On March 24, the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association (GLANCDA) welcomed more than 250 dealer members and industry partners to the Sheraton Universal Hotel for its highly anticipated Member Luncheon and Annual Meeting — an event that blended celebration, strategic vision and inspiring conversation.
Jeanne Brewer, 2026 GLANCDA president, served as master of ceremonies for the program, infusing the event with warmth and momentum.
A Major League Conversation: Dave Roberts Takes the Stage
The program’s headline moment featured a lively and insightful discussion with Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, moderated by longtime MLB broadcaster José Mota. The conversation offered attendees an exclusive behind the scenes glimpse into one of the most storied franchises in professional sports.
Roberts reflected on the Dodgers’ back-to-back World Series championships and the approaching season, speaking candidly about the mindset and preparation that fuel excellence across a grueling MLB schedule. He also shared his outlook as the team eyes an ambitious goal: a third consecutive World Series title.
The audience was treated to personal stories and observations about key players, including Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, highlighting their work ethic, leadership styles and contributions on and off the field. The session was an energizing reminder of the power of discipline, collaboration and resilience — values shared by leaders across the automotive industry.
Honoring a Legacy: Tim Smith Receives Lifetime Service Award
Another highlight of the program was the presentation of the GLANCDA Lifetime Service Award to Tim Smith of Bob Smith BMW, in recognition of nearly 50 years of service on the association’s board. A moving tribute video featuring colleagues, family and friends underscored Smith’s profound contributions to GLANCDA and the broader dealer community.
Past honoree, Mike Sullivan, attended the event in person to present the award, offering heartfelt remarks that celebrated Smith’s leadership, mentorship and unwavering commitment to strengthening the association. Smith now joins an esteemed circle of past recipients, including Fritz Hitchcock, Bert Boeckmann and David Ellis.
Looking Ahead: Association Priorities and Events
GLANCDA leaders highlighted the association’s strategic priorities for the year ahead, emphasizing two critical goals:
- Driving increased dealer engagement
- Encouraging dealers to lend their voices to important advocacy efforts
These priorities reinforce GLANCDA’s commitment to ensuring that Los Angeles-area dealers remain informed, united and influential during a period of rapid automotive transformation.
GLANCDA leaders also announced upcoming regional Dealer Appreciation & Recruitment Dinners, designed to strengthen community ties, expand networking opportunities, and engage and welcome new members.
Save the Date: Dealer Appreciation & Recruitment Dinner
June 25 — Long Beach (555 East Steakhouse)
Hosted by Tim Hutcherson, Peter Browning, Ian Thomas and John Davis
Championing Workforce Development: New Scholarship and Student Initiatives
In a proud milestone for the association, GLANCDA presented the inaugural Fritz Hitchcock Automotive Technician Scholarship to Estuardo Cuevas, a Cypress College student enrolled in Toyota’s T-TEN program. Cuevas attended the event with his family to celebrate this meaningful investment in the next generation of dealership technicians.
The scholarship initiative — led by Beth Hakes, daughter of the late Fritz Hitchcock — honors her father’s legacy of supporting education and technical excellence within the automotive industry.
GLANCDA Executive Director Bob Smith also shared updates on ongoing workforce development efforts, including the upcoming High School Auto Tech Competition scheduled for May 16 at Rio Hondo College. Now in its 20th year, the competition brings together top student technicians from across the region to compete for tool scholarships and prizes, showcasing emerging talent and bolstering dealer hiring pipelines.
A Strong Community Presence
Education and nonprofit partners once again played an important role in this year’s event. Representatives from more than 20 community colleges and high schools with automotive programs were in attendance, along with philanthropic partners such as Homeboy Industries, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity.
Their presence reflects GLANCDA’s long-standing commitments to engaging with the community, uplifting the Greater Los Angeles area and creating pathways to high-quality automotive careers.
A Successful Start to 2026
This year’s Member Luncheon and Annual Meeting showcased everything that makes GLANCDA a cornerstone of the Southern California automotive community: leadership, collaboration, service and a shared commitment to the future of the industry.
With new initiatives underway and dealer engagement events on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of growth, connection and continued excellence for the association.
