OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — NCM Associates has hired three new associates to serve its retail automotive clientele. Automotive retail experts Steven Kain, Chris Kahrs and George Gowen have joined the company as executive conference moderators for the 20 Groups Division under Kevin Cunningham.

Steven Kain is a former car dealer and general manager with deep retail automotive roots acquired through his 32 years of experience in a multi-generational family dealership, according to officials. His variable operations expertise was honed as a sales manager for Kain Nissan and Kain Family Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, where he also managed the pre-owned operation before assuming total operational responsibility for bottom-line performance as the general manager and dealership principal.

Chris Kahrs brings more than 17 years of experience to NCM, with extensive expertise in multi-facility management and dealer operations. He joined the automotive industry in 1997 at Ewald Ford Lincoln Mercury in Wisconsin, where he worked his way from sales associate to finance manager before he became new-car manager at the Ewald Automotive Group. He joined the John Amato Automotive Group in 2002 as the Mazda new-car manager and progressed to become the vice president of variable operations for John Amato’s three locations in Milwaukee.  Before making the move to NCM, Kahrs worked as a general sales manager and general manager for the Mossy Automotive Group in California.

George Gowen has more than 30 years of experience in the retail automotive industry. He is a third-generation dealer who grew up working within every department of the dealership, including management positions in sales, BDC and training, and director of fixed operations. He was also the general manager for a $100 million dealership before he became the owner/dealer principal of a multiple-franchise operation at the age of 33.

Gowen was awarded Chrysler’s Five Star Award in his first year in business and also served on the board of directors for Carolina Chevy Dealers Advertising Association.

“We are very pleased to welcome these three highly-competent retail experts to serve our valued NCM 20 Group members,” said Paul Faletti Jr., NCM’s president and CEO. “As an employee-owned organization, NCM is committed to providing the highest levels of service and delivering on our promise to be the leading industry resource on dealership operations improvement.

“Steve, Chris and George all bring valuable expertise to their new positions, and I am confident not only in their collective abilities to assist our clients in their dealership improvement initiatives, but in helping NCM achieve its strategic initiatives, as well.”