Arlan Kuehn, owner of Kuehn Auto Sales in South Sioux City, Neb., officially began his term as president of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) during the National Leadership Awards Banquet at NIADA’s 68th Annual Convention and Expo at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Kuehn, who has been in the auto business since 1970 and has operated an independent dealership for 20 years, succeeds 2013-14 president Keith Hagler of Taylor, Texas.

“Next year will be very rewarding and exciting for me," Kuehn said. "But the best part of this position is continuing to meet our dealers from across the country."

Kuehn is a NIADA Certified Master Dealer – and so is his son, Dan, who is general manager of Kuehn Auto Sales – and was named the Nebraska IADA’s Quality Dealer of the Year in 2009. He has served the national association as secretary, regional vice president, senior vice president and chairman of the NIADA Services Board.

Others honored at the ceremony included NIADA Association Executive of the Year Paul John of the Georgia IADA.

John, who worked at auto dealerships in sales, finance and insurance and management before becoming one of the first employees of a startup company called AutoTrader.com, has been the GIADA’s executive director since 2002.

Not only has John helped increase the membership of NIADA’s largest state association from 1,100 then to almost 2,400 now, he was also instrumental in developing a state-certified pre-licensing class that has trained more than 13,000 dealers since its inception in 2002.

Also recognized were Crystal Eagle Award winners J. Wayne Meagher of M D Auto Sales in Texas, as well as Kimberly New of Style Auto Brokers, Dennis Pope of People’s Financial, Glen Reeves of Reeves Insurance Agency and Roy Daniel of ALS Dealer Funding, all from Georgia.

The Crystal Eagle is awarded in recognition of their outstanding effort in generating new members for NIADA.