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(New York, NY, October 16, 2024) – The nomination of Sean P. Baxter, president of Kayser Ford Inc., a Ford and Lincoln dealership in Madison, Wisconsin, for the 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced today by TIME.
Baxter is one of a select group of 49 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 108th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 25, 2025.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Baxter was chosen to represent the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association in the national competition – one of only 49 auto dealers nominated for the 56th annual award from more than 20,000 nationwide.
“I find it most rewarding to be a part of a world-class team of compassionate and dedicated individuals who are focused on making each other better and answering the call of our Kayser guests every single day,” nominee Baxter said.
Baxter earned a B.S. in real estate at Arizona State University in Tempe in 2000 and attended the NADA Academy in 2003. After college, he returned to Wisconsin and the thriving family auto group that was originally founded in 1925 when Paul A. Kayser started selling Ford Model Ts in Madison. His father, Pat Baxter, purchased the business in the 1980s and expanded its footprint substantially.
“My first job came in 1988 when I was 10 years old and involved picking up cigarette butts out of the rocks around the entrances to the showroom,” he said. “This ‘dirty job’ not only laid the foundation for my automotive career but made me a nonsmoker for life!”
Baxter succeeded his father as president in 2014 and today, he runs the Kayser Automotive Group with his brothers, Ryan and Brendan. The three brothers oversee eight dealership locations in Wisconsin, representing brands Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Lincoln, and Ram.
“I have stood on the shoulders of giants, starting with the thousands of people who have put on the Kayser uniform for almost 100 years,” he said. “Thanks to the leaders before me, I am shepherding a company with a rich history of personal success, community service, and industry leading guest experiences. I am humbled to pick up the torch, carrying on the Kayser legacy for the next generation of employees, guests, and communities.”
Baxter and his team instituted the Kayser Promise and Car Buying Made Simple, which reinvented how they market and sell vehicles. These two initiatives promote transparency by offering a three-day moneyback guarantee, no commission for salespeople for a stress-free buying experience, and free home delivery.
“For me, my tenure is just a small chapter in Kayser's illustrious story, but I'm honored and privileged to have the chance to steer the ship, if only for a moment,” he said.
Baxter has also brought creative energy to his positions at the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association, where he has served on the board and on the executive committee. He has advocated to block direct sales from manufacturers to consumers on behalf of dealers statewide. He also worked with Wisconsin Ford Dealers and Ford Motor Company to donate $1 million to a scholarship program for technicians through the association’s foundation.
“For decades, there has been a dramatic decline of young people entering the trades, specifically automotive technicians, while our need for these workers continues to increase,” he said. “The scholarship fund supports individuals pursuing a career in automotive technology at a technical college and will help dealers fill their staffing needs in the future.”
In the area of community service, Baxter is director and treasurer of the Patrick and Lee Baxter Family Foundation, established by his family in 2014.
“Since its inception, we've supported 14 community organizations with more than $720,000 in total giving, benefiting kids and families in Wisconsin,” he said.
Baxter has served on the board of the SSM Health St. Mary’s Foundation-Madison since 2009 and was named chair from 2018 to 2021. He and his wife, Amanda, helped establish the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the hospital, which provides a living space with bedrooms, kitchen, and laundry for families to use while their sick child is in the pediatric unit.
He has also provided leadership to the Rotary Club of Madison; United Way of Dane County; YMCA of Dane County; and the Police & Fire Commission of Fitchburg, Wisconsin (currently a commissioner).
A few of his many community partners include Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County; Overture Center for the Arts; Pulaski Community School District’s Community Pantry; Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra; Badger Honor Flight; March of Dimes; Madison Children’s Museum; as well as numerous schools, hospitals, and local sports programs.
Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.
In its 14th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“At TIME, our commitment to recognizing the exceptional contributions of automotive dealers remains as strong as ever,” said Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME. “The TIME Dealer of the Year award continues to celebrate those who not only excel in their profession but also make a meaningful impact in their communities. We are thrilled to continue this legacy in partnership with Ally.”
Doug Timmerman, Ally president of Dealer Financial Services, said, “Auto dealers are the backbones of their communities, providing civic support and significant business leadership. Ally is proud to recognize the unwavering commitment these TIME Dealer of the Year nominees are living every day through their volunteerism, sponsorships, and support of charitable causes. They are the epitome of community heroes, making important and positive impacts in the lives of the people they serve.”
Baxter was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by William A. Sepic, president of the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association. Baxter and his wife, Amanda, have four children.
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About TIME
TIME is the 101-year-old global media brand that reaches a combined audience of over 120 million around the world through its iconic magazine and digital platforms. With unparalleled access to the world's most influential people, the trust of consumers and partners globally, and an unrivaled power to convene, TIME's mission is to tell the essential stories of the people and ideas that shape and improve the world. Today, TIME also includes the Emmy Award®-winning film and television division TIME Studios; a significantly expanded live events business built on the powerful TIME100 and Person of the Year franchises and custom experiences; TIME for Kids, which provides trusted news with a focus on news literacy for kids and valuable resources for teachers and families; the award-winning branded content studio Red Border Studios; the sustainability and climate action division TIME CO2 and more.
About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a financial services company with the nation's largest all-digital bank and an industry-leading auto financing business, driven by a mission to "Do It Right" and be a relentless ally for customers and communities. The company serves approximately 11 million customers through a full range of online banking services (including deposits, mortgage, and credit card products) and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. The company also includes a robust corporate finance business that offers capital for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, as well as auto financing and insurance offerings. For more information, please visit www.ally.com(opens in new window).
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About the NADA Show
The annual NADA Show brings together more than 20,000 franchised dealers and their employees, industry leaders, manufacturers and exhibitors to learn about the latest auto industry tools, trends, products and technologies.
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