Dave Wright, president of Dave Wright Nissan Subaru in Hiawatha, has been named the 2026 TIME Dealer of the Year, Ally Financial Inc. announced Thursday, Feb. 5 at the National Automotive Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas.
The award, now in its 57th year, is considered one of the auto industry’s highest honors. Mr. Wright was selected from a field of more than 20,000 franchised dealers nationwide.
Mr. Wright was recognized for his leadership in the automotive industry and community service. His dealership has been named to Automotive News’ Best Dealerships to Work For list 12 times, making it the only Iowa dealership and one of three nationwide to receive the honor.
“Dave and all of the TIME Dealer of the Year nominees stand out for their industry excellence, investing in the communities they serve and teams they lead,” said Doug Timmerman, Ally’s president of dealer financial services. “The TIME Dealer of the Year award honors dealers who build lasting success by strengthening communities, and through his leadership and dedication to his team, Dave truly embodies these values.”
Mr. Wright supports organizations including Goodwill of the Heartland, To The Rescue, the Boys and Girls Club of the Corridor, Heritage Area Agency on Aging and the Iowa Giving Crew. His annual contributions exceed $50,000, supporting children, educators and seniors across the region.
Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, and Timmerman announced Mr. Wright as the winner at a ceremony that honored all 47 nominees.
“At TIME, we are proud to recognize automotive dealers who demonstrate excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to service through the TIME Dealer of the Year award,” Ms. Sibley said. “This award celebrates those whose work strengthens their communities and sets a standard for the industry, and we are thrilled to continue this legacy in partnership with Ally.”
The winner and finalists are chosen by a panel from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan. The panel selects finalists from each of the four NADA regions before choosing a national winner.
The 2026 finalists also include Jamie Cobb of Buick GMC in North Little Rock, Arkansas; Mario Hernandez of Teton Toyota in Idaho Falls, Idaho; David Kull of Burns Honda in Marlton, New Jersey; and Bert Lindsay of Lindsay Honda in Columbus, Ohio.
As the exclusive sponsor of the TIME Dealer of the Year program for the 15th consecutive year, Ally will provide grants to eligible charitable organizations selected by the nominees, finalists and winner. Ally has made nearly $1 million in donations through the program. This year, Ally will give $10,000 to Wright’s charity of choice, $5,000 to nonprofits selected by each finalist, and $1,000 to charities selected by each of the 47 nominees.
