AIADA RECOGNIZES TWO MITSUBISHI MOTORS DEALERS IN FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

WASHINGTON – Two Mitsubishi Motors dealers were recently honored with the 1999 All-Star Dealer Award for exceptional community and industry service, at the American International Dealers Association (AIADA) Award Gala in Washington, D.C. The All-Star Dealer Award is recognized as the most prestigious award in the international automobile industry. Mike Barker of Barker Mitsubishi in Houma, La., and Ronald Esserman of Largo Honda-Kia-Mitsubishi of Key Largo, Fla., won the prestigious award through their outstanding customer service, community service and leadership.

AIADA created the All-Star Awards to call attention to the tremendous contributions of the nation’s import automobile dealers, not only as sound business people, but as citizens dedicated to community service and the betterment of the industry. All-Star Dealer Award winners were nominated by their peers and chosen by a panel of graduate business school professors and deans. A total of five dealers were recognized at this year’s gala.

"Through a mix of business and personal activities, Mike and Ronald have not only become successful in business, but are community and industry opinion leaders. It is this kind of leadership and commitment to all aspects of business that is elevating the overall and long-term success of the Mitsubishi Motors brand," said Pierre Gagnon, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc.

Mike Barker of Barker Mitsubishi, Houma, La. An AIADA and National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) member, Barker is active in his state and local auto dealer associations, serving as president of the Houma Dealers Association since 1996.

Recognized for his outstanding achievements in sales and service, Barker has been a member of Mitsubishi’s Service Excellence Society for the past seven years, the Parts and Sales societies for the past six years, and has been inducted into the Diamond Chapter of Excellence every year since 1994.

In 1993, Barker was named "Retailer of the Year" by the Houma Chamber of Commerce. He has been a corporate sponsor for the Annuciata Tutorial School for three years and was instrumental in the Hurricane Mitch relief effort in 1998, volunteering his dealership as a drop site for collecting donated items to help needy families. Barker also is a sponsor of his local NAACP chapter.

Politically active on behalf of his business and the industry, he has committed his efforts and finances to support local representatives in state and local election campaigns.

Ronald Esserman of Largo Honda-Kia-Mitsubishi, Key Largo, Fla. A two-time winner of the Honda CSI Award and a member of the Acura precision team four times since 1992, Esserman is an active member of AIADA and NADA, and participates in various state and local automobile organizations. His franchises include Mitsubishi, Acura, Honda, Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen.

In 1997, Esserman received the AIADA Minuteman Award, which recognizes State Legislative Representatives for outstanding political activism, organizational and leadership skills. He also is a director of Americans for Free International Trade.

Well known for his community involvement, Esserman is past president and director of the South Dade Chamber of Commerce and serves in the same capacity for the Zoological Society of Florida and the Miami City Ballet. In 1989, he was awarded Man of the Year for his leadership efforts in southern Dade county and received a distinguished service award from the Baptist Hospital Foundation.

AIADA is the trade association representing America’s 10,000 franchised international nameplate automobile retailers and their 350,000 employees who sell and service world-class vehicles manufactured in the U. S. and abroad.