THE FRONT ROW
DIRECTOR’S FEATURE
Reflecting on 2024: Challenges, Legislative Wins, and Holiday Wishes High Insurance Rates Pump the Brakes on Car Sales
American Auto Dealers Need to Trust (But Verify) Data
CARFAX: 347,000 Cars Flood Damaged in 2024 Hurricanes OFAC Requirements are Serious Business
Speaking Multiple Languages Is Great for Business, but Do You Know When You Are Required to Provide Translated Documents?
MANHEIM SEATTLE PRESENTS A
Celebrate the Spirit of the Season With Us
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18
8 LANES | 9:00 AM PT
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT 2024! WE WANT TO CELEBRATE YOU WITH THIS DEALER APPRECIATION SALE.
Appreciation Event Sale
• DEALER LUNCH PROVIDED ON SITE
• ATTENDANCE GIFT
• END OF SALE PRIZES
THE FRONT ROW
The official magazine of the WASHINGTON STATE Independent Auto Dealers Association 707 Auburn Way South | Auburn, WA 98002
T: 253-735-0267 staff@wsiada.com | WSIADA.COM
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Badie Darwazeh, Board President Seattle Auto Haus | President@wsiada.com
Randy Fletcher, Board Vice-President
In-N-Out Auto Sales | VPresident@wsiada.com
Emil Scarsella, Board Treasurer Town & Country Auto Sales | Treasurer@wsiada.com
J.T. Curry, Board Secretary Motors Northwest | Secretary@wsiada.com
Wasim Azzam, Chairman of the Board
All Right Auto Sales | Chairman@wsiada.com
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS
Tony Bonnallie – North Cascade Mission Motors | NoCascade@wsiada.com
Denis Costin – North Sound Independent Motors | NoSound@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – South Sound SoSound@wsiada.com
Rachel Frankel - Vancouver Top Auto Brokers | Vancouver@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – Yakima Yakima@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – Tri-Cities Tri-Cities@wsiada.com
Vacant Position – Spokane Spokane@wsiada.com
AT-LARGE BOARD
Ken Williamson, Board President (Emeritus) John’s Auto Mart, LLC
WSIADA STAFF
Rick Olson, Director of Operations
Mila Froman, Membership Manager
Mary Walton, Accountant
Lane Schulz, Retail Associate
Production Editor
Mojo
As the holiday season approaches, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for being a part of our community. Your support and dedication have made this year truly remarkable, and we’re honored to serve you.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and cheer. Here’s to a new year of health, success, and exciting opportunities!
4 CARFAX: 347,000 CARS FLOOD DAMAGED IN 2024 HURRICANES
The 2024 hurricane season has resulted in an estimated 347,000 flood-damaged vehicles, with Hurricane Milton contributing 120,000 in Florida and potential scams leading to these vehicles being sold to unsuspecting buyers.
6 OFAC REQUIREMENTS ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS
OFAC regulations are murky, so from a conservative perspective, if anyone is involved in the deal, even if they are not on the contract, you must run an OFAC check.
8 HIGH INSURANCE RATES PUMP THE BRAKES ON CAR SALES
F&I managers don’t sell insurance, but they can suggest tools for customers to steer past sticker shock, says Polly’s Mike Burgiss.
10 SPEAKING MULTIPLE LANGUAGES IS GREAT FOR BUSINESS, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS?
Failure to provide necessary translations can lead to legal consequences and potential regulatory scrutiny.
12 AMERICAN AUTO DEALERS NEED TO TRUST (BUT VERIFY) DATA
Dealers’ skepticism about data hampers their ability to harness its potential benefits, as many are dissatisfied with vendor insights, struggle with conflicting information, and delay adopting new data solutions, ultimately missing out on opportunities to optimize operations and increase sales.
20 READ & RESPOND QUIZ
BC WSIADA DEALER MEMBERSHIP Get on board and see the difference!