Last week I had the pleasure of telling you about a very special panel we’ve added to this year’s F&I Conference and Expo — one that broaches the subject of what makes for an effective menu. Today, I get to tell you about another exciting development.

For the first time in the event’s history, we’re staging a special ceremony to honor F&I and Showroom’s F&I Dealer of the Year. I have to tell you that I’m very excited about this. I’ve always felt our awards ceremony belonged at our conference, and this year I got my wish.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking this year’s F&I Dealer of the Year will be some big-name dealer group. You could be right, but what about you? I’ve always been a fan of the underdog, so don’t count yourself out.

This year’s nomination form is pretty simple. Aside from asking for some performance stats (all of which will be kept confidential), we ask one very simple question: Why should you be the F&I Dealer of the Year?

We want to hear your story about how your dealership made adjustments last year to weather the economic story, and how these adjustments now have you on the road to recovery. We also want to hear about your committment to your community and representing our industry in the right way. I’d also like to hear about some special marketing campaign, or stories of how your dealership instituted a front-end process that has put more vehicles over the curb.

To get started, simply download the nomination form, fill it out and send it back to me by mail (F&I and Showroom, 3520 Challenger Street, Torrance, CA 90503), e-mail (gregory.arroyo@bobit.com), or by fax ((310) 533-2503).

The deadline to submit your entry is July 26. Our judges will select six applicants to be recognized as F&I Pacesetters of the Year. They will be featured in the September issue of the magazine and honored during our special ceremony at the conference. One of these F&I Pacesetters will then be named the 2010 F&I Dealer of the Year.

In addition, this year I will provide each Pacesetter with a press release about the award, which can be distributed to media outlets in his or her community. Each F&I Pacesetter will also receive five free passes to attend this year’s conference.

So download the application, fill it out and send it back to me. I want to hear from you.

For more information about our conference, check out our Website at www.fi-conference.com. If you’re thinking about coming, register today, as we’re offering some nice early bird specials. And remember, we’re bringing together some of the best trainers in the business to offer your dealership two days of intense training.

And for those of you who didn’t catch my blog from May 11, there’s another way for you to earn free passes to the show. Click on the date to get more details.