New York Dealer Receives Top Honor

By Jeffrey Bellant

LAS VEGAS – New York dealer Dan Johnson took home the crown jewel of NIADA Accelerate 2023, winning the National Quality Dealer of the Year Award here at Wynn Las Vegas.

Johnson, owner of LiteHouse Auto Inc. in Lakewood, N.Y., beat out 13 other state quality dealer nominees to receive the prestigious honor from the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s annual convention and expo.

“Wow,” Johnson said as he accepted his award. “Thank you so much. I can’t begin to tell you what an absolute honor it is to receive this very prestigious award.

“To say that I am surprised, humbled and honored would be an absolute understatement, especially considering all of the other finalists here tonight. They certainly all deserve to be up here as well.”

Johnson thanked “first and foremost my beautiful wife, Emelee,” as the award came four days shy of their 19th anniversary.

“In those 19 years, Emelee has stood right by my side through thick and thin as we raised a family and built a business,” Johnson said. “I can’t tell you how very grateful I am to her for all of her love and support.

“She’s the bedrock of our family and I value her wisdom and her counsel. She’s the love of my life and my very best friend.”

He also praised his staff as “absolute rock stars” and “exceptional at what they do and the perfect team.”

Johnson promised “to live up to the high standards of this award.”

In announcing the winner, Master of Ceremonies Michael York shared some of the comments Johnson made in his interview that is part of the judging process.

“My parents were very hardworking folks with a strong entrepreneurial spirit,” Johnson shared.

Johnson’s father settled debts with the home sale and built a new house with his own hands. Johnson’s mom still lives there and it a “constant reminder of my dad’s

“My mom and dad owned and operated a custom cabinetry business in our town. When the big box stores moved in, it caused my parents to have to shut down the business and sell our home.” strong work ethic and never-giveup spirit.”

After college, Johnson was working at a bank where he had been employed for a couple of years. But one day he heard about another job opportunity during a local Bible study he attended.

It was a chance to make good money as a salesman for a local car dealership.

Johnson joined LiteHouse Auto as a salesman and moved all the way up to general manager before buying the dealership when his boss retired.

“I felt I had learned all that I could from my friend, who was a great teacher, and I wanted to take that next step,” Johnson said.

York took time to talk about the slate of nominees and what it takes to become a quality dealer.

“They’re leaders in this industry,” he said. “They’re committed to their families, their communities, as well as commitment to the highest standards of the bar they set for other dealers to follow.

“While each of them could be deserving of this honor, eventually, the list has to be shortened to a single individual.”