NADA Board Elects Florida Dealer Tom Castriota as 2025 Chairman
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has elected Tom Castriota as its 2025 chairman. Castriota, owner of Castriota Chevrolet in Hudson, FL, will succeed Gary Gilchrist, president of Gilchrist Chevrolet Buick GMC, Inc. in Tacoma, WA.
“I am humbled and grateful to become the next NADA Chairman,” said Castriota, who currently serves as NADA vice chairman, said in a press statement announcing his election. “I want every dealer and dealership employee to know that NADA will continue to be the strong voice of the dealer that you need. NADA, along with our state and metro associations, is here to protect and promote our franchise system. NADA will continue, through our Dealer Attitude Survey, to bring the dealers’ concerns to their perspective OEMs. And finally, NADA will continue to be the dealers’ influential voice before Congress, the administration and federal regulators, and the courts.”
Castriota, 70, began his dealership career working in his family’s store in Pittsburgh, PA. after retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps. He and his wife Anita Castriota later purchased their own store, Castriota Chevrolet, Inc. Castriota has been on the NADA Board of Directors representing Florida since 2016.
Rob Cochran, 58, who represents Western Pennsylvania’s franchised new-car dealers and currently serves as the NADA Industry Relations Committee Chairman, was elected as NADA vice chairman for 2025. Cochran is the president and CEO of #1 Cochran, western Pennsylvania’s largest automotive retailer.
“I am incredibly honored to be elected NADA 2025 Vice Chairman,” said Cochran, who has been on the NADA board of directors since 2020. “So much of what we do as dealers is about families—our own families, our families of employees, and the families within our communities. And of course, our big family of franchised dealers all across the country. The privilege of working on behalf of our families is powerfully motivating to me, and I will do everything I can to advance the needs and priorities of franchised dealers everywhere.”
Robert Vail, president of Vail Buick GMC in Bedford Hills, NY, was re-elected as secretary. Kirt Frye, president of Sunnyside Automotive Group in Middleburg Heights, OH, was re-elected as treasurer.
Beyer Automotive Group Sells Eight Dealerships in Virginia
Beyer Automotive Group, working with Haig Partners as the sell-side advisor, sold their eight dealerships in Virginia to two buyers.
Open Road Capital purchased the Greater Washington DC dealerships from Beyer that were comprised of Land Rover Alexandria, Beyer Volvo Cars of Dulles, Beyer Volvo Cars of Falls Church, Beyer Kia Falls Church, Beyer Subaru and Smokey’s Garage in Falls Church earlier this month.
Open Road Capital, backed by leading private equity firm Bain Capital, acquired its first dealership in 2017 and now owns 43 dealerships.
In a separate recent transaction that closed in August, Beyer sold its Beyer Volvo Cars of Winchester, Beyer Mazda and Beyer Volkswagen dealerships located in Winchester, VA, to Jim Keffer and Jon Alcorn. These dealerships now operate as Dogwood Automotive Group.
“These dealerships are a good fit with my investment model, where I partner with talented operators to help them become dealer principals for the first time,” said Keffer. “Jon Alcorn will do an excellent job leading the talented staff at these dealerships and serving the Winchester community.”
Beyer Automotive Group was founded in 1973 by Falls Church businessman Don Beyer, Sr. Don’s sons, Don Beyer Jr. and Mike Beyer, bought the group in 1986 and grew the group to become one of the largest in Virginia with eight dealerships. In 2019, Mike acquired his brother Don Beyer Jr.’s interest in the dealerships to become the sole owner. Beyer Automotive Group retails over 7,000 vehicles and generates approximately $400 million in revenue annually.
“The decision to sell was difficult, but I was ready to move on to other interests and spend more time with my family,” said Mike Beyer. “Mike Toth and Alan Haig were with me every step of the way. They knew which buyers to approach, how to clearly describe my company, and helped me to smoothly navigate two closings. This transaction would not have been possible without them.”
“The combination of these two transactions highlights Haig Partners’ ability to deliver the best outcome for each client,” said Mike Toth. “In this case, we met our client’s unique needs through sourcing two highly qualified buyers for different parts of Beyer Automotive Group through a narrowly targeted sale process.”
Devoe Automotive Group Prepares to Expand
Devoe Automotive Group, which includes DeVoe Cadillac, DeVoe Buick GMC and DeVoe Subaru of Naples, has acquired property in North Naples for possible future growth, but DeVoe doesn’t have immediate plans for dealership expansion.
DeVoe Family Limited Partnership’s acquisition in August of a dental office at 4060 Tamiami Trail N. was the last of five commercial suites it purchased in a single-story professional office building next door to DeVoe’s used car lot. DeVoe bought the other four suites last fall.
Upon closing of a commercial building purchased in October 2023, DeVoe owns the entire block bordered by U.S. 41, Solana Road, 10th Street North and Trail Terrace Drive, plus additional adjacent property with its dealerships.
