After years of outstanding leadership and service, Michael Hayes has retired as Director of the NADA Academy. While many of our members know Michael for his dedication to dealer education and leadership development, I have also had the privilege of working alongside him as my co-host on the Dealer Driven podcast.
Throughout his tenure, Michael played a pivotal role in strengthening and expanding the NADA Academy's impact on dealerships nationwide. His passion for developing current and future dealership leaders helped shape countless Academy participants and graduates. Under his leadership, the Academy continued to evolve to meet the industry's changing needs while maintaining its reputation as the premier education program in the automotive industry.
Michael's guidance, professionalism, and genuine commitment to helping dealers succeed have left a lasting mark on NADA and the thousands of industry professionals who have benefited from the Academy experience. His contributions extend far beyond the classroom and have helped strengthen the future leadership pipeline for our industry.
On behalf of the Academy team, I want to thank Michael for his many years of service, friendship and partnership. We wish him nothing but the very best in retirement.
As one chapter closes, another begins. I am excited to welcome Brian Crossin as the new Director of the NADA Academy. Brian brings extensive dealership experience, a passion for education, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing today's dealers. I am confident he will build upon the strong foundation Michael established while helping guide the Academy into its next era of growth and innovation.
Please join me in congratulating Michael on an exceptional career and welcoming Brian to his new role. The future of NADA Academy is bright, and I look forward to working closely with Brian as we continue our mission of developing the next generation of dealership leaders.
