African-American Automobile New Car Dealers

Other "Difference" Makers

REV. WILLIE T. BARROWS, Vice President of Operation PUSH, was pro-active in dealing with Ford Motor Company to resolve dealer issues. She championed many African-American dealer causes over the years and is a supporter of FMMDA. Her commitment can be shown by just one example. While getting ready to return to the U.S. while in South Africa, she remembered that she was to follow-up on a request by a Ford dealer in the Chicago market. She had not done so: the author received a long distance call from Johannesburg.

ROBERT A. HILL served as the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of FMMDA from 1988 to June of 2003. In 1991, he also held a similar position with NAMAD until 1994 during which he initiated contacts with import manufacturers and various governmental agencies. He developed the NAMAD Resource Guide as a fund raising tool. Hill also administered NAMAD's Political Action Committee. As a Board member of both NAMAD and FMMDA, he played an important role in expanding diversification efforts.

REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, chair of Operation PUSH, has been long associated with minority dealer issues beginning in 1970. He was the first to suggest the formation of a national organization to represent industry minority car dealers. He has met with CEO and presidents of the Big Three and acted as a mediator in solving problems unique to African-American car dealers. In 1993, he headed up a trade delegation to Tokyo which included Ford dealers (Nathan Conyers, LaRoy Doss, Bill Shack) to encourage Japanese companies to recognize the importance and growth of the minority consumer. He remains an active participant in minority dealer issues.

CHARLES PATRICK was hired by NAMAD as its first Executive Director in the Spring of 1980 and was responsible for incorporating the organization in September 1980. He had worked in the Department of Commerce, prepared an extensive document of the auto industry that was utilized at the NAMAD initial session.

REV. DR. GEORGE E. RIDDICK, a long time member of Operation PUSH, was involved in the establishment of covenant agreements with Ford Motor Company, Burger King, Coca Cola etc. He was instrumental in the arrangements for the first meeting held in Chicago in June of 1970 designed to encourage minority dealers to form their own national association which became a reality.

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