TORRANCE, Calif. — F&I and Showroom this week revealed the seven winners of the 2018 F&I Pacesetters contest, sponsored by American Financial & Automotive Services Inc. One of these organizations will be named F&I Dealer of the Year next week at Industry Summit 2018.

This year’s field of F&I Pacesetters includes operations from California, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas, all of which will be honored at the magazine’s annual conference during a special ceremony at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 5:15 p.m. At the end of that ceremony, one will be named the magazine’s 17th F&I Dealer of the Year.

“We were so impressed with all the nominations we received, we expanded the field to seven F&I Pacesetters for this year’s contest,” said Gregory Arroyo, editorial director of F&I and Showroom and Auto Dealer Today magazines. “I’ll be honored to recognize each one at Industry Summit. Unfortunately, only one of them can walk away with our 2018 F&I Dealer of the Year award.”

F&I and Showroom’s F&I Dealer of the Year award, which is also sponsored by American Financial & Automotive Services, is handed annually to a dealership or dealer group with a highly profitable F&I department that demonstrates a commitment to regulatory compliance and a great customer experience.

Nominees were asked to complete a form containing questions about their sales and F&I process, the procedures they employ to ensure regulatory compliance, their new-hire onboarding process, the tenure of their F&I teams, consumer reviews and ratings, and much more. The magazine team then conducts interviews with representatives from each finalist.

“American Financial & Automotive Services Inc. would like to congratulate the seven finalists for this year’s F&I Dealer of the Year award. Each finalist, or F&I Pacesetter, is a pillar in their respective communities and are considered leaders in this great automotive industry,” said Arden Hetland, president of American Financial & Automotive Services. “These finalists have each committed to a professional culture that promotes exceptional customer service.  We are honored to sponsor this award, as it signifies dedication and excellence in the F&I department through training and compliance.”

 This year’s field of finalists, or F&I Pacesetters, includes:

Bob Moore Buick GMC of Oklahoma City

Prince Automotive Group, Tifton, Ga.

Zumbrota Ford, Zumbrota, Minn.

Hoehn Carlsbad Buick GMC Cadillac

Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships, Austin-Round Rock, Texas

Cecil Atkission Motors of Kerrville, Texas

Bob Moore Subaru, Oklahoma City

Profiles of each organization will appear in the October 2018 issue of F&I and Showroom magazine. A profile of the winning organization will appear in the magazine’s December 2018 edition.