TORRANCE — F&I and Showroom has extended the nomination period for its 2017 F&I Dealer of the Year to Friday, July 21. Dealership employees, general agents, vendors, finance sources, and F&I product providers can nominate their dealership or dealer client by clicking here. 

For this year’s contest, which is being sponsored by American Financial & Automotive Services inc., F&I and Showroom has launched a new awards page highlighting past winners and finalists and their stories. The page also houses contest details as well as the 2017 nomination form.

Now in its 16th year, the F&I Dealer of the Year program recognizes operations with highly profitable F&I departments that demonstrate a commitment to regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction..

The magazine will first select six finalists, each of which will be honored as a 2017 F&I Pacesetter. A representative from each organization will be invited to Industry Summit 2017, which is scheduled for Sept. 11–14 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas. A special ceremony will be held the evening of Sept. 13 to recognize this year’s field of F&I Pacesetters and name one as F&I Dealer of the Year.

Representatives from each finalist will receive a three-night stay at the Gaylord Texan and a complimentary full-conference pass. Dealerships selected as F&I Pacesetters will also be profiled in the magazine’s special conference issue and the September edition of F&I and Showroom magazine.

At the conclusion of the special awards ceremony, one F&I Pacesetter will be named the 2017 F&I Dealer of the Year. That dealership will appear on the cover of the magazine’s November issue, which will include a four-page profile of the organization.

Past winners of the F&I Dealer of the Year award include Sam Pack’s Five Star Ford of Lewisville, David-Moore Automotive, Vaden Automotive Group, Serpentini Chevrolet of Strongsville, Dick Hannah Dealerships, Lithia Motors Inc., Riverside Auto Group, The Suburban Collection, and Tuttle-Click Automotive Group.

To nominate a dealership, click here. For more, email Gregory Arroyo at gregory.arroyo@bobit.com.