HOUSTON — The Gillman Companies, a family-owned and operated dealer group, announced that three of its executives have accepted key leadership positions in the Texas retail automobile business.

Stacey Gillman Wimbish, president of the Gillman Companies, has been named 2011 Chairman Elect of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association. She will then assume the role of Association Chairman for 2012.

Wimbish was recently named one of the top 100 most influential women in the North American automobile industry by Automotive News. She was also the first woman to be elected to lead the Houston Automobile Dealers Association.

Beginning in January 2011, Jason Gillman, vice president of the Gillman Companies and general manager of Gillman Honda in San Antonio, Texas, has been elected to the board of directors of the San Antonio Area Automobile Dealers Association.

Likewise, in January 2011, Chris Gillman, vice president and general manager of Gillman Honda Fort Bend, who is currently serving as the Houston Area Director of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, will assume duties as a board member of the Houston Auto Dealers Association.

“Our dealerships are all family-owned and operated so we are deeply involved in the retail car business. It is a family tradition and a privilege to serve our industry as well as our customers,” said Ramsay Gillman, chairman of the board of the Gillman Companies.

Gillman was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry as one of the nine members of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board. He will serve in that position until February 2013.

The Gillman Companies began with a single location in downtown Houston in 1938. The dealer group currently has 14 dealerships across Houston, Rosenberg, San Benito, Harlingen, and San Antonio representing Acura, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Subaru.