Ron Robbins, Manheim Auctions’ senior vice president of marketing and strategic planning, served as the keynote speaker at a recent ceremony to honor automobile dealers of the future.

More than 35 candidates graduated from the Dealer Candidate Academy on August 18 in McLean, Va. The Academy is a year-long program sponsored by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) designed to train the next generation of car dealers. More than 90 percent of the individuals participating in the program are relatives of current dealers. As part of the program, candidates spend a day at Manheim’s Fredericksburg (Va.) Auto Auction to learn the role auctions play in the remarketing industry.

Robbins offered the graduates practical advice about becoming successful automobile dealers. He encouraged graduates to rely not on luck, but on developing leadership skills, promoting employee satisfaction and embracing change —Robbins’ formula for success as an entrepreneur. He informed candidates that being a dealer is a learned skilled with an understanding that change is inevitable in the automobile business.

“Successful dealers possess the courage to follow a vision, place a priority on their employees, and have the flexibility to adapt to an ever-changing environment,” Robbins said to the graduates. “These three things must work together in order thrive in the automobile industry during the 21st century.”

Prior to joining Manheim Auctions in August 2000, Robbins worked at Ford Motor Co. for 30 years. While at Ford, Robbins held a variety of positions, and he joined Manheim after serving as Ford’s executive director for North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing Operations. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA in finance from the University of Georgia.

About Manheim Auctions

Manheim Auctions offers services that impact every stage of a used vehicle’s life cycle. These include transaction, reconditioning and certification services, managed remarketing, end-of-lease term management services, vehicle transportation, dealer floor planning, retail inspection and government auction services.

The company also assists auto manufacturers, fleet and lease companies, banks and other financial institutions in selling their used-vehicle inventories.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., Manheim Auctions has been in the wholesale automobile auction industry for 56 years. With more than 34,000 employees at its 125 auctions and related businesses, Manheim is a global remarketing organization with 85 auctions in North America and additional operations in France, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

In the year 2000, the company auctioned more than 7.5 million vehicles at its North American auctions.