OFFICER’S MESSAGE
A Year of Change By Christian Quandt NMEDA PRESIDENT
S
o when we were all shaking
probably realized. Not only did they
to Katie and Kristen for an incredible
hands, hugging, kissing
tackle some huge items, they did it
dedication of time and diligence to
goodbye in March at the
remotely, and during the sudden and
make it come together. All of their
last conference, I don’t think any
shocking loss of team member and
work will help to continue to provide
of us really knew we were on the
friend, Andy Ghillyer. Thank you to
us dealers with fantastic tools to
precipice of things unimaginable.
Mikala for working so hard this year
help manage our businesses. It is an
Back then it was just being suggested
for our members to try to cover for
undertaking that can sometimes go
that we do the “elbow thing” or wave,
some of that loss. We welcome the
unnoticed because of all the back-
but since we were in a safe, bubble-
familiar face of Amy Lane and think
end work, but we all really appreciate
like environment like Daytona Beach
the association with Amy and Pitt will
it.
amidst Spring Break and Bike Week,
be really positive for NMEDA going
it was hugs as usual.
forward.
Just one week later, things got very
Danny’s flexible leadership and
Amy Schoppman has done as our
real, the industry’s customer base
positive attitude are what helped
Government Relations Director. You
was told to stay home and be distant,
keep the organization focused on
would have thought that all her work
our ways of doing things had to change fast, almost every aspect of our operations had to be changed, and probably changed again a few more times as things developed. I know I’m very proud of our company and the sacrifices our entire team has collectively made this year, and I’m sure most of you feel the same way about your respective companies as well. There was no playbook for all this, it was learned on the fly. It was difficult for us all to manage, so I figured it was prudent of me to take a minute to recognize the work NMEDA did on our behalf this year. I’m proud of and thankful for everyone on the NMEDA staff for accomplishing more than most of us
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NMEDA Circuit Breaker
“
Another highlight of 2020 for NMEDA came as a result of all the hard work
...congratulations to all of our members, who have all had to embrace a resolve many of us probably didn’t know we had in us this year.”
the goals at hand despite all the
on getting NMEDA involved with
operational hurdles this year. Danny
the VA’s Integrated Project Team,
and Marilyn have been the only
or the ongoing work on the VMSA,
two in the trenches in the office all
or the incredibly important work
pandemic, making sure everyone is
she’s doing with our Average Price
connected and we all thank you both
Survey would be enough. However,
for your work on keeping the staff
her years of work and advocacy on
connected while they work remotely.
our behalf came full-circle when
What better year to launch a
she was contacted directly by
website, AMS, and LMS than during a pandemic, right? It was an entire team effort, but special thanks go out
Senator Tammy Duckworth recently, who was inquiring about possible recommendations for positions in the incoming administration. As they say
