers Association’s 63-member board of directors announced the election of Rhett Ricart as its 2020 chairman.

“I’m humbled by this opportunity. NADA is an incredible organization,” said Ricart, who represents new-car dealers in Ohio on NADA’s board. “I love cars, I love people, I love this business, and I am blessed to have a wonderful wife and family.”

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“We must keep building on what’s been provided to us, and we must take advantage of the opportunity to protect and build upon our legacy.”

Ricart who is currently serving as NADA vice chairman, succeeds Charlie Gilchrist, president of Gilchrist Automotive in Weatherford, Texas, as chairman.

“We must keep building on what’s been provided to us, and we must take advantage of the opportunity to protect and build upon our legacy,” added Ricart, president of Ricart Automotive Group in Groveport, Ohio. Ricart’s franchises include Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Nissan, as well as Harley-Davidson.

Paul Walser, who represents new-car dealers from Minnesota on NADA’s board and serves as partner of Walser Automotive Group in Bloomington, Minn., was elected NADA vice chairman for 2020.

Bill Willis, president of Willis Chevrolet-Buick and Willis Ford in Smyrna, Del., was re-elected as secretary. Bob Shuman, president of Shuman Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in Walled Lake, Mich., was re-elected as treasurer.

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The election took place at NADA’s board meeting in San Diego Wednesday. The new terms begin at NADA Show 2020 in Las Vegas in mid-February.

Read: Gilchrist: USMCA a Win for Dealers, Industry

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