ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today announced that Newport Beach, California, auto dealer Dave Conant will be honored with the association’s 2019 David F. Mungenast Lifetime Achievement Award during its 49th annual meeting on Jan. 27 in San Francisco, co-located with the National Automobile Dealers Association’s convention.

The award is presented each year by AIADA’s board of directors to an industry leader who possesses a similar community spirit and devotion to the international nameplate auto industry as its namesake.

“I am always impressed with the generosity of auto dealers, but when it comes to community engagement, Dave Conant truly stands apart. In addition to running one of the country’s most successful dealership groups, he has always made time to give back to his community and those around him,” said AIADA President and CEO Cody Lusk. “I can think of no one more deserving of this honor and look forward to presenting the award during our upcoming annual meeting this January in San Francisco.”

Conant is the founder, owner, and CEO of the Conant Auto Retail Group, which currently operates 11 automobile franchises in Cerritos, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Mission Viejo, San Diego, and West Covina, Calif., as well as franchises in Port Charlotte, Fla. Together, they represent the Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lincoln, Genesis, Toyota, and Volkswagen brands.

Conant is a committed and active member of the auto retail industry and served on AIADA’s board of directors for many years, including its executive committee, the organization’s directors noted, and his community involvement spans numerous charitable causes in support of education, health, and wellness. The Conant Family Foundation, joined by employee-funded contributions, has provided millions of dollars to local causes, including Make-a-Wish, the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Boys & Girls Club, City of Hope, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and recent disaster relief efforts in the wake of hurricanes and wildfires in California.