Outgoing NADA Chief Does It His Way in Farewell Speech

SAN FRANCISCO – Forrest McConnell III played it differently during his inauguration speech last year as the incoming 2014 National Automobile Dealers Assn. chairman.

He was forceful and animated then. And in a convention first, a generous use of videos on jumbo screens helps punctuate his 2014 address.

McConnell also breaks precedent in another way for his farewell speech as the outgoing chairman during this year’s convention here.

Traditionally, the chairman’s departing address is issues-oriented. But McConnell largely skips over that and assumes the role of a motivational speaker.

“He wanted it to be an inspirational speech,” an NADA official tells WardsAuto. “As chairman, he’s done things differently all year long, and he’s going out that way.”

Incoming 2015 chairman William Fox is expected to focus more on NADA issues in his scheduled Saturday speech. “Forrest’s speech and Bill Fox’s speech are different in nature but they will make for a nice one-two punch,” says the NADA official.

Not that McConnell entirely skips over issues facing car dealers. In urging the audience to stay clear of negativity, he says that NADA through lobbying and such, keeps members at arm’s length from negative forces “like unreasonable manufacturers and unfair government regulations.”

But otherwise he plays up the positive.

He cites all-star California dealers Dave Conant and Dave Wilson, commending them for their grit, determination and success.

“Many of you have inspiring stories,” McConnell tells the general assembly. “But we all have one thing in common. We took the risk to be successful when there were no guarantees for success.

The Montgomery, AL, Honda dealer passes along something his mother told him as a boy: “Never hang around people who will bring you down.”

And includes this piece of advice: “Like everyone you meet for the first time, unless they give you an incredible reason not to like them.”

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