Frank Fuzy, owner of Century Motors of South Florida, opened his term as president of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) for 2015-16 with an address during the Association's 69th annual Convention and Expo at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Fuzy, who succeeds 2014-15 president Arlan Kuehn of South Sioux City, Neb., said in his address at the banquet that increasing membership is a high priority for his term, saying NIADA has added funds to its membership development budget to "support meaningful growth."

"As president this year, I want to make our membership grow," he said. "In numbers, we are powerful. I want everyone to do something to increase our numbers. That's why I'll be introducing new membership events, new programs and new incentives, and will create new excitement around our association. And when I say 'our' association, I mean everyone from the top down."

Fuzy and his wife, Gina, have operated the Pompano Beach dealership he co-founded with his father-in-law, Edward Goodman, for more than 30 years, and have turned it into one of the largest sellers of used vehicles on the Internet, selling cars nationwide – and worldwide.

He has served as the Florida IADA's president, secretary, treasurer and chairman, and as NIADA's treasurer, regional vice president and senior VP.

Others honored at the ceremony included NIADA Association Executive of the Year Todd O'Connell of the Colorado IADA and Crystal Eagle Award winners Kimberly New of Style Financial Acceptance Co., Dennis Pope of People's Financial, Glen Reeves of Reeves Insurance Agency, Julie Colgate of Independent Dealers Advantage, Guy Padgett of Sterling Credit Corporation and Roy Daniel of ALS Dealer Funding, all from Georgia, and J. Wayne Meagher of M D Auto Sales in Texas. The Crystal Eagle is awarded in recognition of their outstanding effort in generating new members for NIADA.

O'Connell earned the award as NIADA's top state executive by putting what had been a struggling organization on sound financial footing, creating an association charity that raised more than $100,000 in its first year, starting a dealer defense fund to protect against frivolous lawsuits, adding an association Ambassador group to promote and inform dealers about CIADA, and establishing relationships with state officials.