ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 15, 2010—At today’s general session, incoming NADA chairman Ed Tonkin emphasized unity and meeting 2010’s challenges head-on.

“NADA stands for the National Automobile Dealers Association. The key word here is ‘association.’ It means ‘together.’ It means we all come together in a united front to face the challenges of our industry, and they continue to be many,” said Tonkin, who is vice president and general counsel of Ron Tonkin Dealerships in Portland, Ore.

Tonkin added that his theme of unity is the same theme his father, Ron Tonkin, used during his 1989 speech as NADA chief. (Tonkin is the second NADA chairman in a row to follow his father in the position.)

Tonkin mentioned the many crushing blows the auto industry faced in the past year, but added that NADA had aggressively represented dealers on Capitol Hill to address dealer terminations, a crumbling market and major manufacturers going through bankruptcy.

“Last year, through much hard work, we avoided Armageddon for many in our industry,” Tonkin said. “Now we’re able to focus on some serious issues that face us this year.” NADA is ready to “hit the ground running” to tackle a fresh slate of issues with a new attitude and new agenda that relies heavily on feedback from members, he added. They include the Internal Revenue Service’s UNICAP and LIFO, and new Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements.

And though much uncertainty remains, Tonkin said dealers should be optimistic. With sales expected to be nearly 12 million in 2010, rising employment and improved lending, the future is bright. In good times or bad, he said, “dealers will be there. Dealers are the most resilient people on earth.”

• Leading the Charge: Dealer Ed Tonkin takes the reins as NADA's new chairman

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