In advance of the NADA Show this week in New Orleans, we sit down with Dave Perno, president of Loyalty Automotive and Virginia’s 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year, to discuss his journey in the automotive industry. Dave and other state Dealers of the Year will be honored at the Show this week.

From lessons learned working in his father’s dealership to leading a family business, Dave reflects on the importance of supporting employees, giving back to the community and planning for the future. He also shares his perspective on industry trends like EV adoption and what 2025 might bring for dealers.