Richmond car dealer one of 41 nominated for top national award

RICHMOND, Ky. (WTVQ) –  Steve Gates, dealer principal at Toyota South in Richmond, is one of 41 dealers nationwide who will be honored at the 104^th annual National Automobile Dealers Association Show in February after being nominated for the 2021 Dealer of the Year award.

The TIME Dealer of the Year award recognizes some of the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.

Gates, 69, was chosen to represent the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition – one of only 41 auto dealers nominated for the 52^nd annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide.

“In reality, I believe that my auto career began at birth,” nominee Gates said. “My mother told me that I could name every car and model on the road by the time I was four years old. My first word, other than the essential monosyllabic one, was ‘Plymouth.’”

Gates’ first official job in the industry was as a lot attendant at his father’s dealership, Bud Gates Chevrolet, in Indianapolis, Indiana, when he was 14 years old. His grandfather had also been in the business, having launched a DeSoto store in 1915.

“I watched and listened to everything possible while at work,” Gates said. “I was able to roam the complex as cars were stored everywhere. I got to spend time with mechanics, body men, parts counter people and salespeople. I learned a lot – not always valuable – and was fascinated with everything they said. I wanted so badly to be working all day, every day with them but I was only in junior high school.”

He later moved up to sales during high school, selling cars at Bud Gates Toyota. “I was not the greatest salesperson, but I learned that selling a car was not as important as developing relationships,” he said.

After earning a B.A. from Indiana University in Bloomington in 1975, he continued to pursue his passion for the auto industry, despite his father dissolving the dealerships in 1974. He worked for a few auto services companies and a BMW store in Indianapolis before partnering with Bob McKamey in Toyota South in Richmond, which was struggling at the time.

“Bob ultimately became my best friend, mentor and surrogate father,” Gates said.

“I also had the unique opportunity to have been born into a family that truly believed anyone could accomplish anything, absolutely anything, as long as you worked hard.”

Today, he has helped build the Gates Auto Family into a successful, multi-state operation, which includes 10 dealerships in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee, representing brands Audi, Ford, Honda, Kia, Hyundai, Lexus, Lincoln, Nissan and Toyota.

“Throughout my career, I have never forgotten my great fortune to be able to sell cars,” Gates said. “I have so much more to accomplish and I love the work.”

His commitment to the industry extends far beyond his dealership showrooms. Gates currently serves on the Toyota National Dealer Council, the Toyota National Product Advisory Council and on the board of the Americans for Free International Trade PAC (AFIT). He is also a board member and incoming chair for the American International Automobile Dealer Association.

“I have given these various organizations the time and the effort necessary to endeavor to improve the industry that has been so generous to me,” he said. “I have worked diligently to encourage other dealers to get involved with manufacturer councils, with their state dealer associations and with the NADA.”

In the area of community service, his primary focus is improving the lives of children who live in central Kentucky. To that end, he supports the Secret Families Christmas Charities, which helps those in need celebrate the holiday by providing a Christmas tree, presents and dinner. Employees of Toyota South, as well as other members of the community, volunteer their time or donate funds to sponsor a family.

He also supports the Lexington Dream Factory, which grants dreams to children with critical and severe chronic illnesses; God’s Outreach (Madison County Food Bank); Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass; and Lexington Humane Society, to name a few.

“It’s relatively easy to write a check, but it is life-altering when you get personally involved,” Gates said. “We know that we have a direct positive impact on the lives of so many in our community, and, as an unintended benefit, the lives of our participating associates are broadened and improved.”

Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country.

The award is sponsored by TIME in association with Ally Financial, and in cooperation with NADA. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year.

Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity.

In its tenth year as exclusive sponsor, Ally will also recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.

“The TIME Dealer of the Year award celebrates the country’s top dealers who understand that their businesses thrive when they give back and help their communities grow,” Timmerman said. “In short, the award recognizes dealers who do it right in their businesses and in their communities.”

Gates was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Gay Williams, president of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association. He and his wife, Kathy, have three children.