Southport, Conn. — The General Motors Minority Dealers Association (GMMDA) will begin a yearlong celebration of its 20th Anniversary at their annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet on Friday, February 2, 2007 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Troy Clarke, president of GM North America will keynote the event.

“We are pleased to have Mr. Clarke join us as the keynote speaker for our banquet this year,” said GMMDA President Desmond Roberts. “This is a milestone anniversary for our association, as well as, a critical time in automotive history for domestic manufacturers and minority dealers. Clarke plays an extremely important role at General Motors and his support of our banquet demonstrates a strong understanding of the value of General Motors’ minority dealers to the company’s future prosperity.”

“GMMDA members continue to set the standard for excellent business practices not just for GM minority dealers, but for the automotive industry as a whole,” said Marjorie Staten, GMMDA executive director. “We are proud of our organization, its members, and the positive difference we have made over the past 20 years. Throughout 2007, we will be honoring the achievements of our members and our organization.”

Troy A. Clarke was appointed president of GM North America and GM group vice president on July 1, 2006. He had served as president of GM Asia Pacific and GM group vice president since June 2004. He earlier was GM group vice president of manufacturing and labor relations beginning in June 2002. He also served as GM's chief negotiator for the 2003 United Auto Workers labor negotiations in North America.

Clarke had been vice president of labor relations since January 2001. Before taking the labor relations post, Clarke was president and managing director of GM de México and a GM corporate vice president since January 1998. He had been director of manufacturing for GM de México since June 1997.

The evening celebration is titled: “A Monumental Evening: Making Educational Dreams Come True” and includes a reception sponsored by GMAC Financial Services, followed by a banquet in which General Motors Minority Dealer Development is the title sponsor. The GMMDA will announce the recipients of the 2007 GMMDA Minority Scholarship Awards and present the prestigious 2007 GMMDA Trailblazer Award, sponsored by The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. Contact the GMMDA at (248) 552-9040 for more information about the 18th Annual GMMDA Awards & Scholarship Banquet.