TIME and Ally Financial Honor Bellevue Dealer Jason Courter
Jason Courter Wins National Recognition for Community Service and Industry Accomplishments
(New York, NY, November 8, 2021) – The nomination of Jason Courter, dealer at Honda Auto Center of Bellevue in Bellevue, Washington, for the 2022 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced today by TIME.
Courter is one of a select group of 47 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 105th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas on March 11, 2022. The announcement of this year’s annual award was made by Viktoria Degtar, Global Chief Revenue Officer, TIME, and Doug Timmerman, president of Dealer Financial Services, Ally Financial.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Courter was chosen to represent the Washington State Auto Dealers Association in the national competition – one of only 47 auto dealers nominated for the 53rd annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide.
“To this day, the one concept that drives our business is, ‘If it’s not right, we will make it right,’” nominee Courter said. “We have operated a family business for 40-plus years and stay true to the core values that made us originally successful.”
Courter earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in Pullman in 1996 and graduated from the NADA Academy in 2000. His career in the retail auto business started in high school while doing various jobs around the dealership founded in 1980 by his father, Al. He later became a service advisor and began selling cars after college.
“I am where I am today through many years of good leadership training, not only from my father, but from a wonderful mentor, Mike Lavigne, our general manager,” Courter said. “I have worked alongside Mike, who I have known since I was 7 years old, every step of the way.” Today, the Courter Family owns and operates the Honda of Bellevue as well Honda of Kirkland.
“My father operated under the principles of treating others the way he and all would want to be treated,” he said. “We have achieved success – and multiple President’s Awards from Honda – by employing the philosophy of high expectations, great customer service, sound business practices and happy team members.”
Courter is also a staunch advocate for the retail auto industry and has spearheaded grassroots efforts for the Washington State Auto Dealers Association, the former Puget Sound Automobile Dealers Association and the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), for which he was named chair in 2020. He also serves his local dealer advisory group for Honda.
“I grew up with the idea that a thriving business is the result of a strong association with fellow peers, as well as partners,” he said. “And my father always taught me that you must give back to the community to make it a better place.”
To that end, Courter supports organizations, causes and initiatives that help lift his community and has created the Building a Stronger Community project, which recognizes a local, small nonprofit each month and promotes the group on radio.
“Getting the word out about the wonderful programs in our local community is a hard thing to do, but once grassroots endeavors take off and can reach individuals that care about similar causes, then you have the opportunity to spark more and more engagement,” he said.
One such organization is Bridge of Promise, which offers social, recreational and life skills opportunities for children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities. Other groups he supports include Northwest Harvest (hunger relief agency); Youth Eastside Services (counseling and behavioral health services for children and youths in East King County); the Bellevue College Foundation; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound; Boys & Girls Clubs of King County; and Toys for Tots, to name a few.
Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. 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 an additional $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive an additional $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally.
In its eleventh year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will also be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees.
“In cities and towns across the country, auto dealers make a big economic impact—going the extra mile to strengthen their communities,” said Doug Timmerman, president of dealer financial services, Ally. “It’s an incredible achievement to be nominated for TIME Dealer of the Year. The program not only recognizes leadership in business and customer service, but also a commitment to giving back and doing it right.”
Courter was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Vicki Giles Fabré, Executive Vice President of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association. He and his wife, Courtney, have two children, Hanley and Grace.
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About TIME
TIME is a global media brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 100 million around the world. A trusted destination for reporting and insight, TIME’s mission is to tell the stories that matter most, to lead conversations that change the world and to deepen understanding of the ideas and events that define our time. With unparalleled access to the world’s most influential people, the immeasurable trust of consumers globally, an unrivaled power to convene, TIME is one of the world’s most recognizable media brands with renowned franchises that include the TIME100 Most Influential People, Person of the Year, Firsts, Best Inventions, World’s Greatest Places and premium events including the TIME100 Summit and Gala, TIME100 Health Summit, TIME100 Next and more.
About Ally Financial Inc.
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a digital financial services company committed to its promise to “Do It Right” for its consumer, commercial and corporate customers. Ally is composed of an industry-leading independent auto finance and insurance operation, an award-winning digital direct bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender, which offers mortgage lending, point-of-sale personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products), a corporate finance business for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. A relentless ally for all things money, Ally helps people save well and earn well, so they can spend for what matters. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.
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About the NADA Show
The annual NADA Show brings together more than 20,000 franchised dealers and their employees, industry leaders, manufacturers and exhibitors to learn about the latest auto industry tools, trends, products and technologies.