Board of Directors — Northern Texas
Annette Sykora, dealer principal of Smith Ford Mercury in Slaton, Texas, and Smith South Plains Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep in Levelland, Texas, represents the franchised new-car dealers of northern Texas on the National Automobile Dealers Association’s (NADA) board of directors. She is a third-generation dealer.
Sykora was NADA chairman in 2008, one of the most turbulent years in the history of the auto industry. Through meetings with automakers, congressional testimony and countless media appearances, Sykora championed manufacturer bridge loans and dealer rights and had a positive impact on how government leaders, the press and the public thought about the dealer franchise system.
A member of the NADA board since 1999, Sykora currently serves on the association’s Government Relations, Public Affairs and Regulatory Affairs committees. She is also a trustee on the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation. Before being elected NADA chairman, she chaired the Public Affairs, Convention and ATAE/NADA committees.
Active in her community, Sykora is a former chair of the finance committee of the First United Methodist Church of Slaton and former board member of the Slaton Chamber of Commerce. She was appointed by the Texas Workforce Commission to serve on the board of directors of WorkSource of the South Plains from 2005 to 2007. While on the WorkSource board, she served on the Oversight and Strategic planning committees. In 2005 she was named Slaton Chamber Member of the Year.
In 2007, Sykora was named Ward’s Dealer of the Year and also received the Association of Women in Communications’ Distinguished Headliner Award. In 2008, Sykora received a Distinguished Woman award from Northwood University and was included in Forbes.com 2008 list of most influential women in the auto industry.
Board, by state
Board, alphabetical by last name